The Paradox Effects Fuzz-E Cat is a fuzz pedal, a compact enclosure holding two knobs and a single toggle switch. Despite that small control set, Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it covers a wide tonal range, describing "swampy, grungy, sustained fuzz that remains clear and present" across its range1. It sits among the wider family of Fuzz Pedals, where it stands out for the way its Fuzz knob changes character depending on the mode you select.
Controls and modes
The Fuzz-E Cat keeps things simple: two knobs and one toggle.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the fuzz character; in Oscillation mode it controls the effect's frequencies1 |
| Volume | Sets output level, with plenty of volume on tap1 |
| Toggle switch | Selects between Oscillation and Gate modes1 |
In Oscillation mode, the Fuzz knob sweeps the pedal's frequencies, ranging from lower-end, Muff-style sounds to higher-pitched, thinner, less dense tones1. The Muff reference points to the familiar Big Muff school of fuzz, the same territory covered by many Distortion Pedals and fuzz designs.
The guitar's own Volume control becomes part of the circuit here: you can use it to play around with different oscillations, bringing the pedal's unstable, spitting side under foot-free control from the guitar itself1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2016 review summed the pedal up this way:
"while there are only 2 knobs and one toggle switch, the sonic exploration this pedal can take you on is nothing short of"1
That reviewer's verdict, in full context, was that the Fuzz-E Cat delivers a wide variety of swampy, grungy, sustained fuzz that stays clear and present despite its minimal control layout1.
Paradox Effects also builds other fuzz designs, such as the Paradox Effects Defibrillator Reanimating Shock Fuzz.
Videos
Paradox Effects
Paradox Effects
Paradox Effects
Sources (1)
- Paradox Effects Fuzz-E Cat, Pedal of the Day, 2016-06-14
