F
or those unfamiliar with
the mystical properties of
germanium, a useful test
for illustrating the sonic and
tactile differences between germ
and silicon transistors is to plug a
good germ-based pedal (like a Fuzz
Face) into the front end of a bright,
clean, unforgiving amp like a Roland
JC-120. Play for a bit, explore
the range of the guitar’s volume
knob, and then swap the pedal
for a silicon-based Fuzz Face. The
differences in feel, dynamics, and
sonic characteristics between the
two pedals should be pretty obvious,
especially without the benefit of tube
10
TONE TALK //
saturation (or digitally simulated
tube saturation) to round things off
and soften the harsh edges (a JC-120
will always tell the ugly truth when it
comes to any kind of distortion).
Silicon and IC-based pedals can be
excellent, of course, but the rich,
dynamic, and very tube-like nature
of a good germanium-based circuit
is precisely the reason why they
are so beloved by guitarists. Such a
device can breathe a lot of life into
the tone of any amp, but especially
one that tends to be a little on
the cold, dull, or sterile side, while
also enhancing touch sensitivity
Germanium Giants: 6 Superb Sound Sculptors