The Hologram FX Guardian Fuzz is a fuzz pedal built with silicon transistors through a true bypass circuit. It is all analog and handmade in Mexico City, and it pairs its fuzz with two extras most fuzzes do not have: a Gate knob that kills background noise after the sustain, and a second footswitch labeled OSC that activates internal oscillations1. Pedal of the Day featured the pedal in October 20182.
Fuzz with a gate and an oscillator
The Guardian Fuzz is built around a silicon-transistor fuzz circuit, and Pedal of the Day's review describes it as producing "elements of fuzz, distortion, oscillation and overall weirdness with ease"1. The reviewer's verdict was that "the Guardian delivers classic fuzz tones, but with more control on tap than usual"1.
Two features set it apart from a straightforward fuzz:
- A Gate knob that works together with the fuzz, killing any undesirable background noise after the fuzzy sustain1
- An OSC footswitch that activates the pedal's internal oscillations, creating a whole slew of new sounds to play with and attempt to tame1
Pedal of the Day also noted the pedal's look as well as its sound, calling it "stimulating both in the audio and visual departments, with some funky artwork for your viewing enjoyment"1.
The controls
The Guardian Fuzz has four top-mounted knobs, a toggle switch and two footswitches:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Controls the output, as it should1 |
| Gain | Represents how much distortion and fuzz are present in the signal1 |
| Tone | Gives a large amplitude for the tonal modification, opening up a lot of sonic possibilities from all avenues of your EQ1 |
| Gate | Kills any undesirable background noise after the fuzzy sustain1 |
| Toggle switch | Selects between two different types of fuzz styles1 |
| Main footswitch | Engages and bypasses the pedal (true bypass circuit)1 |
| OSC footswitch | Activates the internal oscillations1 |
The OSC footswitch deserves a closer look. Pedal of the Day describes how "this mode acts differently depending on the top knobs' settings, giving you a huge spectrum over which the noises and tones can glide"1. In practice, that means the oscillation behaves as part of the pedal's controls rather than as a fixed effect: turning Gain, Tone or Volume changes how the oscillations move, so the same footswitch can produce very different sounds depending on where the knobs are set.
How it compares
A standard fuzz, like most pedals in the fuzz category, gives you a gain control and a tone control and leaves the noise floor to fend for itself. The Guardian adds a gate, which is the kind of circuit you would otherwise find in a dedicated noise gate pedal, and an oscillator section that pushes it toward synth territory. Its two-position toggle switch also lets players choose between two fuzz styles rather than one1.
Videos
Hologram FX
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Guardian Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the Guardian Fuzz as a fuzz built with silicon transistors through a true bypass circuit, so the pedal takes itself out of the signal path entirely when switched off.
Is the Hologram FX Guardian Fuzz all analog?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as all analog, and notes that it is handmade in Mexico City.
Where is the Guardian Fuzz made?
According to Pedal of the Day, the Guardian Fuzz is handmade in Mexico City.
What does the OSC footswitch do?
The second footswitch, labeled OSC, activates the pedal's internal oscillations, which create a wide range of new sounds to play with and attempt to tame. Pedal of the Day notes that OSC mode acts differently depending on the top knobs' settings, giving a huge spectrum over which the noises and tones can glide.
What does the Gate knob do on a fuzz pedal?
On the Guardian Fuzz, the Gate knob works together with the fuzz to kill any undesirable background noise after the fuzzy sustain, tightening up the pedal's response.
Sources (2)
- Hologram FX Guardian Fuzz Effects Pedal, Pedal of the Day, 2018-10-24
- Hologram FX Guardian Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2018-10-22