The Sabbadius Rainbow Fuzz is a silicon fuzz pedal from the Argentinian builder Sabbadius, released in December 2020. It is built around Telefunken BC108C silicon transistors, the same transistors used in Jimi Hendrix's favorite silicon fuzz, and it is presented as a pedal inspired by Hendrix's tone, whom Delicious Audio describes as one of the most influential fuzz pedal users in history1.
Where it comes from
Sabbadius released the Rainbow Fuzz in December 2020. The pedal's story centers on its transistors: as Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio wrote, "The transistors used in his favorite silicon fuzz were the TFK Bc108C from Telefunken," referring to Jimi Hendrix1. That connection to Hendrix's silicon fuzz sound is the pedal's stated inspiration1.
Controls
The Rainbow Fuzz keeps its control layout focused on the essentials, with one unusual addition:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FUZZ | Custom made potentiometer made for Sabbadius Electronics with a special curve for the fuzz control from 0 to 101 |
| OUTPUT | Controls the volume of the fuzz1 |
| Wah Wah Trick | A knob featured on the pedal, named "Wah Wah Trick"1 |
The fuzz knob's custom potentiometer is worth noting: it was made for Sabbadius Electronics with a special curve designed to give the best control across the knob's full travel, from 0 to 101.
Power and bypass
The Rainbow Fuzz runs on a 9VDC battery or a 9 volt negative center power supply1. Negative center is the polarity used by most standard pedal power supplies, so it fits a typical daisy-chained or isolated pedalboard supply. When the pedal is off, a 100% true bypass mechanical footswitch takes the fuzz circuit out of the signal path1.
Where it sits in Sabbadius's fuzz range
The Rainbow Fuzz is one of several fuzzes in the Sabbadius line. The maker's other fuzz pedals include the Sabbadius Arena Fuzz, the Sabbadius Mostro Synthesizer Fuzz Modulator, the Sabbadius Oct-Up Fuzz Tone, the Sabbadius Texas Red Fuzz and the Sabbadius Love Drops Fuzz. The Rainbow Fuzz is the line's BC108C silicon fuzz, aimed squarely at the Hendrix-style silicon fuzz sound1.
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Questions
What transistors does the Sabbadius Rainbow Fuzz use?
The Rainbow Fuzz is built around Telefunken BC108C silicon transistors. Those are the transistors Delicious Audio identifies as the ones used in Jimi Hendrix's favorite silicon fuzz, which is the circuit the pedal draws its inspiration from. Silicon transistors give a fuzz its own character compared with the germanium types used in earlier fuzz designs.
Is the Sabbadius Rainbow Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses what its maker describes as a 100% true bypass mechanical footswitch, so when the effect is off, the signal passes through the mechanical switch without going through the fuzz circuit.
What power supply polarity does the Rainbow Fuzz need?
The Rainbow Fuzz runs on a 9 volt negative center power supply, or it can run from a 9VDC battery. If you use a supply, make sure it is negative center, the standard polarity for most pedal supplies.
Is the Rainbow Fuzz a Hendrix-style fuzz?
It is presented that way. Delicious Audio describes it as a fuzz effect pedal inspired by Jimi Hendrix, whom it calls one of the most influential fuzz pedal users in history, and the circuit is based on the Telefunken BC108C transistors used in Hendrix's favorite silicon fuzz.
Sources (1)
- Sabbadius Rainbow Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2020-12-17
