The Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz is a silicon high-gain fuzz pedal made in the UK, built around four silicon diodes for clipping. Echoline specialises in vintage-flavored effects at the classily understated end of the British boutique pedal market, and this pedal is its take on a fuzz that stays full-range and harmonically rich even at high gain1.
Sound and controls
The pedal carries just three controls1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Tone | Passively attenuates high frequencies without sacrificing midrange and clarity, per the manual1 |
| Gain | Spans from an old-school, fully fuzzy but less present sound with more dynamic range at zero, to what the reviewer called thunderous chaos when maxed1 |
Guitar.com's reviewer described the core sound as high-gain with a full-range frequency response and "the kind of harmonic richness that makes power-chords sound instantly epic"1.
The tone control is the pedal's most discussed feature. According to the manual, it has been "tailored to passively attenuate high frequencies without sacrificing midrange and clarity"1. The reviewer found the extremes of the dial strikingly different:
"whip back and forth between those two ends of the dial and it sounds like two different fuzzes, both of them extremely nice"
Power, bypass and size
The pedal uses buffered bypass and runs on a 9V mains supply only, which is not included1. There is no battery option, so a 9V supply is required for use.
The Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz runs on a 9V mains supply only and no power supply is included with the pedal1.
It measures 121 x 72 x 56mm, part of a redesign of the Echoline range that made the pedals smaller so they fit more easily on modern pedalboards1. The enclosure is all-black metal with fire-engine red knobs, which the reviewer called stylishly simple1.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's review, by Richard Purvis, rated the pedal 9 and summed it up as "A thoughtfully designed and surprisingly versatile fuzz monster"1. On build quality, the reviewer found nothing wrong with the overall build or the choice of hardware components, and no obvious clues as to how the low retail price is achieved1.
One caveat concerns cleaning up with the guitar's volume knob. Unlike a Fuzz Face, the reviewer found that rolling back the guitar volume made "things get woofy and weak rather than crunchy and crisp"1. Players who rely on volume-knob cleanup may prefer to treat this as a full-on fuzz and use the gain control to shape intensity instead.
Videos
Pete Thorn
Questions
Is the Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz true bypass?
No. The pedal uses buffered bypass rather than true bypass, according to Guitar.com's review. A buffer can be useful on long pedalboard cable runs, though players who prefer their signal untouched when the pedal is off may want to factor that in.
Does the Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz come with a power supply?
No. The pedal runs on a 9V mains supply only, and that supply is not included with the pedal. There is no battery option, so plan for a 9V DC outlet or isolated power supply on your board.
Can the Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz run on a battery?
No. Guitar.com's review lists the pedal as powered by a 9V mains supply only, with no battery operation mentioned. A 9V supply is required and is not supplied with the pedal.
How many diodes does the Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz use for clipping?
Four silicon diodes handle the clipping. Guitar.com notes that these are what deliver the pedal's harmonically rich fuzz character.
Does the Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz clean up with the guitar's volume knob?
Not in the way a Fuzz Face does. Guitar.com's reviewer found that rolling back the guitar's volume made things woofy and weak rather than crunchy and crisp, so this is a pedal best treated as a full-on fuzz rather than one that cleans up gradually.
How big is the Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz?
The pedal measures 121 x 72 x 56mm. That compact footprint reflects a redesign of the Echoline range to make the pedals fit more easily on modern pedalboards.
Sources (1)
- Review: Echoline Silicon Hi-Gain Fuzz, guitar.com, 2020-09-10
