The Plush Noxious Distortion is a distortion pedal from Fuchs Audio Technology, the amplifier and pedal company run by Andy Fuchs. It was originally designed for Nick Catanese, the guitarist known for his work with Black Label Society and Speed X1.
What it does
The Noxious is built around a low noise input circuit based on Fuchs' Pure Gain pedal. Writing at Pedal of the Day, reviewer Mike B said this design allows "a vast range of tones to shine"1.
The control layout is straightforward: a Gain control, an Output control, and a three-band EQ with Highs, Lows and Mids knobs1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Runs from a warm, mild overdrive up to full distortion1 |
| Output | Acts as a Master Volume1 |
| Highs, Mids, Lows | Full EQ section for matching the pedal to your amp's EQ1 |
On the Gain control, Mike B wrote: "The Gain control has a vast range as well, letting your sound go from a warm, mild overdrive all the way up to a screech"1. The Output, he found, "has absolutely NO PROBLEM cutting through any mix, drummer or eardrums that try"1.
The full EQ section is unusual on a high-gain pedal, and the reviewer noted each of the three controls "has a great amount of range, too, making it that much easier to really dial in the Noxious" to a specific sound1. For players comparing it with other gain stages, that EQ depth sets it apart from simpler overdrive pedals that typically offer only tone and level controls.
As for the character of the gain itself, Pedal of the Day described the pedal as "nothing short of a heavy metal powerhouse," while noting it stays "clean and crisp even at high-gain levels" and adds only a bit of grunge and crunch when the gain is turned down1.
Videos
Guitar World
Gary Smart
LHSoundMusic
Sources (1)
- Fuchs Audio Technology Plush Noxious Distortion, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-09-07