Function f(x) Hive Mind

The Function f(x) Hive Mind is a mini fuzz pedal that re-creates the vintage Burns Buzzaround circuit with a few practical modern changes. Function f(x) describes it as "a modified version of the storied vintage Burns Buzzaround fuzz pedal," staying close to the original parts and values while adding updates for today's boards¹. It lists for $189.00 USD².

The circuit it comes from

The Buzzaround was designed by Gary Hurst in 1966 for the Baldwin-Burns Company. The British Pedal Company's history notes that "the Buzzaround fuzz was very different from its competitors" of the era³. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson classifies the Baldwin Burns Buzzaround as a Tone Bender style fuzz, writing that "it's kind of the other side of the coin to the TB MKIII"⁴.

The original is a rare pedal. Mojo Hand FX, which makes its own Buzzaround-inspired Rounder, calls the Burns Buzzaround Fuzz "rare and sought after"⁵. Part of the mystery is documentary: fuzzboxes.org notes that Buzzarounds carried a panel underneath denoting their serial numbers, and identical panels appear in Burns amplifiers with similar serial numbers, which makes production totals impossible to estimate⁶. The circuit's lineage also traces back further: Guitar Pedal X writes that "Baldwin Burns then somewhat copied the circuit for their own Buzzaround Fuzz" from the Harmonic Generator circuit⁷. There was also an American angle: fuzzboxes.org describes a single "Baldwin" fuzz box found in the United States, believed to be a prototype for an American version, running from a lower supply voltage but based on the British schematic⁶.

On the original, the Timbre knob works as a volume/tone control that is never fully off, according to TONEHOME's reference page⁸.

What Function f(x) changed

Function f(x) kept the heart of the circuit but made changes aimed at players today. From the maker's product page¹:

• The PNP positive ground germanium transistors (part number 2N404) are retained, as in the original.
• A sub-circuit was added so the pedal works with a standard negative ground 9V supply, the kind every modern pedal power supply provides⁹.
• A master Volume pot was added at the output of the circuit¹.

The Hive Mind carries four knobs: Sustain, Timbre, Balance, and Volume¹. Guitar Pedal X's 2022 roundup of mini fuzz pedals listed the related Hive Mind Fuzz Micro's controls as "Tilt EQ, Level, Sustain, Timbre," so the control layout differs slightly between the two versions⁴.

Size, power and build

The Hive Mind is a mini pedal, categorized by the maker under Fuzz and Mini¹. Its enclosure measures 3.6" x 1.5" x 1.2" (92.5 x 38.5 x 31 mm) and it weighs 7 oz (198 g), with laser-etched artwork¹. Power is a standard +9V supply at a 10mA draw¹, light enough for any supply output.

The maker

Function f(x) is the pedal company of Dave Friesema. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, in a buying guide to Buzzaround clones and evolutions, wrote that "Dave Friesema of Function F(x) builds some mini fuzz pedals with painstaking attention to detail using through-hole cons[truction]"¹⁰. The Hive Mind sits in a mini-pedal lineup that includes the Clusterfuzz Jr. and other compact designs on the maker's mini pedals page⁹.

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