Way Huge Electronics WHE401 Swollen Pickle Fuzz

This is the Swollen Pickle Fuzz pedal. WHE401 is the model. Basically Way Huge used to make limited runs of pedals with crazy names, couldn't keep up with the demand and was purchased by Dunlop. Now you have great pedal designs and a company that can mass produce them.

If I were to describe this pedal in once sentence: It is a Big Muff on steroids!

Knobs are left to right: Loudness, Filter and Sustain. There are also mini knobs: scoop and crunch. The mini knobs are what make this pedal different than the Big Muff. You can really dial a fuzz like never before.

Saw this in a guitar magazine and it really impressed me. Headed out to Guitar Center and picked up the Pickle. $120 I believe is the going rate.

It's simple to use. Plug and play. It is true bypass. It does not suck but actually boosts the lows. Which is probably the biggest plus. I like to use this will bass. That was a major set back when I tried to use Big Muffs with bass.

None at all.

Built tough and cool blue LED (hey it's the small things? haha)

I mentioned above it is True Bypass.

Upgrade your EH Big Muff to one of these bad boys! It is near boutique level in quality and will not break the bank.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz is a guitar effects pedal that can be used in any situation you'd like. It's an analog pedal consisting of standard 1/4" connections for input and output and requiring a nine volt power supply. I'm not sure if there's a battery compartment or not, as when I have used it it has been with a power supply. It isn't rack mountable as it's a stomp box.

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz isn't too difficult to follow, but it will take a bit of messing around with the pedal to fully understand what all of the parameters do, as it isn't exactly clearly from the labels. The main parameters that it has are for 'loudness,' sustain, and filter, and then it has smaller knobs for further changing the tone that are labeled 'crunch' and 'scoop.' It's fairly clear what they do upon messing with them, but it did take me a few minutes to get acquainted with everything going on. I didn't need the assistance of a manual however.

SOUND QUALITY

For what the pedal can do, the Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz definitely has an awesome sound to it. It isn't a very versatile pedal in terms of the range of different sounds available, but within the box of being a fuzz box, this is a really cool pedal. I guess what I'm getting at is that it isn't a suitable overdrive or distortion type of effect as can be found on other fuzz boxes. I recently used this for a series of recording sessions, and while we didn't end up using this pedal for too many tracks, it did make it on a few smaller capacities when we needed some really thick fuzz. Within the world of fuzz, this is a very flexible pedal...

OVERALL OPINION

The Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz is one of the best overall fuzz pedals that I've used. While I'm generally not a huge fan of straight fuzz, this box offers up a flexibility that isn't found on most fuzz boxes. You can't really use this pedal for anything other than getting a really thick fuzz sound, but tone shaping is totally possible. If you are a player who uses a lot of traditional fuzz, the Swollen Pickle is absolutely a pedal you need to know about.

This is a fuzz box. It is made by the Dunlop imprint Way Huge. There are two 1/4" connections (in and out). This is an analog box, and as such, it is not capable of being edited on a computer, or controlled by MIDI. It is also not rackable as it's a floor pedal.

UTILIZATION

The effects editing of this guy is easy for the most part. There is a level for loudness (output volume), sustain (fuzz), filter (high or low roll-off), scoop (the ability to scoop out the midrange), and crunch (which is actually a compressor/sustainer knob). The interior allows you to adjust the intensity of the scoop and crunch knobs but I generally haven't messed with those. The manual is pretty clear about how to do everything.

SOUND QUALITY

In my endless pursuit of good fuzz boxes, I've discovered that most of my favorite boxes don't have a whole lot of versatility or variety in the amount of tones they produce. This one is certainly an exception. It can really produce a ton of fuzz, in fact I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't looking for a ton of fuzz. As far as that's concerned, there's still a decent amount of variety. For lead tones, you can scoop some of the mids and roll off the low end for great, piercing highs that aren't too harsh. There's a great chunk to be found for rocking rhythm sounds reminiscent of AC/DC or Hendrix even. I also likened it to new groups like the Black Keys. I like using this with a Les Paul mostly because it doesn't feedback as bad as a Strat, but it sounds good in general with the Strat too. I like to use it through my Twin.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a really solid fuzz box that can do almost whatever you need it to. It's not too expensive either, I really like it for that reason. It's got a ton of fuzz but can back off just enough for it to really work well. I think fans of heavy fuzz will find much to like in this pedal.

I critically hot, I received the pedal today and I have already spent two or three hours on it. This is a fuzz (which is not limited to this effect) home Way Huge, brand I did not know, before falling on a rig rundown of cravat and slicked guitarist Queens Of The Stone Age, it never failed compliments about her. It works by 9V (can be used with battery for that matter). Comes with beautiful box, I say that because it is not often. Everything seems very well made, very neat metal case, in colors not seen much on pedalboard.

UTILIZATION

The use of the pedal is relatively simple. I say relatively because we have total of 7 knobs (!): 5 front and 2 internal (me either I did not know that was possible). It takes a little time to let it tame, but do not bother to make funds either, if you know what you want, you'll get it. Moreover, there are many things you can get with its possibilities. The manual is fairly brief (but nice), simple and direct, the pedal may be too high for the foot but no one is perfect and it remains anecdotal.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality is pretty neat, I use it with my Jazzmaster (on VOX VT15), plus a TC Elec Spark mini boost, an EHX Pulsar, a Boss DD7 and a black PolyTune. The fuzz effect is very heavy, everything you would expect from a good fuzz. Many knobs have the advantage of reaching many different sounds, and get new ideas. I love the sound of Ty Segall, while low, I love also the brutality Magnetix that does not forget the treble, but this Way Huge allows even more things clearly: QOTSA, Black Sabbath, Kyuss, etc..
The Loudness part adjusts the volume, sustain manages ... sustain; nothing amazing but it works very well. It becomes more addictive with other knobs: the filter allows to coat the sound left at 11am it is a wonder of bass and mids. Where Way Huge stands out are the two knobs on the front mini: Scoop and Crunch. Scoop the approval Filter by me manage tones as desired. Crunch gives the more bluesy side of the pedal, less violent. This pedal gives a lot of effects, little push, she can spin a good crunch sound. Probably super interesting small setup with a Telecaster! To get an idea, brand videos on youtube, they are very good.

OVERALL OPINION

In the end, I am very demanding fuzz. This is the basis of my sound, I can not do without and so there is no better crash choosing its fuzz. It replaces my Big Muff has outlived its usefulness. I hesitated with Death By Audio Fuzz War (as well as Thee Fuzz War Overload), which seems great too. But the price has put me off, the Swollen Pickle is much more versatile, which does not mean it is doing less and less accurate, quite the contrary.