The Vintage Germanium Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Hartman Pedals, aimed squarely at the classic Fuzz Face sound. It uses gain-selected N.O.S. PNP germanium transistors, the old-style component type associated with vintage fuzz designs, and Pedal of the Day's review describes it as looking "as old school and classic as they come, and the sounds are just the same," built with modern, reliable parts1.
What it does to your sound
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the pedal "reacts wonderfully to the dynamics of your playing, and the sweet, warm sustain it invokes will put a smile on your face"1. In other words, it is a touch-sensitive fuzz: pick lightly and it cleans up, dig in and it sustains, which is the behavior players generally look for from a Fuzz Face style circuit.
Controls and switching
The control layout is minimal, in keeping with the vintage design it draws on.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Controls how much of the effect's signal is pumped out through your amp1 |
The footswitch uses heavy-duty true-bypass switching, and an LED indicator shows when the effect is engaged1.
Power
The pedal runs from a 9vdc power jack, and a 9v battery is included1.
Germanium fuzzes of this vintage style are often sensitive to buffers. BOSS's support article on buffers notes that "some pedals can be finicky with buffers, particularly vintage-style fuzz pedals that use germanium transistors," and that they usually sound their best with the guitar plugged into them first, so a buffered pedal such as a BOSS unit is better placed in the middle or end of the chain3. For more on where a buffer belongs, see Buffer Pedals.
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Questions
Does the Hartman Vintage Germanium Fuzz come with a battery?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review lists a 9v battery included with the pedal, alongside a 9vdc power jack for running it from a power supply. As with any pedal that ships with a battery, it is worth unplugging the input jack when not in use so the battery is not drained between sessions.
Is the Hartman Vintage Germanium Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. The Pedal of the Day review describes the pedal as having heavy-duty true-bypass switching, so the pedal's circuit is removed from your signal path when it is switched off. The pedal also has an LED indicator to show when it is engaged.
What kind of transistors does it use?
The pedal uses gain-selected N.O.S. PNP germanium transistors, according to Pedal of the Day's review. Germanium transistors are the type found in vintage fuzz designs, and gain selection means the transistors are chosen for suitable gain before they are fitted.
Can I run the Hartman Vintage Germanium Fuzz on a power supply?
Yes. The pedal has a 9vdc power jack, and a 9v battery is also included. Note that germanium fuzz designs of this vintage style are often sensitive to buffers, so many players place them first in the chain and run buffered pedals later in the signal path.
Is it a copy of the Fuzz Face?
Pedal of the Day describes the pedal as trying to create that classic Fuzz Face sound many guitarists are continually searching for. It is presented as a germanium fuzz aimed at that sound rather than described in the review as a direct copy.
Sources (3)
- Hartman Pedals Vintage Germanium Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2014-12-24
- Hartman Pedals Vintage Germanium Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2014-12-09
- Why Buffers are Important for Great Tone, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2024-02-05