The Frost Bite Fuzz is a fuzz pedal made by Coffin, designed in collaboration with Christopher Cozort of Haunted Labs and released in November 2018. It was Coffin's first effects pedal in over a decade, and it arrived with a three-knob layout and a custom silicon fuzz circuit1. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in May 2019 as a collaboration between the two companies, with the reviewer noting that Haunted Labs had "teamed up with the spooky crew over at Coffin to bring us all the Frost Bite Fuzz"2.
What it does to your sound
Guitar.com described the pedal as delivering "a range of otherworldly fuzz sounds," with controls that can be set for classic fuzz tones as well as what the site called "some shocking, unusual distortion"1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer was more colorful, calling it "this blizzard of howling distortion" and noting that the pedal is, as its description reads, "100% EVIL"2.
The Fuzz knob carries most of that range. Guitar.com reported that it "can be turned down for a cutting, clean boost, or cranked up for a blitz of ferocious fuzz"1. Pedal of the Day agreed that "The Fuzz knob has great range as well," describing its sweep as going "from classic rock-ish amp driving to tasty, loud distortion to full-on walls of fuzz"2. That spread puts the pedal in territory shared by overdrive and distortion at the low end of its travel, and full fuzz at the top.
The three controls: Level, Tone, Fuzz
The pedal's front panel is a simple three-knob layout: Level, Tone and Fuzz1. Pedal of the Day cautioned against judging it by that simplicity, writing that "The three parameter controls are a bit deceiving here, people: each one plays its own special role in creating the tones"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume |
| Tone | Dials back for "slow, sludge-driven doom sounds," or increases for "a more biting, piercing and cutting tone"2 |
| Fuzz | From a cutting clean boost to "a blitz of ferocious fuzz"1 |
The Tone control is the one that shapes the character most directly. Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote: "Dial the Tone knob back for some slow, sludge-driven doom sounds, or slowly increase it for a more biting, piercing and cutting tone"2.
A Coffin and Haunted Labs collaboration
The pedal came out of a partnership between two builders with a taste for the dark side. Coffin, the company behind Coffin Case, released the Frost Bite Fuzz in November 2018 as its first pedal in more than ten years, designed with Christopher Cozort of Haunted Labs1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer called the pairing a great collaboration, describing the pedal as "combining attitude and sinister visions from Coffin with the sonic stylings" of Haunted Labs, and summed it up as "both a classic and experimental fuzz in one"2.
The Frost Bite Fuzz was Coffin's first new effects pedal in over a decade when it launched in 20181.
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Mike Hermans
Pedal of the Day
Harsh Tones, Inc.
Questions
Who designed the Coffin Frost Bite Fuzz?
The Frost Bite Fuzz was designed in collaboration with Christopher Cozort of Haunted Labs, and was released by Coffin in November 2018 as the company's first effects pedal in over a decade. Guitar.com reported the launch, noting the pedal's custom silicon fuzz circuit and its $199.99 retail price.
Is the Frost Bite Fuzz a silicon or germanium fuzz?
It is a silicon fuzz. Both Guitar.com and Pedal of the Day describe the circuit as a custom silicon fuzz design. Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it a unique custom silicon fuzz, and Guitar.com's 2018 announcement likewise said the pedal features a custom silicon fuzz circuit.
Can the Frost Bite Fuzz work as a clean boost?
Yes. Guitar.com reported that the Fuzz knob can be turned down for a cutting, clean boost, or cranked up for what the site called a blitz of ferocious fuzz. Pedal of the Day similarly described the pedal as capable of everything from a clean boost to rich and devilish permutations of tone.
How many knobs does the Frost Bite Fuzz have?
Three. The Frost Bite Fuzz has a Level, Tone and Fuzz knob layout. Guitar.com reported the three-knob layout at launch, and Pedal of the Day's review noted that each of the three controls plays its own role in shaping the pedal's tones.
Sources (2)
- Coffin, Haunted Labs unleash the Frost Bite Fuzz, Guitar.com, 2018-11-12
- Coffin / Haunted Labs Frost Bite Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2019-05-22
