The Rocket Surgeon Boris Fuzz is a four-transistor fuzz pedal released in June 2017 by Rocket Surgeon Labs, a small builder then new to the scene. Its inspiration is a Russian Muff-style circuit of the 1990s, the four-transistor dirt box design associated with the Electro-Harmonix fuzz pedals of that era, and it carries the bass-heavy tone that style is known for1.
What it does to your sound
The Boris is built around the four-transistor layout of the Russian Muff-style circuit, and the tone that comes with it: heavy low end and thick, saturated dirt. The one voicing control is a Nuclear/Doom switch that adjusts the mid frequency. Doom is the classic mids-scooped setting, described by the maker as a thick wall of terror. Switch to Nuclear and the pedal gains more mids so it cuts through in a mix, while keeping the bass-heavy character of the circuit1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Nuclear / Doom switch | Adjusts the mid frequency. Doom scoops the mids for the classic thick sound; Nuclear adds mids to cut through a mix while retaining the bass-heavy tone1 |
There is also an internal trim pot for adjusting how bright the LED on the front panel glows, a small touch for players who find status LEDs too bright on a dark stage1.
Build and price
Rocket Surgeon Labs released the Boris in June 2017 as "Boris: Fuzz for the People," with a street price of $21921. The pedal is all hand-made: each unit is individually hand-wired, assembled, signed and serialized by Dr. Von Füzzbrauer, who designed it and built it in what the press release calls his secret desert laboratory2. Gearnews' Jef noted the modern build as a point in its favor over the vintage originals:
"This modern-day incarnation of a classic Muff circuit is more than likely better-made than those old original pedals ever were."
Rocket Surgeon Labs released the Boris Fuzz in June 2017, with a list price of USD 219 plus shipping and taxes1. The maker positioned it as a modern take on a classic Muff circuit, and as S1 put it, it "promises to be more reliable in terms of component choice and quality than the old original pedals build quality"1.
Videos
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Questions
What is the Boris Fuzz based on?
The Boris Fuzz takes its inspiration from a Russian Muff-style circuit of the 1990s, a four-transistor dirt box design associated with the Electro-Harmonix fuzz pedals of that era. Rocket Surgeon Labs describes it as a fuzz whose roots lie in that particular four-transistor Russian circuit, built with modern components.
What do Nuclear and Doom do on the Boris Fuzz?
The Nuclear/Doom switch adjusts the mid frequency. Doom is the classic mids-scooped sound of this style of fuzz, a thick wall of tone. Switching to Nuclear adds more mids so the pedal cuts through in a mix, while retaining the bass-heavy character associated with the circuit.
How many transistors does the Boris Fuzz use?
The Boris Fuzz is a four-transistor fuzz. That four-transistor layout is the basis of the Russian Muff-style circuit it is modelled on, and it is what gives the pedal the bass-heavy dirt tone associated with those designs.
Is the Rocket Surgeon Boris Fuzz handmade?
Yes. Rocket Surgeon Labs says each Boris is individually hand-wired, assembled, signed and serialized by Dr. Von Füzzbrauer, who designed the pedal and built it in his desert laboratory.
Can you dim the LED on the Boris Fuzz?
Yes. The Boris Fuzz has an internal trim pot for adjusting how bright the LED on the front panel glows, so you can turn the indicator light down if it is too bright for your setup.
Sources (2)
- Rocket Surgeon Boris Fuzz pedal: Russian dirt with a nuclear option, gearnews.com, 2017-06-16
- Boris Fuzz Pedal Launch by Rocket Surgeon Labs, Premier Guitar, 2017-06-13
