The OBNE Pardner Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Old Blood Noise Endeavours, a maker known for rather unusual pedals. Its distinguishing feature is an FX loop built into the fuzz circuit: instead of putting your other pedals before or after the fuzz, you can loop them into it, so whatever you place in the loop sits inside the fuzz itself1.
The Lasso loop
In addition to the usual input and output on the back, the Pardner Fuzz carries a send/return pair. Anything connected there can be switched in and out of the fuzz with its own footswitch, which Old Blood Noise Endeavours calls Lasso1. That gives the pedal two independent on/off controls underfoot: one for the fuzz, one for whatever the loop holds.
"It comes with an FX loop that allows you to loop other effects into the fuzz."
Reviewer Julian Schmauch of gearnews.com found the idea holds a lot of creative potential, but with caveats: gain staging must be done carefully when connecting fuzz and Lasso in series, and combining the pedal with an additional distortion or overdrive can quickly feed back1. Players used to pairing a fuzz with overdrive or distortion pedals will want to plan for that.
Controls and voicings
The pedal adjusts lows and highs of the output signal using the respective Bass and Treble controls1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bass | Adjusts lows of the output signal1 |
| Treble | Adjusts highs of the output signal1 |
| Footswitch 1 | Toggles the fuzz1 |
| Footswitch 2 (Lasso) | Toggles the FX loop1 |
Two fuzz voicings are available: Fuzzy and Synthy. Of the Synthy voicing, Schmauch wrote that it "seems to significantly blur the fuzz, making it more spherical and darker"1.
Versions and price
The OBNE Pardner Fuzz is available in three different colors: yellow, blue, and purple1. Old Blood Noise Endeavours lists it with an MSRP of $2291. The artwork was done by Garrett Young1.
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Questions
What is the Lasso on the OBNE Pardner Fuzz?
Lasso is the name of the Pardner Fuzz's built-in effects loop. One of the pedal's two soft-touch footswitches toggles the fuzz, and the other toggles the Lasso loop, letting you switch effects placed inside the loop in and out of the fuzz circuit. Reviewers noted the idea holds a lot of creative potential, but that gain staging between the fuzz and the loop needs care.
How many footswitches does the OBNE Pardner Fuzz have?
The Pardner Fuzz has two soft-touch footswitches. One toggles the fuzz itself, and the other toggles the FX loop, which Old Blood Noise Endeavours calls Lasso. That second switch is what makes the loop usable as a performance control rather than a hardwired patch.
What does the Synthy mode sound like compared to Fuzzy?
The Pardner Fuzz offers two voicings, Fuzzy and Synthy. According to gearnews.com's Julian Schmauch, the Synthy voicing seems to significantly blur the fuzz, making it more spherical and darker than the straighter Fuzzy voicing.
Can I put other pedals inside the Pardner Fuzz's loop?
Yes. The pedal comes with an FX loop that allows you to loop other effects into the fuzz, with a send/return pair on the back alongside the usual input and output. Reviewers caution that gain staging must be done carefully when connecting fuzz and Lasso in series, and that combining it with an additional distortion or overdrive can quickly feed back.
What colors does the OBNE Pardner Fuzz come in?
The OBNE Pardner Fuzz is available in three different colors: yellow, blue, and purple.
What is the list price of the OBNE Pardner Fuzz?
Old Blood Noise Endeavours lists the OBNE Pardner Fuzz with an MSRP of $229, as reported by gearnews.com in August 2024.
Sources (1)
- OBNE Pardner Fuzz: Throw your FX lasso!, gearnews.com, 2024-08-27
