The Diamond Pedals Fireburst Fuzz is a fuzz pedal with a second voice built in: hit the Mid-Boost footswitch and the fuzz transforms into an overdrive, a higher-gain distortion of sorts with a smoother drive tone. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, called it a 2-in-1 pedal on that basis, and summed up his verdict plainly: "Call me pleasantly surprised by this one: Diamond Pedals makes an incredible fuzz."1
When first engaged, the pedal is in Fuzz mode, and the reviewer found plenty of it: "Loads of sustain take over your signal, and added on top are warm and lush fuzzsaw (that's a word, right?) sounds, from light bumblebee to a flock of hornets."1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of fuzz and gain. "Even with the Gain knob turned down, this baby still packs a punch."1 |
| Bass | Shapes the low end of the tone1 |
| Treble | Shapes the high end of the tone1 |
| Mid-Boost footswitch | Switches the pedal from fuzz into an overdrive-style higher-gain distortion tone with one click1 |
The Bass and Treble controls sit inside a Baxandall tone control system, which the reviewer credited in part for the pedal's tone shaping: "The Bass and Treble controls are welcome as usual, and provide the opportunity to really focus your tone's overall sound."1
One detail worth knowing before you put the Fireburst on a board: the Mid-Boost half has its own LED, and it comes on regardless of whether the effect is actually engaged. The reviewer noted this gives the player the ability to see the tone that is set before engaging the pedal.1
The Fireburst Fuzz Distortion v2
In 2017, Diamond Pedals released the Fireburst Fuzz Distortion v2, a smaller-sized version of the original FBR-1. The main change is on the footswitch side: the second footswitch has been turned into a toggle switch, so Mid-Boost is now selected with a toggle rather than a stomp. When first engaged, the v2 is still in Fuzz mode, and the Gain, Bass and Treble controls carry over, including the Baxandall tone control system.2
Pedal of the Day's review of the v2 found nothing lost in the shrink: "the killer tones remain completely in tact" despite the smaller size and the toggle change. The reviewer also praised the two-voice design: "The choice to go from balls-out fuzzy to a smoother drive tone with one hands-free click is awesome, and really makes th[e] pedal."2
The v2 replaces the original FBR-1 layout: the Mid-Boost function moves from a footswitch to a toggle switch, so the hands-free switching of the original becomes a pre-set selection on the v2.2
Fuzz or overdrive?
Both, depending on the mode. In Fuzz mode it is a sustain-heavy fuzz in the bumblebee-to-hornets range the reviewer described. Engage Mid-Boost and, as the reviewer put it, "something rad happens: the fuzz transforms into an overdrive," taking away some of the deep fuzz tones and becoming a higher-gain distortion of sorts.1 For a player deciding where it sits on a board, it can stand in for a fuzz and a drive at once, which is the whole point of the 2-in-1 design.
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Questions
What does the Mid-Boost do on the Diamond Fireburst Fuzz?
The Mid-Boost mode takes away some of the deep fuzz tones and turns the pedal into a higher-gain distortion of sorts, a smoother drive tone. On the original Fireburst it is engaged with a second footswitch; on the Fireburst Fuzz Distortion v2 it is engaged with a toggle switch. Either way, one click takes you from full fuzz to a drive sound.
Does the Fireburst Fuzz have a tone control?
It has two: Bass and Treble. Pedal of the Day's reviewer described them as welcome as usual, giving the chance to really focus the overall sound. The pedal uses a Baxandall tone control system inside, which the reviewer credited in part for the tone shaping.
Does the Mid-Boost LED light when the pedal is off?
Yes. On the original Fireburst, the LED for the Mid-Boost half comes on regardless of whether the effect is actually engaged, so you can see the tone you have set before you switch the pedal on.
Is the Diamond Fireburst a fuzz or an overdrive?
It is both. When first engaged it is in Fuzz mode, and the Mid-Boost footswitch or toggle transforms the fuzz into an overdrive, a higher-gain distortion of sorts. Pedal of the Day called it a 2-in-1 pedal for that reason.
Sources (2)
- Diamond Pedals Fireburst Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2014-12-21
- Diamond Pedals Fireburst Fuzz Distortion v2, Pedal of the Day, 2017-09-20