The Fuzz Controller is a fuzz pedal from Bad Penny FX, described by Pedal of the Day as "the first handmade unit from Bad Penny" and "inspired by classic British design"1. It is a control-heavy take on the effect: rather than the single-knob layout of many fuzzes, it pairs two knobs with four switches, letting a player dial in everything from what the reviewer called "a lightly driven purr" to "an earth-shattering roar"1.
The controls
Pedal of the Day noted "lots of controls and switches on this one," and the layout splits the pedal's functions between the two knobs and the four toggles1.
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | Knob | Sets your distortion output1 |
| Master | Knob | Controls your output volume1 |
| Starve | Switch | Reduces volume and causes breakup by starving the circuit of power1 |
| Diode | Switch | Toggles between LED and Silicon diodes1 |
| Bass | Switch | Frequency cutter, crushing the lowest range1 |
| Treble | Switch | Frequency cutter, crushing the highest range1 |
The Starve switch is the most unusual of the set: by deliberately underfeeding the circuit, it produces the sagging, broken-up response players usually associate with a dying battery, but as a switchable voicing rather than an accident. The Diode switch works alongside it, offering a choice of LED or Silicon clipping, two diode types with distinctly different fuzz characters. The Bass and Treble switches then shape the fuzz's body, cutting the lowest and highest ranges respectively1.
Inside the circuit
Bad Penny FX built The Fuzz Controller around NOS (new old stock) tone-shaping capacitors, components from earlier production runs that the builder selects for their effect on the pedal's voicing1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal in September 2021 and came away impressed on both counts1:
"We've always loved the looks of the units from Bad Penny FX, and the sounds they produce are top notch as well1."
The reviewer also called it "a modern, dynamic fuzz circuit as well," placing it among the more responsive fuzzes rather than a one-character effect1. The same review noted the reviewer had previously demoed other pedals from the maker, whose units they described as good-looking and good-sounding1.
Videos
TheGuitarGeek
TheGuitarGeek
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Starve switch do on The Fuzz Controller?
The Starve switch reduces volume and causes breakup by starving the circuit of power. It is a way of getting a sagging, degraded fuzz response similar to a dying battery, on demand, without changing your power supply.
What does the Diode switch do?
The Diode switch toggles between LED and Silicon diodes in the circuit's clipping stage. The two diode types clip the signal differently, giving the pedal two distinct fuzz characters between which you can switch while playing.
What does the Bass switch do on The Fuzz Controller?
Bass and Treble are both frequency cutters. The Bass switch crushes the lowest range of the signal, tightening the fuzz, while the Treble switch does the same for the highest range.
Is The Fuzz Controller handmade?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes The Fuzz Controller as the first handmade unit from Bad Penny FX, built around NOS tone-shaping capacitors.
Sources (1)
- Bad Penny FX The Fuzz Controller, Pedal of the Day, 2021-09-04
