The Silicon Phuzz is a handwired silicon fuzz pedal made in the UK by Phil Robinson Advanced Circuitry, launched as Phil Robinson's first pedal. It is a modern take on expressive fuzz, inspired by vintage David Gilmour tones and early Pink Floyd, and it draws on vintage Face-style fuzz circuits1.
Controls and power
The pedal keeps things simple: a Volume control, a Phuzz control and an on/off footswitch1.
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Phuzz | Fuzz amount |
| Footswitch | On/off |
Power is one of the pedal's stated strengths. It runs on 9V DC mains power only, with a fully smoothed power section, reverse polarity protection and RF rejection circuitry1.
The Silicon Phuzz takes 9V DC mains power only, so it needs a DC power supply rather than a battery1.
Where it comes from
Guitar.com's review, by Michael Watts, reports that Robinson recently launched the Silicon Phuzz as his first pedal, and that research into vintage Face-style fuzzes informed the design1. The maker's contact is given as philrobinsonfxpedals.co.uk1.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's verdict was positive, with the reviewer concluding: "With vintage sounds and modern performance this could be the ultimate fuzz for early Floyd tones."1
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Questions
Can the Silicon Phuzz run on a battery?
No. Guitar.com's review lists the pedal as 9V DC mains power only, meaning it needs a DC power supply and has no battery option. The pedal's power section is fully smoothed and includes reverse polarity protection and RF rejection circuitry, so it is designed to run quietly from a standard 9V DC supply.
What is a Face-style fuzz?
Face-style fuzzes are the vintage silicon fuzz circuits from the late 1960s that David Gilmour used in early Pink Floyd. Guitar.com's review says research into those vintage Face-style fuzzes informed the Silicon Phuzz, which is presented as a modern take on those sounds and on vintage Gilmour tones.
Where is the Phil Robinson Silicon Phuzz made?
The Silicon Phuzz is made in the UK. Guitar.com describes it as a handwired silicon fuzz pedal, and the review notes it was the first pedal launched by Phil Robinson under the Phil Robinson Advanced Circuitry name.
How big is the Silicon Phuzz?
Guitar.com lists the Silicon Phuzz's dimensions as 65 x 119 x 54 mm, a compact enclosure in line with standard pedalboard-friendly sizes.
Is the Silicon Phuzz a germanium or silicon fuzz?
It is a silicon fuzz. Guitar.com describes the pedal as a handwired silicon fuzz, which also explains the Phuzz name: silicon transistors rather than the germanium types used in many vintage fuzz designs.
Sources (1)
- Review: Phil Robinson Advanced Circuitry Silicon Phuzz, Guitar.com, 2020-10-30