The Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction Plus Fuzz is an evolution of the original pedal by the same name (minus the “+”!), which was a tribute to the fuzz tone featured in the Rolling Stones’ evergreen ’60s single “Satisfaction,” which – as the legend wants it – was produced at least in part by a particularly sweet-sounding busted cone in Keith Richard’s amp. The Satisfaction Plus expands on that circuit.
At under $100, this pedal is a full modern redesign that can produce the specific vintage tone of the original but also go beyond that, thanks to a new FAT Mode which delivers bigger and warmer tones than the NORM Mode, replicating the original.
While the Bias knob sets the character of the fuzz, the Tone control (a tilt-shift EQ) allows some level of tone sculpting, while Attack and Volume knobs are in charge of setting gain and output
Here’s the intro video by the builder.
Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction Plus Fuzz, Builder’s Notes
Expanding on our first homage to the tone that launched a thousand riffs, the EHX Satisfaction Plus delivers a wide palette of tones from classic ‘60s snarl to creamy lead tone to thick, earth-shaking sludge!
Where the original Satisfaction Fuzz circuit was a focused tribute, the Satisfaction Plus Fuzz treats the classic tone to a modern control set that includes a FAT/NORM mode switch, Bias control, and Tone knob. The added FAT mode features a tone that is bigger and warmer than the NORM mode for woolly leads and giant wall-of-thunder riffs. The Tone control is an active tilt-shift EQ that inversely controls both the treble and bass of the fuzz for broad tonal shifting. Set the Bias control to dial in the fuzz character from balanced and open to gated and snarly.
- Fuzz circuit inspired by early ‘60s fuzz pedals
- FAT mode adds bigger, warmer tones
- BIAS adjusts from sweet spot smooth to voltage-sag snarl
- TONE is a tilt-shift EQ adjusts treble and bass
- ATTACK and VOLUME control gain and output
- True Bypass
- 9V battery included (9V adapter optional)
1 comment
George says:
Apr 27, 2023
‘…the fuzz tone featured in the Rolling Stones’ evergreen ’60s single “Satisfaction,” which – as the legend wants it – was produced at least in part by a particularly sweet-sounding busted cone in Keith Richard’s amp.’ In my 40 years of rock trivia gathering I’ve never once heard that legend. The sound was actually produced by a Maestro Fuzz-Tone FZ-1.