bizarre as it is aptly named. The topology of
the Special Fuzz is unlike anything else, as
the circuit contains not one, but TWO huge
inductors, the type usually found in wah
pedals. Inductors aside, there are also 12
transistors. Typical fuzz designs of this era
use two or three; the Univox Super Fuzz
uses more transistors than almost any circuit,
and it features a comparatively diminutive
six. The unit features two footswitches; one
for a master bypass, labeled “Cancel,” and
one that switches between Fuzz and Special
Fuzz. The “Special Fuzz” introduces the
inductors and outputs a strange, murky
autowah-esque fuzz tone. Special, indeed.
SRS EQ EXCITER
Not much is known about SRS, an American
company that only produced two pedals.
What we do know is that both pedals
released by SRS are awesome and
mysteriously named. The company is
responsible for a similarly confusing autowah
(one of the controls is “Drive”) called the
VCO Disco, which suggests a ‘70s release,
but we’re talking about the other pedal, the
EQ Exciter. Normally when guitarists hear
the terms EQ and Exciter, they’re expecting
either a parametric or graphic equalizer, or a
10
TONE TALK //
“sweetener” pedal like the BBE Sonic Stomp
or Aphex Exciter. The EQ Exciter is neither–
it’s a thunderous buzzsaw fuzz pedal that will
rip your amp to shreds. The two knobs–EQ
and Gain–do neither. “Gain” is actually a
volume control, and the EQ knob barely
resembles a tone knob–it’s a bizarre dial
totally befitting of this article, which is
probably best described as a frequencyband enhancer. When rolled all the way back,
a sludgy low-end dirge pile-drives your amp,
and the other end of the control is equally
thwacked out. Good luck finding one, but if
you do, hold on to your butt.
MONTARBO SINFHOTON
This Italian pedal recently got a facelift and
was revealed at Musikmesse 2014, which is
essentially the European NAMM show. This
suggests that the pedal was popular enough
to warrant a reissue. Personally, I don’t know
a single person that’s heard the name
Montarbo, let alone Sinfhoton, but
apparently its devotees are located in
Europe. The pedal’s manual is in Italian,
which suggests it was never sold in the US,
and here it is now in an article about
unknown fuzzes. The circuit is a standard
two-transistor design, but a Fuzz Face it ain’t.
9 Old Bizarre Fuzz Boxes You Never Knew Existed