The Cornell Amps Legacy Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Cornell Amps, announced on 7 January 2021. It is based on the Fuzz Face circuit, a design Denis Cornell knows well, and it sets out to deliver that classic Fuzz Face sound without the historical problems that have plagued the famous pedal. According to Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, the Legacy Fuzz "rectifies the low outupt and limited range problems of the vintage units"1.
What it does
The Legacy Fuzz is a take on the Fuzz Face, one of the most recognizable fuzz designs, and Denis Cornell's familiarity with that circuit is central to the pedal. "Based on that legendary Fuzz Face circuit Denis is so familiar with, the Legacy Fuzz rectifies the low outupt and limited range problems of the vintage units," Delicious Audio reports1. In other words, the goal is the classic sound with the practical drawbacks of the old pedals addressed.
Delicious Audio sums up the intent this way: "The Cornell Legacy Fuzz has that classic Sound without the historical problems that has plagued the famous pedal"1.
Silicon and Germanium versions
Two versions of the pedal are available, one with a Silicon diode and one with a Germanium diode. Delicious Audio describes the pair as offering "slightly different colors," so the choice between them is a matter of tonal shade rather than a different feature set1.
| Version | Diode type | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon version | Silicon | Slightly different color, per Delicious Audio1 |
| Germanium version | Germanium | Slightly different color, per Delicious Audio1 |
How it compares
The Fuzz Face style sits at the fuzzy end of the dirt family, but fuzz designs vary in how far they lean toward saturation. For contrast, EarthQuaker Devices describes its Bellows Legacy Reissue as a pedal that "straddles the line between amp-like grit and fuzzy saturation to create a remarkably vintage, tweed-type tone"2, a fuzz and overdrive-style dirt approach. The Legacy Fuzz, by contrast, is squarely a Fuzz Face based design, aimed at that specific classic sound1.
Videos
HarryAndAGuitar
TheGuitarGeek
Piers Walmisley
Questions
What is the Cornell Amps Legacy Fuzz based on?
The Legacy Fuzz is based on the Fuzz Face circuit, which Denis Cornell knows from first-hand experience. According to Delicious Audio, the pedal keeps that classic Fuzz Face sound while correcting the low output and limited range problems that affected the vintage units.
What versions does the Cornell Legacy Fuzz come in?
Cornell Amps offers the Legacy Fuzz in two versions, one with a Silicon diode and one with a Germanium diode. Delicious Audio describes the two as offering slightly different colors, so the choice comes down to the shade of fuzz a player prefers.
Sources (2)
- New Pedals: Cornell Amps Legacy Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2021-01-07
- Bellows Fuzz Driver, EarthQuaker Devices
