The Fredric Effects Mutant Fuzz is a fuzz pedal and the company's version of the Os Mutantes Regulus VIII fuzz. Fredric Effects describes the Regulus VIII as similar in topology to a silicon Fuzz Face, but with a more gritty and trebley character1. The new version of the pedal is out now, listed by the maker at £1401.
What it is based on
The Mutant Fuzz offers two voicings via a tone switch. Fredric Effects describes the two settings this way: "The hi setting sounds very 60s, whereas the low is positively doomy."2 In practice that gives players a brighter, period-flavored sound on the hi setting and a heavier, darker one on the low setting, without changing any other control.
Fredric Effects has made two changes from the original design. First, the Mutant Fuzz is "pretty much a straight clone with some added power and RF interference filtering", so it will not pick up radio stations the way the originals sometimes do1. Second, the internal bias control has been moved to the outside of the pedal, with the bias range widened1.
The controls: tone, bias and level
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tone | Rotary control on the new version, replacing the hi/low tone switch of the originals for more versatility1 |
| Bias | External control with a widened range, taking the fuzz from gated to smooth sustain1 |
| Level | Output level1 |
The gain level itself is fixed. As Delicious Audio put it, "you can roll back your guitar volume pot to clean it up a little"3. The bias control is where the playing feel is shaped: Fredric Effects says that "gated fuzz sounds to smooth sustain are now available" from the widened external control1.
Earlier versions of the Mutant Fuzz used a hi/low tone switch rather than the rotary control. Guitar Interactive's Jonathan Graham described the switch versions: "The hi setting sounds very 60s, whereas the low is positively doomy"2.
Enclosure
The pedal carries mutant artwork created by Stacey Hine, professionally screen printed onto each powder coated enclosure1.
Videos
timhulio
Coolpapabear
LongFallBoots
Questions
What is the Os Mutantes Regulus VIII fuzz?
The Regulus VIII is the fuzz circuit that the Mutant Fuzz is based on. Fredric Effects describes it as similar in topology to a silicon Fuzz Face, but with a more gritty and trebley character. The Mutant Fuzz is the company's own version of that circuit, with a rotary tone control in place of the original's tone switch and an external bias control with a widened range.
Does the Fredric Effects Mutant Fuzz pick up radio interference?
No. Fredric Effects says the Mutant Fuzz is pretty much a straight clone of the Regulus VIII with added power and RF interference filtering, so it will not pick up radio stations the way the originals sometimes do. That filtering is one of the main changes from the vintage circuit it recreates.
Can you adjust the gain on the Mutant Fuzz?
The level of gain is fixed. There is no gain knob. You can roll back your guitar's volume pot to clean the fuzz up a little, and the external bias control takes you from gated fuzz sounds through to smooth sustain, which covers much of the ground a gain control would on another pedal.
How does the Mutant Fuzz compare to a silicon Fuzz Face?
The underlying Regulus VIII circuit is similar in topology to a silicon Fuzz Face, so the two are close relatives. The difference is character: the Regulus VIII has a more gritty and trebley voice than a Fuzz Face. The Mutant Fuzz also adds power and RF filtering and moves the bias control to the outside of the pedal.
Sources (3)
- Mutant Fuzz, Fredric Effects
- Fredric Effects Unveil the Foxrite Fuzz, West German Vintage Tremolo and Mutant Fuzz Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-09-23
- Fredric Effects Announces 3 New Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2013-09-26
