The Juliet Collective Orangecream is a distortion pedal built around an unusual idea: instead of one clipping stage, it uses two parallel clipping stages, a hard-clipping fuzz section and a softer distortion stage, to approximate the sound of Clapton's fuzz-era tone. Premier Guitar reviewed it in September 2023, listing a street price of $1501.
How it works and how it sounds
The two parallel clipping stages are the heart of the design. One is a hard-clipping fuzz section, the other a softer distortion stage, and together they aim at the sound of a pushed fuzz rather than a conventional distortion1. Inside, a PC board housing 2N2222 transistors is mounted to the enclosure1.
Premier Guitar's reviewer tested it with a Les Paul through a '60s Fender Bassman and came away with this verdict1:
"Attack is quick and precise with a top-end fizz that complements a Les Paul's naturally bassy character."
At the top end of its range, the pedal leans toward fuzz territory. High crunch and volume settings yield aggressive, filthy tones reminiscent of a germanium Fuzz Face with the fuzz and volume controls wide open1. If that direction interests you, it sits between the worlds of distortion pedals and fuzz pedals.
Controls
The Orangecream keeps things simple with three knobs1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Crunch (left-hand knob) | Adjusts the crunch range. Higher settings tighten the bottom end and yield a spikier attack; rolling it back emphasizes the low end1 |
| Sustain | Sets sustain; in the review's Les Paul test it sat at about 4 o'clock with crunch nearly maxed1 |
| Right-hand knob | Smoothes the output when turned clockwise while acting as a master volume1 |
Enclosure and power
The cylindrical enclosure evokes the flying-saucer-shaped Fuzz Face. It is taller than the Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini but has a similar footprint, so it takes up comparable pedalboard space1.
Battery changes are not tool-free: you need a 3/32" allen wrench to open the enclosure and replace batteries1.
Power is straightforward. You can run it with a 9V battery or a standard power supply, so it will slot into an ordinary pedalboard power setup1.
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Questions
How much does the Juliet Collective Orangecream cost?
Premier Guitar's September 2023 review lists a street price of $150 in the United States. As with any small-batch pedal, actual pricing can vary by dealer, but $150 is the figure the review gives as the going rate at the time it was published.
How do you change the battery in the Orangecream?
The Orangecream runs on a 9V battery, but the battery is not behind a quick-access door. According to Premier Guitar's review, you need a 3/32-inch allen wrench to open the cylindrical enclosure and get at the battery, so keep one on hand if you plan to run it on battery power.
What transistors are inside the Orangecream?
Premier Guitar's review describes a PC board housing 2N2222 transistors, mounted to the enclosure. The 2N2222 is a silicon transistor commonly associated with hard-clipping fuzz-style circuits.
Does the Orangecream sound like a Fuzz Face?
At high crunch and volume settings, Premier Guitar's reviewer found aggressive, filthy tones reminiscent of a germanium Fuzz Face with its fuzz and volume controls wide open. The pedal's cylindrical enclosure also evokes the flying-saucer-shaped Fuzz Face, though it is a distortion rather than a fuzz.
Can the Orangecream run on a power supply?
Yes. Premier Guitar notes you can power it with a 9V battery or a standard power supply, so it will fit into a normal pedalboard power setup as well as running on battery.
Sources (1)
- Juliet Collective Orangecream Review, Premier Guitar, 2014-06-19
