This is the revised Fuzz box from Boss pedals. This would have come right after the finalized Boss FZ-2 pedal. This pedal had a short life span and only lasted on the market for two years. Pretty much the same lifespan of the previous Boss Fz-2. This pedal is a lot simpler than the Boss Fz-2. Not that the Boss FZ-2 was difficult but this pedal simplified it down to three control knobs. You had a level for the overall volume of the pedal. Next you have a tone knob that would control how bright or dark the pedal would get. Finally, you had a Fuzz control knob that would give you distortion/fuzz. This is basically the same operation as the famous Electro Harmonics Big Muff. On that pedal you had a sustain knob for the fuzz. UTILIZATION Specifications Controls: Level, Tone, Fuzz Connectors: Input, Output, AC Adaptor Current Draw: 6 mA (DC 9V) Recommended AC Adaptor: PSA Series SOUND QUALITY This pedal doesn't use any integrated circuit so the tone is a lot more pure and natural. This pedal will sound much better than the previous Boss Fz-2. You will get a purer signal and a clarity that will be retained within the natural voicing of the unit. This pedal goes great with a single coil guitar. If you use this is a clean Marshall plexi type amp with a Fender Stratocaster then you will get some great Jimi Hendrix type tones. The pedal breaks up nicely as you dial up or in the fuzz knob. It gets thicker and chewier the more you give it. OVERALL OPINION These pedals have been discontinued so the used market is the only way to go at this point. I have seen them for right around $100 or so. They are not as easy to find as the Boss Fz-2 but they are definitely out there and at a good price point. If you have the room on your pedal board then I would go with an Electro harmonics Big Muff. That to me is still my favorite fuzz box on the market today.
The Boss FZ-2 is not your standard Fuzz. While it can do those standard tones, it's much more ridiculous. After all, this is the famous pedal that helped take the stoner metal genre into a different level. Listen to groups like Electric Wizard to get an idea as to what I'm referring to. It features five knobs total: a level knob, a tone knob with a smaller knob to adjust the cut/boost frequencies, a gain knob and a three way rotary switch to select between Fuzz I, Fuzz II and Gain Boost. UTILIZATION Boss did an awesome job at putting everything inside of this pedal. It's housed in the famous Boss enclsoure, so it should be able to withstand anything you throw at it. The pedal uses a FET bypass which has a little bit of tone suckage, but it won't be much of an issue if you throw it in a true bypass looper. The rotary switch helps make things a bit more versatile, but it's still a ridiculously over the top pedal. SOUND QUALITY Fuzz I mode is like a normal aggressive fuzz tone. It's somewhat bland when using it as a normal fuzz, and it's definitely not meant for those lower gain tones. The tone knob with the shaping frequency knob really helps adjust the tone to where you want it. However, most people who get this pedal are mainly looking at the Fuzz II mode. It has this insane sounding speaker ripping kinda tone that can only be describing as ridiculous. Seriously, listen to some Electric Wizard, and you'll get the idea. That's what this pedal is mainly used for, and it excels at this genre like no other pedal out there. OVERALL OPINION If you're looking at this pedal for a normal fuzz, I highly recommend checking out a different pedal. However, if you're going for that insane stoner fuzz sound, this is the exact pedal you want. It's so crazy over the top and uncontrollable that it fits in perfectly for the slower downtuned stoner metal genre. Fuzz II is the mode you want, and it's best if you use something like a Sunn O))) or similar amplifier to really get that authentic stoner metal tone.
