The Nordstrand Audio Seratone is a bass fuzz pedal with a deliberate omission: there is no clean blend. As the maker puts it, "There is no clean blend, just pure fuzz," and it calls the pedal "a no compromise kick in the head effect" for bass1. The design grew out of the original Rocket Surgeon Labs version of the pedal, launched in 2017 and hand-made by the same builder2.
A pure fuzz, no clean blend
The absence of a clean blend is the pedal's defining choice, and the maker explains it as a sonic decision rather than a cost saving. When the pedal was introduced as the Rocket Surgeon Labs Seratone, Premier Guitar reported that the company contends a clean blend would buffer the signal, making the effect of the fuzz circuit less organic and engaging3. The 2017 press release made the same point: no clean blend, to keep the fuzz circuit organic with passive basses4.
What that means on a gig is that the Seratone is an all-or-nothing dirt box. Nordstrand Audio describes its sound as a fast attack and a choppy, almost gated decay with staccato playing, and says it works best with a passive bass, which feeds the first gain stage the proper impedance value to get that response1. Players with active basses should read that as a caution: the pedal's character is voiced around passive instruments.
The controls
The Seratone keeps its panel small but interactive. Premier Guitar's review listed dials for volume, lows, "mood," and highs3, and the maker explains what each does:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Plenty of gain on tap, with unity gain at about 12 o'clock1 |
| Lows | Passive bass control, part of the interactive tone stack1 |
| Mood | Changes how both filters work and what the last gain stage sees1 |
| Highs | Passive treble control, part of the interactive tone stack1 |
Nordstrand Audio puts the emphasis on the tone stack: "The tone stack is where the mojo lives in this effect with passive bass and treble controls that interact with each other," giving tone changes from subtle to aggressive1. The 2017 press release described the same idea as "highly interactive low, mood, and high controls"4. In practice, that means the three tone controls shape each other rather than acting independently, so small moves can shift the character of the fuzz noticeably.
Circuit and signal chain placement
The Seratone's circuit puts a diode/transistor fuzz section right in the front end, before hitting any buffers, so it can interact well with the instrument1. Nordstrand Audio says it really shines when used at the front of the signal chain without any buffering in front of it, drawing a comparison to some vintage fuzzes such as the Fuzz Face1. For a player, that argues for placing it first in the chain and keeping buffer pedals and wireless systems with built-in buffering out of the way ahead of it.
That placement advice lines up with general signal chain thinking. Guitar World's guide to pedal order says it is ideal to place the "broad stroke" effects that have the most dramatic or dominant impact on your sound toward the front of the chain, with effects that refine details toward the end5. A fuzz with no clean blend is exactly that kind of broad stroke effect.
Designed and built by Dr. Vatone
The Seratone is the brainchild of John "Dr Vatone" Contreras1. Nordstrand Audio states that the pedal is made by hand from beginning to end, off-site, by Dr. Vatone1. The pedal was in development for about 2 years1. When the design first launched under the Rocket Surgeon Labs name in 2017, gearnews reported it was hand-made by John "Dr Vatone" Contreras2.
The Seratone began as the Rocket Surgeon Labs Seratone: Mood Altering Bass Fuzz, launched in 201734. The pedal is now sold under the Nordstrand Audio name, and the hand-built, one-builder production means availability can vary.
Videos
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Andy Irvine
Questions
Is the Nordstrand Seratone true bypass?
Yes. Nordstrand Audio describes the Seratone as a true bypass fuzz that is handwired and individually tested from start to finish by Dr. Vatone himself. The original 2017 Rocket Surgeon Labs press release also listed true bypass switching among the pedal's features.
Does the Seratone run on a battery?
Yes. According to Nordstrand Audio's product page, the Seratone operates on a 9V battery or an industry standard 9V adapter, so it can run without a power supply on a pedalboard.
Can you use the Seratone with an active bass?
Nordstrand Audio says the Seratone works best with a passive bass, because the first gain stage needs the proper impedance value from the pickups to deliver the pedal's fast attack and choppy, almost gated decay. An active bass is not called out as supported, so passive instruments are the safe bet.
How is the Seratone different from a Fuzz Face?
Nordstrand Audio says the Seratone shines when used at the front of the signal chain without any buffering in front of it, like some vintage fuzzes such as the Fuzz Face. Its circuit puts a diode/transistor fuzz section right in the front end, before hitting any buffers, so it can interact well with the instrument.
Where should the Seratone go in a signal chain?
As a fuzz, it belongs toward the front. Guitar World's signal chain guide says it is ideal to place broad stroke effects, the ones with the most dramatic or dominant impact on your sound, toward the front of the chain, with effects that refine details toward the end.
Who designs and builds the Seratone?
The Seratone is the brainchild of John "Dr Vatone" Contreras. Nordstrand Audio says the pedal is made by hand from beginning to end, off-site, by Dr. Vatone, and that each unit is handwired and individually tested by him.
Sources (5)
- Seratone: Mood Altering Bass Fuzz, Nordstrand Audio
- Seratone bass fuzz pedal: Rocket Surgeon aims to warm bass players' hearts, gearnews.com, 2017-04-27
- Seratone Bass Fuzz Review: Rocket Surgeon Labs, Premier Guitar, 2017-08-03
- New Seratone Effect Pedal by Rocket Surgeon Lab, Premier Guitar, 2017-04-26
- Guitar pedal order: how to arrange your pedalboard, Guitar World, 2019-09-24
