The Wonderful Audio Fuzz Lands is an original circuit comprising a combination of JFET, germanium, and silicon transistors and features two knobs and three toggles to provide a wide range of fuzzy options, with a knack for keeping the performance’s dynamics, something fuzz pedals are notorious for squashing to death.
Unlike too many fuzzes out there, the Fuzz Lands provides a Fuzz knob that’s usable at any setting, and it’s very usable also at lower settings, while the Volume knob will push enough output to your amp to make it break-up, for extra saturation
However, it’s the three toggles that open up another world of sonic possibilities, let’s see what they do:
The ROOTS Toggle enables or bypasses a gain stage in the circuit:
Vintage Mode bypasses the JFET stage for classic, less ‘gainy” fuzz tones that are more responsive to your guitar volume control. Closer in sound to a a treble booster or overdrive but sensitive to buffet-related issues.
Modern Mode enables the JFET stage, which makes it less susceptible to buffers and adds gain and a different sonic flavor at different fuzz settings. The JFET saturates the transistors and pushes the fuzz into broken and gated sounds at extreme settings.
The EARTH Toggle: Changes the circuit’s input frequency range.
Up: Offers a more midrangey tone that’s perfect for sustained solos and cuts through the mix.
Down: Reverts to the classic thick and fuzzy character.
The NATURE Toggle changes the voltage feedback of the transistors, which in turn affects the character of the fuzz.
Up: Gated and broken with just the right amount of sustain to still be usable for singing lead lines.
Middle: Smooth with just a touch of crispy crunchiness.
Down: Bendery… almost nasally… this one goes from overdrive to full fuzz.
This sounds like a flexible fuzz that will keep you happy for a while, check out how it sounds in the videos below.
Wonderful Audio Fuzz Lands, Builder’s Notes
CONTROLS:
Volume: Controls the output of the pedal, and there is no shortage of output in the Fuzz Lands.
Fuzz: Usable along its entire sweep and works by changing the bias and gain of the fuzz. It is common practice to crank the fuzz with most fuzz pedals. However, I urge you to explore its whole range, for there are a lot of fun sounds can be found in the lower as well as the higher gain settings.
Roots: Toggle from “Vintage” to “Modern” modes by switching in and out a JFET gain stage at the beginning of the circuit.
Toggle Up: “Vintage Mode”, where the JFET stage is bypassed. Classic fuzz sounds can be found here. Yes, it is susceptible to buffers, however… as any good fuzz should… it is extremely responsive to your guitar volume control just like a classic vintage fuzz. The pedal will have less gain overall and the lower settings will be less fuzzy and more like a treble booster or overdrive. Very fun!
Toggle Down: The JFET gain stage is enabled and we are in “Modern Mode”, less susceptible to buffers (pedal may get brighter with a buffer depending on your setup) with much more gain and a whole new set of unique and interesting textures. The JFET does a great job of really saturating the transistors and can push the fuzz into broken and gated sounds at extreme fuzz settings.
Earth: Changes the input frequency range
?Toggle Up: Up creates a tight almost vocal quality for singing sustaining leads and cutting through the band mix.
Toggle Down: Thicker, fuzzier, classic, delicious.Nature: Changes the overall character of the fuzz by adjusting the voltage feedback of the transistors.
Toggle Up: Gated and broken with just the right amount of sustain to still be usable for singing lead lines.
Toggle Middle: Smooth with just a touch of crispy crunchiness.
Toggle Down: Bendery… almost nasally… this one goes from overdrive to full fuzz.
Extra Notes
Greetings tone hunter and welcome to the Fuzz Lands! I’m sure you are weary from your travels. Have a seat, put up your feet, and enjoy a beverage… for you should rest a bit before you begin your tone hunting journey through these lands of fuzz. They are a unique place that should be respected for many an intersting tone and texture can be found for the sonic adventurer.
Fuzz Lands is a fuzz pedal composed of JFET, germanium, and silicon transistors arranged together to create a unique and interesting fuzz landscape. Two knobs and 3 toggles provide a huge variety of usable sounds, extremely expressive and dynamic, with its own character, without being overwhelming… an extension of your tone. So slow down… take a deep breath… and embrace the journey…
?History
Fuzz Lands’ history spans multiples years of development. I love fuzz, all kinds of fuzz, crazy and classic and everything in between. What I find truly magical about a well-designed classic style fuzz pedal is that you can get so many different tones, textures, characters, and dynamics with just your fingers and the volume and tone controls on your guitar. There is something special about getting back to your rock roots with just a guitar, a fuzz pedal, and an amp.
I wanted to create my own classic fuzz that could cover a wide range of tones. But most importantly I wanted something that responded well to your playing dynamics. Something that has a lot of character on its own, while still allowing the character of your guitar to come through.
?After studying the circuit topologies of various classic fuzz pedals and trying a bunch of different pedals, an idea started forming in my head… so, I started breadboarding. Fuzz Lands went through many different iterations before reaching its final form.
