Dr Scientist Fuzz Dazzler

The Dr Scientist Frazz Dazzler is a dual-channel fuzz pedal with a wide gain range and a full 3-band equalizer, built around what the maker calls a uniquely designed circuit¹. It sits in the fuzz camp, but unlike a one-knob fuzz it gives the player gain staging, EQ and voltage control in one box, which is why it has drawn attention from both guitar and bass reviewers¹².

What it does

Dr. Scientist describes the Frazz Dazzler as "a dual-channel, aggressive fuzz with a wide gain range and a full 3-band equalizer"¹. In practice that means two footswitchable levels of fuzz rather than a single setting: MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen noted that "The Frazz Dazzler offers two levels of fuzz via its gain switch"⁶. The three-band EQ means the tone can be shaped before the fuzz character is set, which is unusual on a fuzz and is the pedal's main selling point against simpler circuits.

The other signature feature is the voltage starve control. Pedal of the Day's reviewer described it this way⁵⁷:

The Volts knob is the pedal's voltage starve control. As the Pedal of the Day reviewer put it, "A fun Volts allows you to control the amount of voltage the circuit gets," describing it as a route to gated fuzz sounds and massive headroom fuzz⁷.

Starving a fuzz circuit of voltage is a long-standing trick for getting spitty, gated, dying-battery sounds; having it on a knob means the player can sweep between that and a full-headroom fuzz voicing without touching the pedal's innards⁷.

Controls

Versions

The pedal has appeared in more than one form. RockBoard's PedalPedia documents a Green Sparkle version⁴ as well as a V2, which it describes in the same terms as the original: "The Frazz Dazzler is a dual-channel, aggressive fuzz with a wide gain range and a full 3-band equalizer"¹. Players comparing listings should check which version they are looking at, since the enclosure finishes differ between the Green Sparkle and V2⁴³.

What reviewers said

The Frazz Dazzler has been reviewed for both guitar and bass, and the verdicts have been positive on both sides of the plug²⁸.

• MusicRadar included it in a boutique fuzz pedal shootout, putting "six notable fuzzboxes through their paces" with pedals loaned by Wunjo Guitars⁸.
• Pedal of the Day praised the maker's approach, calling Dr. Scientist "A company that absolutely adheres to this mantra" of designers "who continually reinvests the proverbial sonic wheel, creating unique design after design"⁷.
• Bass Musician Magazine's Jonathan Moody, reviewing it in May 2013, called it "a fuzz pedal that works well with all sorts of basses AND has a mix knob for your particular taste"².

That bass endorsement is worth noting: fuzz pedals often struggle with the low end of a bass signal, and a reviewer finding it "works well with all sorts of basses" plus offering a mix knob puts it in a smaller group of fuzzes that suit bass pedals as well as guitar rigs².

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