The Cornerstone Nero Dumble-Fuzz is a fuzz pedal that runs a Fuzz Face-style fuzz in parallel with a Dumble-style overdrive drawn from Cornerstone's Gladio SC circuit. Guitar Pedal X's review describes the circuit as mostly opamp-based, combining the fuzz voicing with the Gladio SC, and the Comp knob blends progressively more of the overdrive into the fuzz as you turn it up1. It sits in the fuzz category but is aimed at players who want a classic fuzz voicing tempered with overdrive rather than raw fuzz on its own.
Controls
The pedal carries six knobs plus a remote switching port. Bias 1 and Bias 2 each sweep from gritty, more fuzz-like sounds counterclockwise to smoother, full-bodied overdrive sounds clockwise, and the remote port lets you switch between the two bias settings from outside the pedal1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Gain | Drive amount |
| Comp | Parallel Fuzz to Gladio Mix / Temperament: blends progressively more of the Gladio SC with the Fuzz voicing, most fuzzy fully counterclockwise |
| Tone | Tonal balance |
| Bias 1 | Gritty to Smooth / Fuzz to OD: first half delivers rough and gritty, more fuzz-like sounds counterclockwise, smoother full-bodied overdrive sounds clockwise |
| Bias 2 | Gritty to Smooth / Fuzz to OD, same sweep as Bias 1 |
| Remote | Bias 1/2 switching port |
The remote port matters for board users: the Bias 1/2 switching can be triggered remotely, so the two bias characters can be changed mid-song without bending down1.
How it sounds
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, described sustaining, richly textured harmonics with a flowing sheen, well-behaved tempered voicings, and excellent cleanup as you turn down the guitar's volume, avoiding raw, nasty fuzz1. In the site's year-end roundup he summed it up this way:
"This is a really smart take on the Classic Fuzz - for those who prefer that voicing tempered with a little overdrive action too!"
Design and build
The enclosure has a textured finish with gleaming metallic gold print, gun-metal gray / titanium colored engraved knobs, and raised surrounds for the mini knobs. Back-lit lights include the main Cornerstone logo ident, and the footswitches are soft-touch. The reviewer described the build as feeling high quality, "Deluxe even"1.
Guitar Pedal X reported in April 2024 that Batch 1 was mostly sold out at the time of review, and suggested checking dealers for stock1.
Background
Guitar Pedal X's review says Emilio Massari and his designer spent a good couple of years honing the project before release1. The overdrive half of the pedal draws on the Gladio SC, which Guitar.com's 2022 review described as putting the Gladio's Dumble-inspired preamp into a format that works on even the smallest boards3. Cornerstone also makes the related Nero Fuzz, a hybrid fuzz and overdrive in the same family.
Factory settings
The pedal arrives with all the big dials at noon, Bias 1 at 9 o'clock and Bias 2 at 3 o'clock. The reviewer found it easy to adjust from there and sounding great from the get-go1.
Questions
What is the Cornerstone Nero Dumble-Fuzz based on?
Guitar Pedal X's review describes the circuit as mostly opamp-based, combining a Fuzz Face-style fuzz with Cornerstone's own Gladio SC circuit, a Dumble-inspired preamp design. The two run in parallel, and the Comp knob blends progressively more of the Gladio SC overdrive into the fuzz voicing as you turn it clockwise.
What does the Comp knob do on the Nero Dumble-Fuzz?
Comp works as a parallel mix between the fuzz side and the Gladio SC overdrive side. Fully counterclockwise you get the most fuzzy sound, and turning it up blends in more of the Gladio SC, tempering the fuzz voicing with overdrive. Guitar Pedal X also labels it as a Temperament control.
Can I switch the bias settings remotely?
Yes. The pedal has a remote Bias 1/2 switching port, so you can switch between the two bias settings from outside the pedal, for example from a switching system on your board.
What are the factory settings on the Nero Dumble-Fuzz?
According to Guitar Pedal X, the pedal arrives with all the big dials at noon, Bias 1 at 9 o'clock and Bias 2 at 3 o'clock, and the reviewer found it easy to adjust from there and sounding good straight away.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-04-03
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-18
- Cornerstone Gladio SC review: The most pedalboard-friendly Dumble pedal around?, Guitar.com, 2022-03-01
