The Fredric Effects Nouveau Super Unpleasant Companion is a multi-mode fuzz pedal, made in the UK, that combines two vintage Shin-Ei fuzz circuits in a single enclosure: the FY-2 Companion Fuzz and the FY-6 Superfuzz. Fredric Effects describes the circuit as a faithful reproduction of both1. It is now discontinued: the maker's product page states plainly, "This pedal is discontinued!" and points players to the Petite Super Unpleasant Companion instead1.
Two Shin-Ei fuzz circuits in one pedal
Shin-Ei's FY-2 Companion Fuzz and FY-6 Superfuzz are two of the more abrasive voices in vintage fuzz, and the Nouveau Super Unpleasant Companion puts both in one box as a Shin-Ei FY-2 and FY-6 Superfuzz clone in a custom enclosure1. A toggle switch selects between the FY-2 and FY-6 circuits1.
Guitar.com's reviewer, Richard Purvis, heard clear differences between the two sides. In FY-2 mode with both switches up, he found the pedal "grinding out angular shards of fuzz with a fanatical focus on the midrange," and flipping the tone switch down "scoops a huge chunk out of that midrange; the treble response remains somewhat stifled"2. In FY-6 mode with the tone switch in position 1, he called it "a much more open and edgy sound than the FY-2, absolutely nailing the ratty snarl of the opening riff to Mudhoney's Touch Me I'm Sick"2. With a neck pickup and the tone rolled down, FY-6 mode "brings out the high overtones for an almost Octavia-like effect"2.
Controls and modes
The pedal's controls differ by mode, and the tone switch taken from the original FY-6 can also be applied to the FY-2 circuit, giving a total of four distinct voices2.
Guitar.com lists the control set as an Expander (fuzz), a Balance acting as the level, the FY-2/FY-6 mode switch, and a tone 1/2 switch2.
The enclosure follows the wedge format Fredric Effects uses across its range, with top-mounted jacks and the controls on the front face1. The Nouveau is the smaller sibling of the Classic Super Unpleasant Companion: Fredric Effects describes its enclosure as "slightly smaller than our Classic Super Unpleasant Companion"1.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's review delivered the verdict: "A feisty fuzz that lives up to its name with four distinct flavours of gnarly rudeness"2.
Videos
timhulio
Happy Mag
Gearaholics
Sources (2)
- Nouveau Super Unpleasant Companion, Fredric Effects
- Fredric Effects Nouveau Super Unpleasant Companion review: An uncompromising multi-fuzz pedal for channelling your inner rage, Guitar.com, 2022-05-20
