The Fjord Fuzz MIME Reverb is a compact digital reverb pedal built on the Spin FV-1 chip, the programmable DSP found in many boutique time-based pedals. What set it apart at launch was how its two voices came about: the Blue mode was suggested by the ChatGPT generative AI bot, while the Red mode was designed by hand. Daniel Thornhill designed the sounds and Eirik Nordstrand programmed them1.
The pedal is mono rather than stereo, and its feedback path is analog, with a knob that pushes the reverb size all the way into oscillation. Guitar Pedal X reviewed it in December 2023 at a list price of $199 from the Fjord Fuzz webstore1.
The two modes: Red and Blue
The MIME's voices are selected with a teardrop-shaped push-button, and the two sides are deliberately contrasting1.
| Mode | Character | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Bright, metallic, almost plate-like reverb | Suggested by the ChatGPT generative AI bot1 |
| Red | Dynamic reverb that responds to touch, dark and warm tail, sound-on-sound layering at high feedback | Designed by hand1 |
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer described the pairing as a dual-voiced FV-1 style reverb with a colder, more metallic, almost plate-like AI-infused Blue side and a warm, dynamic, touch-sensitive Red side3. On the Red side, the reverb responds to how hard you play: hit it hard and the reverb itself quiets down, and at high feedback settings it produces a dual-layered, sound-on-sound effect1.
Controls, footswitches and expression
The original MIME keeps its control set small:
- Upper knob: Analog feedback, which acts as reverb size and runs to oscillation1
- Teardrop push-button: Selects Red or Blue reverb1
- Left footswitch: Activates max feedback1
- Right footswitch: Engages or bypasses the pedal1
- Expression port (lower edge): Lets an expression pedal control the feedback knob1
The left footswitch is the performance control of the pair: it slams the feedback to maximum on demand, which is where the pedal's oscillation and sound-on-sound behavior live1.
The MIME is a mono device. If your rig runs in stereo, the reviewer at Guitar Pedal X wished it could be full stereo, and the same limitation carried over to the MIME II, which he also described as a mono device14.
Where it came from
Fjord Fuzz launched the MIME in 2023 as an experiment in AI-assisted pedal design: the ChatGPT bot suggested the Blue mode's bright, metallic, plate-like character, while the complementary Red mode was designed without AI assistance1. The pedal also appeared in a Space Odyssey all-white colourway edition from Little Box Effects1.
In July 2024 the pedal was upgraded and rebooted as the MIME II. The expression port and the mini binary button inside the drop-shaped LED aperture were dropped, features the reviewer noted had proved too fiddly to manufacture and, for quite a few users, too fiddly to operate. They were replaced by a 3-way mode toggle, the feedback moved to digital control, and a third Spring Reverb mode was added, described as a fairly authentic spring reverb complete with quacky attacks and drip-like effects. The MIME II shipped in Black and Gold and White and Red colourways24.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X reviewed the original MIME in December 2023 and found a lot to like in its simple layout1:
"All in all it's a really neat design for a Reverb pedal - and really potent for its relatively few controls."
The same reviewer named it among the best new time-based effects of 2023, calling it a really smart dual-voiced FV-1 style reverb3. Of the MIME II, he wrote that Daniel Thornhill's reworked AI-infused reverb adds a third Spring Reverb voicing, and concluded:
"Three stellar reverbs onboard - where all of them sound superb."
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Questions
What chip does the Fjord Fuzz MIME use?
The MIME Reverb is powered by the Spin FV-1 chip, the same programmable DSP used in a wide range of boutique reverb and delay pedals. Daniel Thornhill designed the sounds and Eirik Nordstrand programmed them for the FV-1.
Is the Fjord Fuzz MIME Reverb stereo?
No. The original MIME is a mono device, and the reviewer at Guitar Pedal X noted he wished it could be full stereo. The MIME II that followed it is also described as a mono device, so neither version suits a stereo rig.
Can I use an expression pedal with the MIME?
Yes, on the original MIME. An expression port on the lower edge of the pedal lets you control the Feedback knob (the top knob) with an expression pedal. The MIME II dropped this port along with the mini binary button, replacing both with a 3-way mode toggle.
What is the difference between Red and Blue mode?
Blue mode is the bright, metallic, almost plate-like reverb that was suggested by the ChatGPT generative AI bot. Red mode is a human-designed, dynamic reverb that responds to your touch, with a dark, warm tail and sound-on-sound layering at high feedback settings.
What does the left footswitch do on the MIME?
The left footswitch activates Max Feedback, momentarily pushing the feedback circuit to its maximum. The right footswitch engages or bypasses the pedal. On the MIME II the Max Feedback footswitch is also momentary.
How does the MIME II differ from the original MIME?
The MIME II replaces the original's expression port and mini binary button with a 3-way mode toggle, moves the feedback circuit to digital control, and adds a third Spring Reverb mode with quacky attacks and drip-like effects. It shipped in Black and Gold and White and Red colourways.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-05
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-07-18
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-20
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-20
