The Electron Fuzz Custom is a fuzz pedal from Retro Mechanical Labs. When Pedal of the Day reviewed it in August 2015, the reviewer called it "an entirely different beast than most fuzzes I've heard to this point"1. It is not a conventional smooth fuzz: the same site later described the Mini version as "a beast of a fuzz, sometimes untamable and most of the time unpredictable"1, which gives a fair idea of the character across the family.
Controls
The pedal's control set is unusual, and the names tell you the maker is not aiming for polite. Each control and what it does, as described by Pedal of the Day:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Hurt | Essentially a treble boost control, adding more bright crunch into the mix2 |
| Pain | Adjusts the amount of fuzz, getting stronger and louder as you turn up the dial2 |
| FB Noise | Controls the feedback, making crazy octave sounds as it increases2 |
| Low/Cut switch | Adds or takes away the low end spectrum, for a higher-frequency fuzz tone2 |
The FB Noise knob is the one to watch if you like octave-style mayhem: as Mike B put it, it makes "crazy octave sounds as it increases, quite a fun and" unpredictable addition to the fuzz1. If you want to shape the pedal's bottom end, the Low/Cut switch is the tool; players who want more low-end retention from a fuzz might also look at the wider range of Fuzz Pedals to compare approaches.
The x1000 footswitch
Alongside the normal bypass switching, the Electron Fuzz Custom carries a second footswitch labeled x1000. Mike B's verdict on it is the most quoted line about the pedal21:
"The big whammy on this pedal is the x1000 footswitch, which absolutely blasts your fuzz sound into the outer reaches of space."
In practice that means a second switch under your foot that pushes the fuzz far beyond its normal range, rather than a knob you have to reach down and turn mid-song21.
The Electron Fuzz Custom Mini
The Electron Fuzz Custom Mini is a special, potentially one-off version of the Electron Fuzz Custom, covered by Pedal of the Day in February 20161. It keeps the same control set, with Hurt, Pain, FB Noise and the Low/Cut switch all behaving as on the standard pedal, plus the x1000 footswitch1. What sets it apart is the build:
The Mini's reviewer summed up its temperament plainly: "this pedal is a beast of a fuzz, sometimes untamable and most of the time unpredictable"1. Beyond its sound, the pedal is built to stand out, featuring a gorgeous wooden enclosure and a rare, vintage voltage meter1.
Fuzz or overdrive?
Pedal of the Day treats the Electron Fuzz Custom as a fuzz, full stop: the 2016 write-up opens by saying "we reviewed an incredible fuzz pedal from Retro Mechanical Labs, the Electron Fuzz Custom"1. The overdrive-like end of the range belongs to the original Electron Fuzz, where the reader reviewer highlighted tones closer to Overdrive Pedals before the circuit opens up into extreme fuzz2. On the Custom itself, expect a fuzz with a treble-boost voice and a feedback control, not a transparent drive.
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Questions
What does the Hurt knob do on the Electron Fuzz Custom?
According to Pedal of the Day's reviewer Mike B, the Hurt knob is essentially a treble boost control, adding more bright crunch into the mix. It sits alongside the Pain knob, which adjusts the amount of fuzz, and the FB Noise knob, which controls feedback and produces octave sounds as it increases.
What does the Low/Cut switch do?
The Low/Cut switch adds or takes away the low end spectrum, for a higher-frequency fuzz tone. Mike B of Pedal of the Day describes it on both the Electron Fuzz Custom and the Electron Fuzz Custom Mini, so players can thin out the bottom end when the fuzz gets thick.
What is the Electron Fuzz Custom Mini?
The Mini is a special, potentially one-off version of the Electron Fuzz Custom, reviewed by Pedal of the Day in February 2016. It carries the same control set, including Hurt, Pain, FB Noise and the Low/Cut switch, plus the x1000 footswitch, and it features a gorgeous wooden enclosure and a rare, vintage voltage meter.
Is the Retro Mechanical Labs Electron Fuzz Custom a fuzz or an overdrive?
Pedal of the Day reviewed it as a fuzz pedal, calling it an incredible fuzz and an entirely different beast than most fuzzes the reviewer had heard to that point. The related original Electron Fuzz was praised by a reader reviewer for ranging from overdrive-like tones to extreme fuzz, but the Custom itself is presented as a fuzz.
Sources (2)
- Retro Mechanical Labs Electron Fuzz Custom Mini, Pedal of the Day, 2016-02-24
- Retro Mechanical Labs Electron Fuzz Custom, Pedal of the Day, 2015-08-28
