The PB&J Pedals Billy Goat Fuzz is a compact fuzz pedal based on the '73 Ram's Head circuit, the early-1970s take on the classic silicon fuzz design. It packs three knobs and a single footswitch into a small enclosure, which reviewer Mike B at Pedal of the Day described as "a huge beast trapped in a small enclosure"1. The pedal comes in a sparkle gray enclosure1.
Controls
The Billy Goat Fuzz keeps its layout simple: three knobs and one switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | Adds or subtracts the amount of distortion the pedal produces1 |
| Tone | The reviewer found it "has more range than any other fuzz I've played"; turned all the way left it does not drop out the signal or become super muddy and distant1 |
| Level | Adjusts how loud you want to make it, and the reviewer noted "it gets LOUD"1 |
| Footswitch | One switch to turn it on and off1 |
The Sustain knob covers a wide sweep. Mike B described a light overdriven sound with the knob around 9:00, fuzz territory at Noon, and a wall of distorted yet crisp fuzz at 3:00 and beyond1. Players who want a gentler push at low settings may find that low end of the dial overlaps with what an overdrive pedal or distortion pedal provides, while the upper range is full fuzz.
Switching, power and indicator
The pedal uses true bypass switching, so the fuzz circuit is out of the signal path when the effect is off1. It runs on 9V DC power operation1. A green LED shows when the pedal is engaged1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review, published 5 September 2014, was positive on both the range of the controls and the pedal's sustain. On the Tone knob, Mike B wrote1:
"the Tone knob on this has more range than any other fuzz I've played, I think. Plus, when you turn it all the way to the..."
On the pedal's sustain, the same review said:
"The sustaining sounds are gorgeous, too, extending on and on for the perfect intro or outro to any tune in your arsenal."
Videos
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Questions
Is the PB&J Billy Goat Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review lists the Billy Goat Fuzz as having true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the fuzz circuit in the way. It uses a single footswitch to turn the effect on and off, with a green LED showing when it is engaged.
What power does the Billy Goat Fuzz use?
The Billy Goat Fuzz runs on 9V DC power operation, as listed in Pedal of the Day's review. As with most compact fuzz pedals, a standard 9V DC supply is the way to power it on a pedalboard.
What circuit is the Billy Goat Fuzz based on?
Pedal of the Day's review describes the Billy Goat Fuzz as based on the '73 Ram's Head circuit, the early-1970s version of the Big Muff-style fuzz. That places it in the classic silicon fuzz family, packaged in a small enclosure rather than the large original housing.
What does the Sustain knob do on the Billy Goat Fuzz?
The Sustain knob adds or subtracts the amount of distortion the pedal produces. Around 9:00 it gives a light overdriven sound, at Noon it moves into fuzz territory, and at 3:00 and beyond it delivers what the reviewer called a wall of distorted yet crisp fuzz.
Does the Billy Goat Fuzz have an indicator LED?
Yes. The Billy Goat Fuzz has a green LED that shows when the pedal is engaged. It sits alongside three knobs, Sustain, Tone and Level, and a single footswitch for turning the effect on and off.
Sources (1)
- PB&J Pedals Billy Goat Fuzz, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-09-05