The Retro Mechanical Labs Mig Fuzz Special Edition is a big box fuzz and distortion pedal, and the newly redesigned version of the Mig Fuzz. At its core is what Pedal of the Day describes as "a classic 4 stage cascading amplifier distortion circuit with a mid range tone control", and the pedal carries a vintage VU meter on board as part of its look1. It sits in the wider family of fuzz pedals and distortion pedals, and Retro Mechanical Labs also makes the 432k Rev2, another filter/distortion/fuzz design.
What it does
Pedal of the Day's review describes the pedal as "Providing a modern sound using vintage parts, this unique creation really gets the musical creativity flowing". The vintage parts are literal: the Mig Fuzz uses a NOS (new old stock) Soviet capacitor at the heart of its tone stack1.
The enclosure follows the house style of the maker. "As with all Retro Mechanical pedals, this one looks as cool as it sounds, designed to look like old test equipment of the 1950's", the review notes, with the VU meter as the centerpiece of that styling1.
The three mods
The Special Edition's flexibility comes from three mods beyond the ordinary gain, level and tone controls1.
| Mod | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Mod One | First toggle | First stage clipping bypass. When active the tone sounds a little warmer. |
| Mod Two | Second toggle | Tone stack toggle that greatly changes the sound of the tone stack and gives the pedal a more classic "Tone Bender" sound. |
| Mod Three | Mix knob | Provides a mix between the main distortion and a gentler overdrive signal. Pedal of the Day notes this is a repeating theme with RML pedals. |
The Mix knob in particular changes how the pedal sits in a rig, since it lets a player blend the heavier distortion circuit with a milder overdrive signal rather than choosing one1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict, from its September 2022 review: "This is a highly recommended pedal for recording."1
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Questions
What is the difference between the Mig Fuzz and the Mig Fuzz Special Edition?
The Special Edition is a variant of the Mig Fuzz, and the version Pedal of the Day reviewed in September 2022 was a newly redesigned Mig Fuzz. That redesign put a classic 4 stage cascading amplifier distortion circuit with a mid range tone control at its core, alongside the three mods and the vintage VU meter that set the pedal apart.
What does the VU meter on the Mig Fuzz do?
The Mig Fuzz Special Edition carries a vintage VU meter on board, part of the pedal's design language. Retro Mechanical Labs builds its pedals to look like old test equipment of the 1950s, and the meter is the most visible expression of that on the Mig Fuzz.
Is the Mig Fuzz a fuzz or a distortion?
Both, by the reviewer's description. Pedal of the Day called the redesigned Mig Fuzz a classic 4 stage cascading amplifier distortion circuit, and the pedal is presented as a fuzz/distortion in a big box enclosure. The Mix knob blurs the line further by blending the main distortion with a gentler overdrive signal.
What does the second toggle on the Mig Fuzz do?
The second toggle, Mod Two, is a tone stack toggle. Pedal of the Day reports that it greatly changes the sound of the tone stack and gives the pedal a more classic Tone Bender sound.
What is the Mix knob on the Mig Fuzz for?
The Mix knob, listed as Mod Three, provides a mix between the main distortion and a gentler overdrive signal. Pedal of the Day notes this is a repeating theme with Retro Mechanical Labs pedals.
Sources (1)
- Retro Mechanical Labs Mig Fuzz Special Edition, Pedal of the Day, 2022-09-26
