Zvex Fuzz Factory Vexter

This is a fuzz stompbox made by Zvex. It has 1/4" input and output jacks and can be used with a 9V battery or a standard boss style power adaptor. It's true bypass and has five controls, which are: Volume, Drive, Stab (stability), Comp (compression) and Gate.

UTILIZATION

This pedal is simple to set up, just plug your amp and guitar in and put a battery inside and you're ready to roll. The five controls on this pedal are very interactive and can react strangely in certain settings and produce feedback. It can be quite difficult to get a traditional fuzz tone out of this pedal I find, but then again if you want a traditional fuzz sound then you're probably not going to be buying a fuzz factory.

One thing I dislike about the utilization of this pedal is that due to the small enclosure and high amount of knobs it's quite easy to knock your settings when engaging the bypass footswitch.

SOUND QUALITY

I really love the sound of this pedal the germanium transistors sound amazing. The range of sounds you can get out of this pedal are ridiculous. My personal favorite is a heavily gated "velcro-fuzz" sound. Like I mentioned previously in certain settings this pedal can be prone to produce wild feedback and oscillations, I really like this feature of the pedal but a lot of people can be put off by it. I enjoy using it to produce a huge wall of fuzz sound that trails into oscillation. The pitch of the oscillation can be changed by the volume and tone controls on some guitars I found so there is possibility for new creative aspects which aren't available with other traditional fuzz boxes.


OVERALL OPINION

Overall I think this is a great pedal but I can't justify the price of owning a real one and despite building more than five clones I haven't managed to get the right sound yet. I think if you're considering this pedal you should try it before you buy it as it isn't for everyone.

The Zvex Fuzz Factory is not a tradition fuzz box you may be accustomed to from records of old. Zvex has taken a unique but usable approach to the classic fuzz overdrive. Using germanium transistors and the very slightest touches of the controls takes your from usable fuzz OD all the way to oscillating synth squeals that will take noise making to a whole new level.

Control layout as follows:

Volume, Gate, Comp, Drive, Stab

Volume is as it says. However, you do not want to take it past 10:30. Zvex has programmed this pedal to get excruciating volumes. In fact in the user manual is tells you not to take it past this range.

Gate is simple a noise gate that allows a user to clip some of the noise feedback with blazing fuzz distortion. It also allows you to use as an oscillation knob depending on how you have the other controls.

Comp simply compresses the tone but beware when using this when you have the stab and drive up. Again this knob creates an oscillation as well.

Drive is where you get your distortion and can get very useful throughout the clock range from simple OD to blistering fuzz.

Stab is a unique control that is only usable all the way to the right. You need to stay in the 3-5 o'clock range to be usable. Very touch sensitive and again usable as an oscillator.

UTILIZATION

It is quite easy to use. Any monkey who is capable of using a distortion box will be able to find there way around the tones of this unit. The manual helps you get started with some suggested usage settings. However, you need to take it for a spin to get the feel for the pedal and how sensitive the knobs can be. Zvex makes enough suggestions to get you up and running in seconds.

SOUND QUALITY

I used this with a Strat and an LP into a Fender HRD and Marshall JMP. I found it to work for me better with the Fender. Different feel with the Marshall....not bad just different. I probably spent more time coming up with crazy oscillation than running general fuzz applications. However, this isn't a pedal that I would use on a normal basis. It is more of toy that can make cool sounds but not as an everyday fuzz or distortion box. I also didn't find it very usable with other pedal such as a TS9 or a Boss OD-2. It really takes over your tone and the sound dominates what your doing.

OVERALL OPINION

The thing that was fun was making weird oscillating noises. Other than that I did not find a quality use for it. It is kind of expensive even though a got it a few bucks cheaper. Even though it is built very well, $299 for a fuzz box that kind of sounded weak if your used to a Big Muff was just not for me. The two could not be further from each other.

If you want to hear it in its context, check out Matt Bellamy from Muse on the song "Plug Me In". There is a real recording application. If you like that tone then you will like this pedal. For me I'll stick to the Big Muff.

Analog Fuzz pedal with 5 knobs
Volume, Gate, Compress, Drive, Stability

USE

- At first it's true that it's hard because we do not yet know each knob.
do not hesitate to turn all the knobs in all directions voutrevez a sound that you please shortly after ...
(Zvex provides adjustments to its site)

SOUND QUALITY

So is that the happiness !!!!
a feedback, a drooling is dirty, a fuzz that comes from another planet !! russir can find the sound of a fuzz face .... etc and any many other like Fuzz / Overdrive ...
The MUUUUSSSSEEEEE !!!!!!

(Beware Tympanums ... and knob "Flight")

NOTICE GLOBAL

I have used it for 1 month then this is the top for playing MUSE, Jimmy Hendrix ... and you create a Fuzz your signature sound!
I tried the FZ-5 with boss and see anything !! The Zvex does better
The price quality ratio is good anyway ... 189 you have all the fuzz pedals of the earth and is assembled by hand in the United States and each pedal is numrot ...
with the experience I remake this choice without hsiter for me there is no mieuxx !!