The Majik Box Paul Gilbert Fuzz Universe is an overdrive pedal with a built-in clean boost channel, developed for Paul Gilbert by Majik Box. Despite the name, it is not a fuzz pedal: Premier Guitar's reviewer put it plainly, "First off, the Fuzz Universe not really a fuzz pedal," calling it "a little more complex than your average overdrive" because of that second, clean boost channel1.
The circuit is a combination of two existing Majik Box pedals, the Body Blow and the Venom Boost, merged and modified. Vintage Guitar reported it was Majik Box's most popular offering, built in a powder-coated aluminum chassis with Carling footswitches and a label designed by Gilbert himself23.
An overdrive and clean boost, not a fuzz
The name invites confusion, so it is worth being clear about what the pedal does. It is two effects in one box: an overdrive channel and a separate clean boost channel. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the overdrive section "milder and less angry than most overdrive pedals," which points it away from distortion or fuzz territory and toward a smoother, more controlled gain1.
The clean boost channel is the other half of the pedal. The reviewer found it "really loud but very adjustable. It kicks hard when you want it to," which makes it useful for pushing an already dirty amp harder for solos rather than adding its own character1.
How it behaves depends heavily on the amp behind it. With a dirty amp, in this case a Peavey JSX, the reviewer reported "tight and beefy smoothness," a bigger dirty signal with focused contour, singing articulation for single-note shredding, and fat power chords. He also described "ultra smooth sounding gain, long term sustain, and Santana-like overtones"1.
"this pedal has a distinct ceiling if you choose to use it with a cleaner amp"
That ceiling is the main caveat: even with the Drive knob maxed, the reviewer could not achieve nastier tones through a cleaner amp. Players who want their pedal to do most of the work into a clean platform may find it too polite; players running an amp that is already breaking up get a focused, smooth lead voice out of it1.
The controls: Drive, Thrust 1 and Thrust 2
The control layout is shared between the standard Fuzz Universe and the Fuzz Universe Custom, with three knobs and a switch12.
| Control | Location | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Thrust 2 | Upper left, chicken-head knob | Volume for the clean boost channel |
| Thrust 1 | Knob | Volume of the overdrive channel |
| Drive | Knob | Level of gain |
| On/Off switch | Lower right | Switches the Thrust 1 overdrive channel on and off |
Inputs sit on the left side of the enclosure and outputs on the right, rather than on the top or back as on many pedals, which is worth knowing before planning a pedalboard layout around it12.
Power and switching
Powering the Fuzz Universe requires a negative tip adapter, the same center-negative polarity as most standard pedal supplies. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that removal of the battery is recommended when running it on an AC adapter1.
On the switching side, Vintage Guitar reported that the pedal "has a circuit that allows for nearly silent footswitch operation while retaining true-bypass circuitry," so the signal path is bypassed entirely when the pedal is off3.
The battery must come out when you use an AC adapter. Leaving it in while powered externally is against the maker's guidance as reported in the Premier Guitar review1.
The Fuzz Universe Custom
At Gilbert's request, Majik Box created the Fuzz Universe Custom to address the one drawback of true bypass: the pop and click often heard when engaging the pedal. The Custom adds a Quiet Click circuit to reduce that noise2.
Like the standard version, the Custom is built from Majik Box's Venom Boost combined with a modified Body Blow, and Vintage Guitar described it as "not a fuzz pedal, but a separate clean boost and an overdrive pedal in one box." Its enclosure wears black-on-white graphics, a purple planet Saturn, and Gilbert's autograph on the backside. Power requirements match the standard pedal: a center negative-tip adapter, with the 9-volt battery removed when using AC2.
Vintage Guitar's reviewer found the Custom "elicited smooth warmth," with lead tones through a slightly dirty amp matching those on Gilbert's Fuzz Universe album, never harsh or heavy-metal sounding, and a tight, organic signal. The review's overall verdict was that "Even for those with no interest in Gilbert's distorted tones, the Paul Gilbert Fuzz Universe Custom will yield exceptional rock tones with invaluable boost capabilities"2.
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Questions
Is the Paul Gilbert Fuzz Universe actually a fuzz pedal?
No. Despite the name, Premier Guitar's reviewer found it is not really a fuzz pedal but an overdrive with a built-in clean boost channel. The overdrive section is described as milder and less angry than most overdrive pedals, and the circuit combines and modifies Majik Box's Body Blow and Venom Boost.
Is the Majik Box Fuzz Universe true bypass?
Yes. Vintage Guitar reported it has a circuit that allows nearly silent footswitch operation while retaining true-bypass circuitry. The Custom version added a Quiet Click circuit at Paul Gilbert's request to further reduce the pop and click heard when engaging a true bypass pedal.
What power supply polarity does the Fuzz Universe need?
It requires a negative tip adapter, the same center-negative arrangement as most modern 9V pedals. It also runs on a 9-volt battery, and removal of the battery is recommended when using an AC adapter. The Custom version has the same requirements.
How does the Fuzz Universe sound with a clean amp?
Premier Guitar's reviewer found it has a distinct ceiling with a cleaner amp, unable to achieve nastier tones even with the Drive knob maxed, so it has low gain headroom on clean amps. With a dirty amp it delivered tight, beefy smoothness and singing articulation.
What is the difference between the Fuzz Universe and the Fuzz Universe Custom?
The Custom was created at Paul Gilbert's request to reduce the pop and click of engaging a true bypass pedal, adding a Quiet Click circuit. Both combine a Venom Boost with a modified Body Blow circuit. The Custom wears black-on-white graphics with a purple planet Saturn and Gilbert's autograph on the back.
Sources (3)
- Majik Box Paul Gilbert Fuzz Universe Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-12-16
- Majik Box Paul Gilbert Fuzz Universe Custom, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2015-12-23
- Majik Box Offers Custom Paul Gilbert Fuzz Universe, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-10-17
