Filter fuzz pedals – often counterfeited by manufacturers as “Synth pedals” – are all the rage these days, with Keeley, Seymour Duncan, and SolidGoldFX having unveiled a bunch of similar devices since the 2019 Winter NAMM show.
The guys at Walrus Audio, who’ve released their fair share of “synthy” and creative pedals, didn’t have such circuit in their roster yet: enter the Kangra Filter Fuzz, a pedal born from a request from SNL Guitarist Jared Schaff to create a modern filtered and fuzz inspired by the Kay Fuzz Tone.
After a lengthy long-distance collaboration and beta testing, the group forged a…
…two-in-one pedal that provides a thick and spatty octave fuzz, and a psychedelic filter that’s great for sweeps, frequency boost or even envelope filter sounds.
“Two in one” because the filter can run independently, or with the fuzz feeding into it – the two effects have separate footswitches.
The fuzz itself features two modes: M (Modern) with longer and tighter sustain, and V (Vintage), grittier and spatty, and a Mid switch that carves the center frequencies for a more scooped tone.
The filter, which can also be controlled via expression pedal, is very versatile with controls for Resonance, Sensitivity, Frequency and Envelope Filter. The Envelop toggle switch turns on what is commonly referred to as “Auto-Wah” effect, and transforms the cutoff knob in a seisitivity control.
“On the filter, I wanted to go for that vintage [Akai] mpc 3000 low pass type of thing…Or similar to doing a low pass plug-in for a track, or like a dj would do without it being too “wah pedal” like, and this achieved that.” – Jared Scharff
Plenty of videos were released about this pedal already, check out a selection below, including one with Scharff himself!
The Kangra Filter Fuzz is a true bypass, two-in-one pedal that provides a thick and spatty octave fuzz, and a psychedelic filter that’s great for sweeps, frequency boost or even envelope filter sounds. The filter can run independently, or with the fuzz feeding into it. This is no rhythm player’s fuzz. Dig in and play dirty with aggressive fuzz lead lines that’ll rip time and space apart at the seams.
SNL Guitarist and fuzz fanatic, Jared Scharff, approached us about doing a modern filtered and fuzz inspired by his favorite vintage fuzz pedal, the Kay Fuzz Tone. Working together through hundreds of texts, calls, emails and mailing prototypes back and forth, the Kangra came to life with plenty of grit, teeth and vintage vibe, as well as pronounced modern features.
FUZZ
Get two different styles of fuzz with the M/V Switch. In the modern position (M), you notice a more forgiving fuzz with longer and tighter sustain, while the Vintage position (V) feels starved with spatty breakup and grittier, shorter sustain.
FILTER
The Kangra also has a versatile filter with Resonance, Sensitivity, Frequency and Envelope Filter controls. Use the filter on its own to add a unique shape to your sound, or flip the Envelope Filter switch and open up funky sixties style tones.
“On the filter, I wanted to go for that vintage mpc 3000 low pass type of thing…Or similar to doing a low pass plug-in for a track, or like a dj would do without it being too “wah pedal” like, and this achieved that.” – Jared Scharff
The art was inspired by a once in a life time expedition Jared took to the Kangra Valley near the Himalaya Mountains. It was there his journey inspired new ideas that can only approximated by the Kangra Filter Fuzz. The pedal comes in a peach enclosure with art by Adam Forster in white and blue inks.
