Rusty Fuzz

The Rusty Fuzz is a fuzz built around a silicon-based transistor circuit, designed to come close to the sound of the silicon Fuzz Face pedals that have been heard in rock since the late sixties. The idea is simple: the raw, old-fashioned fuzz of that era, without the price and the quirks of genuine vintage gear. Old fuzz pedals are big and change your tone even when switched off. This pedal therefore has true bypass, a sturdy enclosure and jacks on the top.

The sound is warm, full and heavy, with plenty of sustain. You can take it in different directions: from soft, supportive fuzz to tearing velcro tones, and with a hard attack even a more modern, gated fuzz. The dynamics are wide. Play more softly, or turn down the volume on your guitar, and the sound gets much cleaner. You need that as well if you only want a light, subtle fuzz. There is a tone control, which lets you tame a sharp edge, for example with a Stratocaster. Some players put a small amount of overdrive in front of it for an even heavier result. Amps from solid-state to hybrid seem to respond well to it.

The build inspires confidence: the pots and the switch feel solid, and the pedal can run on a battery. The biggest drawback is the size. The pedal is larger than the photos would make you think, clearly bigger than an ordinary compact pedal, and the input and output sit in a somewhat awkward place. So count on space on your pedalboard. It suits anyone who wants a direct, old-school fuzz without much fuss. If you need a very small enclosure or extensive controls, look elsewhere.