BOSS FZ5

November 2009 Guitarist 123
FUZZ Pedals £59-£275
EffEcts
The Bottom Line
We like: Build; compact size;
three sounds in one box
We dislike: Modelling
doesn’t totally capture the
vibe of the real thing
The Bottom Line
We like: Sorts out the
impracticalities of a Fuzz Face
We dislike: We’d like it more
if it cost less
GUitarist ratinG GUitarist ratinG
T
he FZ-5 uses COSM
modelling to recreate three
classic sixties stompboxes: an
early Germanium-transistor
Fuzz Face, a Maestro FZ-1A
and an Octavia.
Sounds
There’s plenty of gain available
and setting the Fuzz knob past
12 o’clock boosts the distortion
to higher levels than the
originals were capable of. The
Fuzz Face model sounds pretty
authentic, albeit a little less rich
sounding and responsive than
the real deal, while the Octavia
offers a useful extra dimension
to single notes. The Maestro
flies the f lag for cheesy fuzz –
all farty and trebly.
Verdict
Three quite different fuzz
sounds in one pedal for the
budget-conscious.
G
reat sound, shame about
the practicality – that’s the
Fuzz Face to a tee. So, Dunlop
has transplanted its re-issue
BC-108-loaded Fuzz Face
circuitry into a more user-
friendly setting – a box that
will slot comfortably onto a
pedalboard with easy battery
access, mains adaptor
operation and an LED.
Sounds
Tonally, it’s pretty much the
same as the Jimi Hendrix
model but with a touch more
gain. The Buffer switch is
there to eliminate audible
oscillation caused when some
wahs are placed in front of a
Fuzz Face, but also adds
brightness should you want it.
Verdict
A Fuzz Face brought right up
to date. Excellent.
BOSS FZ-5 MXR Classic 108 Fuzz
CONTACT: Roland UK PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.roland.co.uk CONTACT: JHS PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.jhs.co.uk, www.jimdunlop.com
Staple sixties sounds modelled It’s a Fuzz Face, Jimi, but not as we know it…
Spec
PriCe: £95
OriGin: Taiwan
Fe atUres: Maestro FZ-1A, Fuzz Face,
and Octavia models
COntrOls: Level, mode (three-way
selector switch), fuzz
COnneCtiOns: Input, output
POWer: 9V DC adaptor (not
supplied) or 9V battery
diMensiOns: 129 (l) x 73 (w)
x 59mm (h)
ranGe OPtiOns: None
Spec
PriCe: £199
OriGin: USA
Fe atUres: BC108 Silicon transistors,
LED, buffer
COntrOls: Volume, fuzz, buffer
switch
COnneCtiOns: Input, output
POWer: 9V DC adaptor (not supplied)
or 9V battery
diMensiOns: 125 (l) x 94 (w)
x 60mm (h)
ranGe OPtiOns: El Grande Bass
Fuzz pedal £149
GIT322.rev_fuzz 123 8/10/09 15:50:06