The Moxtronix TransTone Fuzz is a fuzz effects pedal from Moxtronix, presented in what Pedal of the Day called "a small grey beauty" with "a TON of options" and "a retro-esque enclosure"1. Although it is a fuzz at heart, it carries more controls than most: four knobs, two toggles and two footswitches, all packed into that small housing1.
The controls
The four knobs cover the core of the sound. The Fuzz knob lets you adjust the overall amount of distortion, the Gain knob gives you control over the amount of signal drive to the clipping amplifier, and the Level knob sets the overall output volume1. A fourth knob, Boost, adds some gain to lead work and is activated by a second footswitch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Adjusts the overall amount of distortion1 |
| Gain | Controls the amount of signal drive to the clipping amplifier1 |
| Level | Sets the overall output volume1 |
| Boost | Adds gain for lead work, activated by the second footswitch1 |
Pedal of the Day noted that the Fuzz and Gain knobs "were designed to interact with each other, giving a huge range of tones and sounds to be utilized in many" situations1. In other words, the two gain-related controls are meant to be worked together rather than set independently, which is where much of the pedal's range comes from.
Toggles and footswitches
Two toggles shape the character of the fuzz:
- Soft toggle: switched up, a more modern fuzz sound; switched down, a germanium-like tone appears1
- Filter toggle: flat frequency response when switched up, and acts as a high-pass filter when in the down position, trimming low end1
The two footswitches split the pedal's jobs: one works the fuzz itself, and the second activates the Boost, letting you set a rhythm tone and bring in extra gain for lead work on the fly1.
Where it came from
The TransTone Fuzz is not a straight copy of any one circuit. As Pedal of the Day put it, "While the TransTone used the classic ToneBender as inspiration, it is a unique design"1. The ToneBender itself is, in the words of a history piece from tru-fi.com, "a classic fuzz pedal"3, and the TransTone takes that starting point somewhere else with its interacting gain controls, voicing toggles and built-in boost.
One more practical point from the review: the pedal has "the ability to accept both low and line-level signals"1, so it can take a hot signal from other pedals or gear as well as a straight guitar input.
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Questions
Is the Moxtronix TransTone Fuzz a copy of the ToneBender?
No. Pedal of the Day's review notes that while the TransTone used the classic ToneBender as inspiration, it is a unique design. The ToneBender is a classic fuzz pedal, but the TransTone Fuzz is its own circuit with controls and toggles that go beyond what a straight ToneBender copy offers.
What does the Soft toggle do?
The Soft toggle changes the character of the fuzz. When switched up, you get a more modern fuzz sound; when switched down, a germanium-like tone appears, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It works alongside the Filter toggle to shape the pedal's overall voice.
What does the Filter toggle do?
The Filter toggle has a flat frequency response when switched up, and acts as a high-pass filter when in the down position, trimming low end from the signal. Combined with the Soft toggle, it gives the TransTone Fuzz a range of tonal options in a small enclosure.
Does the TransTone Fuzz have a separate boost footswitch?
Yes. The pedal has two footswitches, and the second one activates the Boost. The Boost knob adds some gain to lead work, so you can set a rhythm fuzz tone and kick in extra gain for solos without touching the main knobs.
Can the TransTone Fuzz take line-level signals?
Yes. Pedal of the Day highlights the pedal's ability to accept both low and line-level signals, so it can sit after other pedals or take a hotter input without issue.
Sources (3)
- Moxtronix TransTone Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2017-01-10
- Moxtronix TransTone Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-12-30
- The Sound of Rock, tru-fi.com