The Fjord Fuzz EMBLA is a fuzz pedal made for the live stage that behaves more like an overdrive: more dynamic and flexible than your average fuzz, in the words of Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio. Pedal of the Day calls it an Overdrive Fuzz, a mix of circuits that presents a wide range of dirt to experiment with, and notes that Fjord Fuzz reworked the EMBLA circuit dozens of times before arriving at this version. It can produce a '60s Tonebender type fuzz tone while still cleaning up like a drive pedal.12
A fuzz that behaves like an overdrive
The EMBLA came out of the designer's wish for a fuzz that acted like an overdrive. "This circuit was my first true invention and it has now gone through dozens of iterations to end up like this. I wanted..." De Gregorio quotes the designer explaining, adding that overdrives struck him as too boring. The pedal has gone through several versions to improve that original concept.2
The Gain and Volume knobs take you from crisp, beautiful clean boost to thick, heavy fuzz and any nuance in between, according to Pedal of the Day, which also found that the pedal "cleans up brilliantly and just always works, with any instrument, any amp and in any setting."1 Delicious Audio describes the same range: from clean boost to thick, heavy fuzz and anything in between, also cleaning up very well.2 For players weighing fuzz against drive, the EMBLA sits between the two camps covered on Fuzz Pedals and Overdrive Pedals.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Runs from clean boost to thick, heavy fuzz, with every nuance in between1 |
| Volume | Sets output level alongside the Gain sweep1 |
| Thickness | Pairs the pedal with any amp: turn it down for low wattage setups and back up for huge stage amps1 |
| Bias | Starves the signal without ever turning the pedal off; lower settings give starved, sputtery tones12 |
The Bias knob deserves a closer look. Because it starves the circuit without switching the pedal off, it can help make your guitar sound like a '60s Tonebender type fuzz tone, and Pedal of the Day makes the same point. Delicious Audio adds that it is useful for bassists who do not want to add to the noise floor while idle, which makes the EMBLA worth a look for players browsing Bass Pedals as well as guitar.12
"The bias knob lets you starve the signal without ever turning the pedal off."
The unlabeled knobs
One thing to know before you buy into the platform: the knobs are not labeled on Fjord Fuzz effects, as Pedal of the Day points out in its review. Settings are read by knob position rather than printed numbers, so a photo of your settings is the practical way to remember a favorite sound.1
Where it sits in the Fjord Fuzz range
The EMBLA is an early design from the Norwegian maker, and the company has since grown a wide catalog of fuzz-based pedals, including the Fjord Fuzz Berserk V2, the Fjord Fuzz Thor gated fuzz, the Fjord Fuzz SOL Fuzz-Vibe and the Fjord Fuzz Midnattssol fuzz and vibe workstation. The EMBLA remains the circuit the designer calls his first true invention.2
Pedal of the Day's verdict on the EMBLA itself: "We dig this one as much as any of their pedals we've played thus far."1
Videos
Fjord Fuzz AS
Eirik Stordrange
Ponderer Sounds
Questions
What does the Bias knob do on the Fjord Fuzz EMBLA?
The Bias knob lets you starve the signal without ever turning the pedal off. Lower settings produce starved, sputtery circuit tones, and the control can help make a guitar sound like a '60s Tonebender type fuzz tone. It is also useful for bassists who do not want the pedal adding to the noise floor while idle.
Does the EMBLA clean up with the guitar's volume knob?
Yes. Both reviewers describe the EMBLA as cleaning up brilliantly, and Delicious Audio notes that it works with any instrument, any amp and in any setting. The Gain and Volume knobs run from crisp clean boost to thick, heavy fuzz, with the pedal responding dynamically in between.
Why aren't the knobs labeled on Fjord Fuzz pedals?
The knobs are not labeled on Fjord Fuzz effects, as Pedal of the Day notes in its review of the EMBLA. Players set the pedal by feel and position rather than printed markings, which is part of the maker's design approach.
Does the Thickness control suit small amps?
The Thickness control lets you pair the EMBLA with any amp. Pedal of the Day suggests turning it down for low wattage setups and back up for huge stage amps, so it works as a voicing control that matches the pedal to whatever amplifier you play through.
Sources (2)
- Fjord Fuzz EMBLA Overdrive Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2022-01-15
- Fjord Fuzz EMBLA, Delicious Audio, 2021-01-07
