Zoom UF-01 Ultra Fuzz

It is a fuzz pedal transistor, brown.

A big metal switch to toggle the effect (in true bypass), 6 control knobs (gain, gate, color, reso, tone, level) but fairly sturdy plastic (that said, I never jumped in feet joints).
The inevitable input / output / power supply (9v boss-type standard recommended as the girl eats the battery) are at the back of the pedal.
The LED indicating that the effect is activated is on the left, just below the knob "gain", which prevents the hide with the tip of his foot.
The case is all there is of sturdy cast aluminum (or something like that). The bottom is covered with non-slip surface and is home to the Trap access to the battery (9v). It is easy to open while being protected by the skid.

The whole gives an impression of solidity, with the possibility of adjustments. Let's see what we can do ...

UTILIZATION

...
While at first the settings seem a bit odd, in fact, we understand very quickly who is doing what.
Nothing extraordinary on the part of the usual "gain" (which regulates the rate of saturation), "level" (for volume), "tone" (the tone, which seems to me the weak point).

We guess that the "Gate" is a noise reduction and no mistake! Moreover, it is a great idea. It is clean, and very easy to handle. One can easily find the operating point where the sound attenuation is a very aesthetic crachouillement (for my taste, of course). If you put it in depth, it becomes violent when playing any and all quiet when you stop. At a minimum, there is no effect and it intends all roaring, spitting, crackling, and whatnot chains pedals and fault isolation of the mass ...
Gate very well ..

Then you walk into an area better known among a certain Mr. Bellamy and his equally famous Fuzz Factory Z-Vex. The knob "color", first of all, brings to gain a significant amount of what makes a fuzz of distortion ... color! I'm joking only. In fact, it adds more saturation, it accentuates the rocky side of fuzz, while increasing the sustain ...
In short, it takes the sound from the side of ZZ-Top. Hard to describe ..

Finally, the knob "reso" resonance would say, is linked to the preceding. With him appear the whistles, squeaks and pseudo Feedback on the "Plugin Baby" by Muse. Exactly.
By playing with these two, the sound is rich, creamy, and there are continuous sounds quickly so characteristic.
And it sounds!

The manual explains all this in English, and it allows to quickly test some config. That said, it is easily the best interests of each setting.

SOUND QUALITY

So it's a fuzz, and he does pretty well. My benchmarks are the Big Muff Pi fuzz and synthetic multi-effects (Digitech, Korg, AdrenaLinn).

Compared to the Big Muff, it lacks the massive testosterone. The muff longer plays in a low register (if they ask bass players do not like it!) While the UF-01 fulfill the mediums. Perfect for taking the place of a voice! Its grain is tighter than the muff, not far from a distortion, but still very dirty. So a more accurate fuzz.

I do not know enough about other fuzz (rat, boss, etc. .. Not even the Factory) but I think there is a certain resemblance, except that the functions "color / reso" which adds a very original. Very saturated 'of the 2000s (with Muse and others)

The effect makes it (obviously) better with humbuckers (although my strat rings of fire on the muff) and it's enough to take off the wallpaper and unclog ears. I find the treble on this pedal sounds better than the muff (where they are swallowed in the lower).

Tripp as this pedal is to play with the sounds limits: the limit of the gate, and then just when you feel the feedback coming, etc ...

OVERALL OPINION

it's been two years since I have it. I use it a lot to experiment with sounds, crackles, itches, and other nonsense. As a group, she used primarily to offset the loss of acute muff (soli, some riffs).
When I bought it, I was in full crisis Musitude, and being unable to spit out over 200 euros for a Z-Vex, I bought this one after reading the above tests, used on a famous auction site.
So that for 3 or 4 times less expensive than a Fuzz Factory, I have enough well have fun without envying it the most famous .. This is an excellent value for money, and if lost or broken or stolen, I think I would buy (well, depends on if it does not become as expensive as ZV)

(Hey, I saw on sale at 110 euros on the internet, while it still exists ... I'm curious to read other opinions, anyway)
a year later edit: the problem identified recently, cuts his untimely ... Very annoying as a group! And jacks have a tendency to unscrew. A review is required. If not, when it works, it is still enjoyable!

Does everything said on the advice Previous

UTILIZATION

All rglages ncessaires, a real true bypass and robust construction

SOUND QUALITY

Then that's exactly what I was looking for. Halfway between the fuzz and distortion. A full sound, not nazillard, very round, without organic aggressiveness but with great expressiveness. Ideal for chorus with notes and specific on many poses, mind Eric Johnson or Bill Frisell.
Ideal complement to my amp light to pass from the saturated crunch with a slight delay is a be regulated. For the jazz-rock and modern jazz is ideal.

OVERALL OPINION

Quality price ratio at the top, run on promotions of some new copies to whichever store. My image of ZOOM has really changed with this pedal very vintage in design and sound but with a remarkable precision of sound. I bought it without having tried on the advice of U.S. DIFFERENT guitarist who do say that good and they are right.