The Red Witch Zeus Bass Fuzz Suboctave is a two-effect pedal for bass: an analog silicon fuzz and an analog suboctave, each with its own true bypass footswitch and its own mix control, so you can run the fuzz alone, the octave alone, or both together1. Red Witch Analog, the New Zealand company founded and run by designer Ben Fulton, announced it on October 1, 2015 as the second addition to its bass pedal range, following the Factotum1. MusicRadar described it at launch as "an all-analogue silicon fuzz with lower octave"2.
The idea behind the pedal is straightforward: most fuzz pedals were voiced for guitar and thin out on bass. Red Witch says its bass pedals "have been designed specifically for the bass, which translates to no low-end roll off," unlike the majority of guitar effects1. The Zeus gives a bass player grit and a suboctave in one box, with independent control over how much of each is blended in.
Two effects, two switches, two mix knobs
The Zeus is really two pedals sharing an enclosure. The left and right footswitches each activate their designated side, Octave or Fuzz, and both can be used at the same time3. Each effect also has its own mix control, so you dial in as little or as much of each as you want1. Pedal of the Day explains how the mix knobs behave: with each control, all the way to the left gives only your dry signal, and turning right brings in more of the effect3.
That wet/dry blending is what keeps the low end intact. The pedal offers an independent wet/dry mix for each effect, and the Red Witch bass pedal range has been designed specifically for bass, which translates to no low-end roll off1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz mix knob | Adjusts the impact of the fuzz effect2 |
| Octave mix knob | Adjusts the impact of the octave effect2 |
| Fuzz knob | Adjusts the tone2 |
| Sputter control | Adjusts the tone, alongside the fuzz knob2 |
| Ear Toggle | Boosts the treble frequencies in the pedal, adding brightness to the overall tone3 |
| Lightning Switch | Beef up the grit of the pedal, doubling gain in an instant3 |
Inside the box: the internal trimmers
Beyond the external controls, there are internal trimmers for fuzz master volume and octave master volume12. These set the overall output level of each effect independently, so you can balance the fuzz and octave sides against each other and against your bypassed signal before you start blending them with the mix knobs. MusicRadar noted these internal controls for fuzz and octave master volume in its launch coverage2.
What it sounds like
Red Witch's own description of the pedal's range is characteristically vivid:
"Zeus is capable of generating anything from a distant rumble to an all out subterranean cataclysm"1
Red Witch Analog, launch announcement1
The company also says the analog suboctave has "a fantastic, tactile springiness with extremely good tracking"1. Tracking matters here: an octave-down effect follows what you play, and a suboctave that tracks well keeps up with the notes rather than glitching behind them.
Pedal of the Day's reviewers were positive about the pedal's range, writing:
"you'll be hard-pressed to find a more versatile, accessible and sonically pleasing octave pedal out there"3
Pedal of the Day review3
History: from the Factotum and Fuzz God II
The Zeus did not appear from nowhere. It is the second pedal in Red Witch's bass range, which opened with the Factotum, and MusicRadar reported that the Zeus built on the Factotum's success12. The fuzz side has a clear lineage in the company's guitar pedals: Red Witch describes it as a silicon fuzz comprising the very best features of the Fuzz God II, and MusicRadar likewise noted that the fuzz side serves up features culled from the Fuzz God II12.
So a player who knows the Fuzz God II will recognize the family resemblance in the Zeus's fuzz, retuned and re-voiced for the low frequencies of a bass, with the no-roll-off bass treatment that defines the range. The suboctave is the new ingredient, giving the pedal its place in the bass pedals lineup alongside the Factotum rather than in Red Witch's guitar fuzz line21.
The pedal sits in a chrome enclosure, which Red Witch highlighted at launch1. Company founder and designer Ben Fulton is the name behind the design1.
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Questions
Is the Red Witch Zeus true bypass?
Yes. Each of the two effects, the fuzz and the suboctave, has its own true bypass stomp switch, so you can bring either one in or out independently, or run both at once. Red Witch lists true bypass switching among the pedal's features in its launch announcement.
Does the Zeus work on guitar as well as bass?
The Zeus was designed specifically for bass as part of Red Witch's bass pedal range, with no low-end roll off, which is what most guitar effects suffer from on bass. The fuzz circuit draws on the Fuzz God II, a guitar pedal, so guitarists may find familiar ground, but the pedal was voiced for bass.
Does the Zeus cut low end from a bass?
No. Red Witch says its bass pedals, including the Zeus, were designed specifically for the bass, which translates to no low-end roll off, unlike the majority of guitar effects. The company positions this as a key reason the pedal exists as part of a dedicated bass range.
What does the Lightning Switch do on the Red Witch Zeus?
The Lightning Switch beefs up the grit of the pedal, doubling your gain in an instant, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It is a quick way to push the fuzz harder without turning any knobs.
Is the Zeus suboctave analog or digital?
It is analog. Red Witch describes both the fuzz section and the suboctave section as 100 percent analog, and MusicRadar called the pedal an all-analogue silicon fuzz with a lower octave. There is no digital processing in either effect.
Sources (3)
- Red Witch Unveils the Zeus Bass Fuzz Suboctave, Premier Guitar, 2015-10-01
- Red Witch launches Zeus Bass Fuzz and Suboctave pedal, MusicRadar, 2015-09-30
- Red Witch Pedals Zeus Bass Fuzz Suboctave, Pedal of the Day, 2015-12-06
