The Paul Trombetta Design Tornita! is a fuzz and feedback pedal that pushes well past what a conventional fuzz does. It was designed by Paul Trombetta in collaboration with guitarist David Torn, based on discussions about modifications to Trombetta's Donita design: as Premier Guitar tells it, "he and Trombetta would conspire on a pedal to suit Torn's needs. The result is the Tornita!"1
Controls and Sound
The Tornita! keeps its control layout simple. Two knobs shape the fuzz itself, and two extra footswitches drive the feedback circuit1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Adjusts output level; backing it off thins and cleans up the sound significantly, creating a sharp, cutting tone that slices through a mix1 |
| Bias | Shapes the fuzz character; with it all the way up, the straight fuzz is at its fattest and most sustained1 |
| Momentary Feedback switch | Engages the feedback effect only while held down1 |
| Latch Feedback switch | Holds the feedback effect on until pressed again1 |
With the Bias all the way up, Premier Guitar's reviewer found "the straight fuzz sound of the Tornita! was fat, warm, and reed-like, with plenty of sustain"1.
The Feedback Footswitches
What sets the Tornita! apart from a straight fuzz are its two extra footswitches, which push the circuit into self-oscillation and beyond. The reviewer reported that "stepping on either the Latch or Momentary Feedback switches gave me pitch shifts, random arpeggios, and synth-style osci[llation]"1. In practice, the two switches suit different ways of playing:
- The momentary switch suits brief stabs of feedback while you keep playing.
- The latch switch holds the effect on so both hands stay free.
Build and Enclosure
Like all Trombetta pedals, the Tornita! is true bypass, handwired, point-to-point, with carefully selected and matched components1. The enclosure is hand-carved brushed metal with a DIY aesthetic:
- The word "in" is carved into the casing to mark the input jack1
- A circle with a line across it marks the adapter input1
The Tornita! runs on a 9V battery or a standard 9V adapter, so it fits a normal pedalboard power setup1.
Related Pedal: the FeederBoneMachine
For players who want more in one box, Trombetta's FeederBoneMachine offers a version of the Tornita! combined with a Mini-Bone in a single pedal1.
What Reviewers Said
Premier Guitar's verdict was pointed:
"If your music is more experimental in nature, this pedal is a must-have, but if you just want the straight fuzz sound, you might opt for Trombetta’s Fudge fuzz or any number of more traditional fuzzes instead."
The reviewer framed it as a pedal that "pushes the envelope of what a distortion/fuzz can do"1. In other words, it rewards players who want to explore feedback, oscillation, and pitch-shifting textures, and it is a less obvious choice for someone after a conventional fuzz tone.
Videos
Santiago Fradejas Music
Anders Isberg
Questions
Is the Paul Trombetta Design Tornita! true bypass?
Yes. According to Premier Guitar's review, all of Paul Trombetta's pedals are true bypass, handwired, point-to-point builds with carefully selected and matched components. The Tornita! follows that same construction approach, so your guitar's signal passes through unaltered when the pedal is off.
Does the Tornita! run on a battery?
Yes. Premier Guitar reports that the Tornita! operates on a 9V battery and a standard 9V adapter, so it can run either way depending on how you power your board.
What is the difference between the momentary and latch feedback footswitches?
The Tornita! has two feedback footswitches, one momentary and one latching. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that stepping on either the Latch or Momentary Feedback switches produced pitch shifts, random arpeggios, and synth-style oscillation. The momentary switch engages only while held down, while the latch switch holds the effect on until pressed again.
What is the FeederBoneMachine?
The FeederBoneMachine is another Paul Trombetta Design pedal that offers a version of the Tornita! combined with a Mini-Bone in one enclosure, for players who want both circuits on a single pedal.
Who is David Torn?
David Torn is the guitarist the Tornita! was developed with. According to Premier Guitar, he and Paul Trombetta conspired on a pedal to suit Torn's needs, building on discussions about modifications to the Donita design.
How much does the Tornita! cost?
Premier Guitar's June 2023 review lists a street price of $229 for the Tornita!.
Sources (1)
- Paul Trombetta Design Tornita! Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-07-19