The Lastgasp Art Laboratories Super Oscillo Fuzz 88 is a fuzz distortion pedal with its own internal oscillation system, built in Japan under the full name "Hachihachi shiki kebadate hizumaseki SUPER OSCILLO FUZZ"1. Where a conventional fuzz pedal only clips your signal, the 88 can also generate its own tones, and Delicious Audio describes it as a wild oscillating fuzz intended to sound like a jet engine2.
Its main feature is the huge variety of oscillations selectable through any combination of its six switches, which Delicious Audio says gives the pedal an almost unlimited variety of fuzz distortion and oscillation sounds1. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it:
"A fantastic journey into circuit-bending with a very responsive oscillating fuzz"3
The controls and the six Node Switches
The control set breaks into three groups: a Level knob, an Adjust knob covering tone, gain, pitch and feedback, and the six Node Switches, with a CV pedal input on the left side of the enclosure3. Alongside the effect's ON/OFF footswitch, the six switches are toggles4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets output volume3 |
| Adjust | Tone, gain, pitch and feedback3 |
| 6 Node Switches | Switch in different nodes of the circuit, shaping tone, character, oscillation and feedback3 |
| CV pedal input | Left-side jack for control voltage pedal control3 |
The Node Switches are where the pedal earns its name. Each of the six numbered switches switches in a different node of the circuit, and combining two or three of them produces very different results3. Analog Man's listing describes them as changing the tone and the type of distortion or oscillation sounds created by any combination of the six4.
Not every combination makes noise. Analog Man's listing warns that in some cases, no sound may be emitted at all4. Treat silent combinations as part of how the pedal works rather than a fault.
Where the 88 came from
The number follows Lastgasp's naming scheme for its earlier models, the "Hachi roku" (the 86) and the "Hachi nana" (the 87), and the design motif on the enclosure is based on Japanese WW2 "Zero" fighter planes1. The pedal has been sold through US and UK dealers for years: Analog Man listed it at $285 USD in June 20064, and Guitar Pedal X gave its price as $350 USD in May 20243.
Videos
Dennis Kayzer
MagicLawnChair
The Sound Parcel
Questions
What does the 88 in Super Oscillo Fuzz 88 mean?
The pedal's full Japanese name is the "Hachihachi shiki kebadate hizumaseki SUPER OSCILLO FUZZ", and 88 follows Lastgasp's earlier models named after Japanese planes: the "Hachi roku" (the 86) and the "Hachi nana" (the 87). The enclosure's design motif is based on Japanese WW2 "Zero" fighter planes.
How much does the Lastgasp Super Oscillo Fuzz 88 cost?
Guitar Pedal X listed it at $350 USD in May 2024. An earlier Analog Man listing from June 2006 priced it at $285 USD, so the price has moved over the pedal's long run.
What do the Node Switches do?
Each of the six numbered switches switches in a different node of the circuit, changing the tone and the type of distortion or oscillation. Combining two or three of them at a time yields a huge variety of oscillation and fuzz sounds, and in some combinations no sound may be emitted at all.
Does the Super Oscillo Fuzz 88 work with a CV pedal?
Yes. The pedal has a CV pedal input on its left side, so an expression-style control voltage pedal can be used to manipulate the sound while you play.
What is circuit-bending in a guitar pedal?
Circuit-bending means deliberately rerouting or shorting points inside a circuit to make sounds the designer did not intend. Here the six Node Switches bring that idea to the front panel: each one switches in a different node of the circuit, and combinations of them reshape the distortion and oscillation.
Sources (4)
- Lastgasp Art Laboratories 88 Super Oscillo Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2018-01-23
- The Best Crazy, Weird, And Unusual Fuzz Pedals In 2024, Delicious Audio, 2024-10-24
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-05-09
- effect pedals, Analog Man (analogman.com), 2006-06
