Does your fuzz go weird when it’s hot? Ours too, so let’s investigate
Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
Welcome to the show! In this show episode we’re delving into an issue that committed users of germanium transistor fuzz pedals will know all about. The ambient temperature goes up – for example if you’re playing outdoors on a sunny day – and your prized fuzz pedal starts doing very weird things. Cue folklore of studios keeping their favourite fuzzes in the fridge alongside memories mired with maddening mirth and misadventure.
So what about it then? What kinds of fuzzes, and how hot? And then what do you do?
Please join us as we lift the baseplate, fire up the hairdryer and do some, ahem, ‘science’ Dan-&-Mick-style.
Oh yeah, and Benson has a new temperature controlled fuzz too, so we should really be talking about that as well: TICK!
Enjoy the show…
Gear in this episode…
• TheGigRig Three 2 One
https://www.thegigrig.com/three2one
• TC Electronic PolyTune Mini Noir
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/30GVcUn
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/BXnkd9
Australia: http://bit.ly/2GiHjRc
• Dunlop JHF1 Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face Distortion
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2AUTELD
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/zaxOmm
• Dan Drive Secret Machine
Find Dan on Insta and Farcebook
• Dan Drive Optimus Machine
Find Dan on Insta and Farcebook
• Analogman Sun Face NKT Red Dot
https://www.analogman.com/fuzzface.htm
• Benson Germanium Fuzz
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3xVvOve
Australia: https://bit.ly/2R3Q8Kf
USA: https://bit.ly/3uTf2ft
• Klon Centaur Professional Overdrive
Please check eBay and Reverb.com
• Diamond Pedals Memory Lane Jr
https://www.diamondpedals.com/products/memory-lane-jr/
• Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3uu6iuL
Australia: https://bit.ly/3nWH71J
USA: https://bit.ly/3lafrGl
• TheGigRig G3
https://www.thegigrig.com/g3
Amps
• Supro Black Magic 1x12 combo
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/NK9EyO
• Tone King Imperial MkII head & 112 cab
USA: combo: https://imp.i114863.net/MXAEdP
Head: https://imp.i114863.net/7maK03
Guitars
• 1961 Fender Stratocaster – no specific video
• 2001 Fender Custom Shop 1963 Telecaster – Dan’s video – https://youtu.be/rnQ4OIJFTgY
• 2012 Fender American Vintage ’59 Stratocaster (Custom Shop Fat ’60s pickups)
• Nik Huber Krautster II – Dan’s video at https://youtu.be/hIruLGXgJuU
• 2016 Epiphone Casino (Lollar P90 pickups) - Mick’s video – https://youtu.be/ubwr6Owqp_E
Interesting bits and go-to sections
- Intro playing: 00:00
- What are we doing today?: 02:00
- Our fuzz vs temp stories : 03:15
- Zonky things, gain, leakage: 06:15
- Secret & Optimus Machines, underfloor heating: 9:55
- Secret Machine Heat Test & Playing: 14:10
- To the fridge: 16:30
- Optimus Machine Heat Test & Playing: 18:38
- Hendrix Fuzz Face Heat Test & Playing: 23:50
- Sun Face Red Dot Heat NKT & Playing: 26:20
- Benson Germanium Fuzz and Mick's Fuzz Face: 38:48
- The Klon, The Buffer & The Benson: 44:40
- Benson Heat Test: 55:15
- Closing thoughts and discussion: 58:05
- Back to the cooled-down Optimus Machine: 1:02:30
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