Frantone The Sweet

Frantone pedals are made in Brooklyn New York. These pedals are 100% hand made. This is the Frantone "The Sweet" fuzz pedal. The pedal has a very vintage look to it with the black case and the green script. The simple design is something you find alot in boutique pedals. Like all classy fuzz pedals you get 3 knobs. The knobs you get are the volume knob the sustain knob and the tone knob. It is a simple pedal with an input and an output. The knobs are big so you can adjust on the fly with your feet while you are playing. The green LED stands out against the black casing so with a quick glance you can see if it is on or not.

UTILIZATION

The construction is very solid. There are no plastic battery holders or plates to break off. It is held together by four sturdy screws. All the wires are neatly placed inside the pedal which is what you expect with a boutique pedal. This Fuzz pedal is quieter than most fuzz pedals but that is not saying much, most pedals can get out of hand with the noise they produce but this one is alright. There is still audible noise when it is switched on but it is much lower than on low quality fuzz pedals.

SOUND QUALITY

The Fuzz sound this pedal puts out is quite dynamic and is in tune with how you are playing. If you play softer the fuzz cleans up and if you hit hard so does the fuzz. With cheap Fuzz pedals there are not any dynamics with the fuzz it is there no matter what but this one is in a class of its own. The clarity of this pedal is great too and that is something you dont really expect from a Fuzz pedal. The tone knob allows for great tone shaping. You can add more brightness and bite to the fuzz or more jangle in addition to the fuzzy low end. The germanium transistors help contribute to the warm fuzz tones of the likes of Hendrix and other classic 60’s fuzz tones.

OVERALL OPINION

This is one of the best Fuzz pedals on the market. Its high quality construction and high quality sound put it in a class of its own. Being handmade you know someone has built this with pride and has staked their reputation on its performance. If you are player with distinguishing taste and have the bread to pay 400 USD for a fuzz pedal, Fuzztone's "The Sweet" is the only place you need to look.

(Originally written by evilsmooth/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Germanium effect pedal hand made in the USA by Fran who worked on a special Big Muff. Very sturdy construction and selected components. You can expect a long life!

Input, output, external PSU connector (PSU not included).

UTILIZATION

Very simple configuration. It's plug and play although you might need some time to find your own sound. Very easy to use. No user's manual. You won't need it!

SOUND QUALITY

Very effective effect. Amazing. High-class product. This fuzz effect reminds me of the Big Muff but faster. It provides a long sustain. The tone control is very effective and it changes the distortion color. Watch out for your ears! The sound ranges from classic fuzz to an enormous wall of sound. But you won't get the typical Hendrix fuzz sound. The sound has a lot more punch even if you turn down the knob on your guitar.

The effect is not very versatile but it provides an ultra effective fuzz that will blow you away.

The response changes depending on the amp and the speaker you use...

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it only for a short time. I bought it just before its price increased. Its price went up a lot!

As a summary, if you're looking for an effective and thick fuzz effect with a real sound personality and a great dynamic response, this pedal is perfect for you! It's a boosted Big Muff with high-class manufacturing quality.

Nice and simple design.

Amazing sharp, aggressive and thick sound. Wide sound range thanks to the three controls.

You'll find a good demo on youtube.