The Main.Ace.FX Shell Shock Fuzz/Tremolo is a 2-in-1 pedal that combines a fuzz and a tremolo in a single enclosure. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in June 2017, called it "a 2-in-1 that is chalk-full of sonic exploration and enhancement," and placed it among a lineup the reviewer described as consistently quality, if not always surprising and creative in overall approach. The Shell Shock is part of the lineup created by James Granuzzo.1
The fuzz side
The fuzz side of the Shell Shock brings what the reviewer called the thunder, sporting Volume, Tone and Gain control knobs. A two-way Fuzz Mode toggle switch gives you a couple of different sonic flavors to play around with. In terms of what it can produce, the reviewer wrote that you can easily create old school, 8-Bit fuzz sounds, thick walls of fuzzy glory and just about anything else you can imagine in the way of serious dirty dirt tone. For players weighing a dedicated fuzz against this combined unit, the fuzz side sits alongside the usual territory covered on the Fuzz Pedals page.1
The tremolo side
The tremolo side features your basic Volume and Speed controls, plus a Wave Shape toggle that lets you select from three different types of waveform, going from smooth and silky to stuttering, sharp and powerful. The third footswitch on this side lets you select from fast or slow trem speeds in an instant, which the reviewer described as making the Shell Shock virtually two tremolo pedals in one. How the Shell Shock's approach compares with single-purpose units is covered on the Tremolo Pedals page.1
Running both sides together
The two sides can be activated simultaneously, and the reviewer found that this changes both of them1:
"The Fuzz side becomes thicker, with a bit of a boost, and the tremolo waves add an entirely new sonic experience for you."
Design and handling
Despite the number of controls, the reviewer described the Shell Shock as all trapped inside a big old box that is deceivingly easy to operate and master. He also noted that the pedals from Main.Ace.FX are pretty easy to spot, and summed up the Shell Shock as yet another in this impressive group of effects.1
Videos
Pedal of the Day
David Wayne Broyles
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Can you run the fuzz and tremolo at the same time on the Shell Shock?
Yes. When both sides are activated simultaneously, Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that the fuzz side becomes thicker, with a bit of a boost, and the tremolo waves add what he called an entirely new sonic experience. The pedal is built as a 2-in-1, so each side can also be used on its own.
How many tremolo waveforms does the Shell Shock have?
Three. A Wave Shape toggle lets you select from three different types of waveform, which Pedal of the Day described as going from smooth and silky to stuttering, sharp and powerful.
Who designed the Main.Ace.FX Shell Shock?
The Shell Shock is part of the Main.Ace.FX lineup created by James Granuzzo, according to Pedal of the Day's 2017 review.
What does the third footswitch do?
On the tremolo side, a third footswitch lets you select from fast or slow trem speeds in an instant, which Pedal of the Day described as making the Shell Shock virtually two tremolo pedals in one.
Sources (1)
- Main.Ace.FX Shell Shock Fuzz Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2017-06-21