The Red Hawk Effects Raven is a fuzz pedal from the Brazilian maker Red Hawk Effects that sets out to settle an old argument: whether germanium or silicon transistors make the better Fuzz Face-style fuzz. Instead of picking a side, it carries both, using new-old-stock Russian germanium transistors on one side and current production silicon transistors on the other, and lets your foot choose between them1. For players weighing the classic fuzz transistor debate, it is two circuits in one enclosure.
Controls and switching
The layout is simple. On the left of the pedal sit an effect-engage switch and a master volume. The right-hand footswitch toggles between the germanium and silicon circuits, so changing transistor flavor mid-set is a stomp away1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Effect-engage switch | Turns the fuzz on and off |
| Master volume | Sets overall output level |
| Right-hand footswitch | Toggles between the germanium and silicon circuits |
What it sounds like
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal delivered a wide range of tones across its two circuits1:
"the Raven yielded a delicious array of tones, ranging from envelopingly burly germanium sounds with cello-like sustain to more focused, nasal..."
The same review noted the pedal could produce shoegaze textures when run with reverb ahead of it, and summed up the package as stellar germanium and silicon Fuzz Face-style tones in one box at a crazy-low price1.
Where it came from
The Raven was a new release when Premier Guitar reviewed it in August 2021, with a street price of $1301. As with any fuzz, the reviewer noted that signal-chain placement is key to getting the most from it1.
Questions
Is the Red Hawk Effects Raven a Fuzz Face clone?
The Raven is built on a Fuzz Face-style circuit, the vintage design Premier Guitar calls venerated. Rather than copying one version of that circuit, it carries two: a germanium side and a silicon side, so a player can reach both classic transistor flavors from one pedal and switch between them with the right-hand footswitch.
What transistors does the Raven use?
The germanium circuit uses new-old-stock Russian germanium transistors, while the silicon circuit uses current production silicon transistors. That pairing is what lets the pedal offer both germanium and silicon Fuzz Face-style tones in a single enclosure.
How do you switch between germanium and silicon on the Raven?
A right-hand footswitch toggles between the germanium and silicon circuits. The left side of the pedal carries an effect-engage switch and a master volume, so the two transistor flavors are selected at your foot while level is set by hand.
How much does the Red Hawk Raven cost?
Premier Guitar's August 2021 review listed a street price of $130 for the Raven, which the reviewer described as a crazy-low price for what the pedal offers.
What does the Raven sound like?
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the Raven yielded a delicious array of tones, from envelopingly burly germanium sounds with cello-like sustain to more focused, nasal, and splatty silicon sonics, and noted it could produce shoegaze textures when run with reverb before it.
Sources (1)
- Quick Hit: Red Hawk Effects Raven Review, Premier Guitar, 2018-03-22