The Cusack Tap-A-Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Cusack Music's Tap-A Series, and the maker describes it as combining "All the gain and grit of a Screamer Fuzz combined with the tap tempo and rhythmic patterns of the "Tap-A" Series pedals!"1 Cusack called it "the first and only fuzz on the market with tap tempo"1, letting players lock fuzz-driven tremolo patterns to a tempo tapped on the pedal's switches.
Cusack Music lists the Tap-A-Fuzz as DISCONTINUED on its product page.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Scream | Gain and LFO speed1 |
| Level | Volume1 |
| Wave | Selects wave form in combination with the Bank switch1 |
| Option | Determines fade-in time, brake speed, and tap divide1 |
| Clipping toggle (3-way) | Left: silicon, center: asymmetrical LED, right: Schottky1 |
The pedal has two footswitches, and the manual describes operations that involve pushing both footswitches at the same time.2
Tremolo on the fly
Cusack has upgraded the pedal's software since its release. As the maker explains on the product page: "UPDATE: We have recently upgraded the software. Now, by holding the bypass switch for a 200 milliseconds you can now tur"1 (the quote is cut off on the page). With the tremolo off, the Scream knob still interacts with the rate LED: fully on with the gain down, and dimming to off as Scream is turned up.1
Power and battery
The Tap-A-Fuzz runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, and Cusack notes that neither is included with the pedal.1 At roughly 11mA of current draw1, it is a light load for a pedalboard power supply. The manual also notes that "the battery is unplugged" as part of the pedal's design, so the battery can be disconnected when not in use.2
MIDI Clock sync
For players building synced rigs, Molten Voltage listed the Tap-A-Fuzz among pedals that "can sync to MIDI Clock using Molten Voltage's [CTL-Sync" in a 2014 blog post on pedals that lock to MIDI clock.3
Related Cusack fuzzes
The Tap-A-Fuzz sits alongside other Cusack fuzz designs, including the Cusack Scruzz and the Cusack Screamer Fuzz Bass, which carry the Screamer Fuzz circuit idea into other formats.
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Questions
Is the Cusack Tap-A-Fuzz discontinued?
Yes. Cusack Music lists the Tap-A-Fuzz as discontinued on its product page. The pedal was part of the company's Tap-A Series, which combined the gain and grit of a Screamer Fuzz with the tap tempo and rhythmic patterns of the other Tap-A pedals. Cusack described it as the first and only fuzz on the market with tap tempo.
Does the Tap-A-Fuzz run on a battery?
Yes. The Tap-A-Fuzz can run on a 9V battery or a standard center negative 9V DC supply, though Cusack notes that neither is included with the pedal. The manual also points out that the battery can be unplugged, which helps preserve it when the pedal is not in use.
Can the Tap-A-Fuzz sync to MIDI Clock?
According to Molten Voltage, the Tap-A-Fuzz can sync to MIDI Clock using the company's CTL-Sync, the Classic Effect Sync device. Molten Voltage listed it among pedals that can be locked to a MIDI clock in a 2014 blog post.
What clipping options does the Tap-A-Fuzz have?
A three-way clipping toggle switch offers three choices: silicon clipping on the left, asymmetrical LED clipping in the center, and Schottky clipping on the right. Combined with the Scream knob for gain, this gives the player three distinct clipping flavors from one fuzz circuit.
How do you turn the tremolo on and off on the Tap-A-Fuzz?
After a software upgrade, holding the bypass switch for 200 milliseconds turns the tremolo on and off on the fly. With the tremolo off, the Scream knob still interacts with the rate LED: fully on with the gain down, and dimming to off as Scream is turned up.
How much current does the Tap-A-Fuzz draw?
Cusack Music lists the current draw at approximately 11mA, which is light enough for most pedalboard power supplies. The pedal runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery.
Sources (3)
- Tap-a-Fuzz Tap Tempo Fuzz, Cusack Music
- Tap-A-Fuzz.pdf, Cusack Music, 2022
- MIDI PedalBoard Devices: Guitar Effect Pedals that Sync to MIDI Clock, Molten Voltage (blog.moltenvoltage.com), 2014-10-07
