Function F(x) Hive Mind Fuzz Micro

The Function F(x) Hive Mind Fuzz Micro is a mini-format fuzz pedal built around the Burns Buzzaround, a vintage British fuzz circuit. 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 modern updates, including a Volume control the original circuit did not have¹. It sits in the mini fuzz category alongside the rest of the Fuzz Pedals field.

What it does

The Buzzaround is a 1960s fuzz design, and Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson classifies the Baldwin Burns Buzzaround as "kind of the other side of the coin to the TB MKIII," placing it in the Tone Bender family of fuzzes². The Hive Mind Fuzz Micro carries that circuit into a small enclosure with four controls: Tilt EQ, Level, Sustain and Timbre². The Sustain control drives the fuzz, Level sets output volume, and the Tilt EQ and Timbre controls shape the tone, with the added Volume control being one of the changes from the original circuit¹².

Where it comes from

Function f(x) is a small builder with a focus on detailed construction. Paolo De Gregorio of Delicious Audio wrote that "Dave Friesema of Function F(x) builds some mini fuzz pedals with painstaking attention to detail using through-hole cons[truction]"³. On the maker's own product page, the company explains its approach to the circuit: "While we stayed close to the original circuit in terms of parts and values, we made some critical modern updates"¹.

Function f(x) also builds a full-size Hive Mind alongside other fuzz designs such as the Clusterfuzz, the Clusterfuzz Micro and the Gate Crasher.

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