The ScreaminFX 1954 Transparent Fuzz is an analog fuzz pedal hand-made in Austin, Texas, built around what its reviewer called an all-original silicon fuzz circuit. ScreaminFX designed it with a low transistor count to maintain transparency of tone, meaning the fuzz is meant to layer over your guitar's original signal rather than bury it. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, described the pedal as able to add a light grit or heavy, chunky, riff-worthy crunch, and judged it a viable piece of gear for any pedalboard or rig setup1.
Controls
The control layout is straightforward: three knobs and a buffer toggle.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the fuzz amount, with what the reviewer called a great range, from mild-mannered to in-your-face, but without being annoying about it1 |
| Tone | Rolling it back produces sludge-rock type sounds, keeping the signal warm and smooth; opening it up adds high end to stand out in the mix1 |
| Volume | Sets the output level1 |
| Buffer toggle | Selects the optional buffer stage, which makes the pedal wah friendly and works well with other pedals or active pickups in front of it1 |
"These three knobs help this all-original pedal circuit add depth, warmth and pizazz to your tone."
The buffer and true bypass
Two switching features shape how the 1954 fits a board. Its true bypass input and output mean it will not load other pedals when off, so pedals placed before it keep their tone when the fuzz is disengaged1. The optional buffer stage, selected by the toggle switch, is there for the situations where fuzzes and the pedals before them fight: the review says the switchable buffer makes it wah wah friendly and works great with other pedals or active pickups in front1. Players running a wah or an active-pickup guitar are the ones the toggle is aimed at; players who are not can leave it off.
A boost stage of up to 4dB is also on board to maintain stage volume1, which puts the pedal in territory adjacent to a dedicated boost when the Volume knob is pushed.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal on 14 October 2015. Mike B's verdict was that the 1954 covers a broad spectrum of tones and sounds with ease, able to add a light grit or some heavy, chunky, riff-worthy crunch, and called it a viable piece of gear for any pedalboard or rig setup overall1. The review also praised the build, describing the pedal as hand-made and built like a tank1.
Videos
ScreaminFX
ScreaminFX
Tim Calloway
Questions
Is the ScreaminFX 1954 Transparent Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review lists true bypass on both the input and output, noting that the pedal will not load other pedals when it is switched off. That means your guitar's signal passes through untouched when the fuzz is disengaged, which matters on a larger pedalboard where loading effects can dull the tone of pedals placed before them.
Does the 1954 Transparent Fuzz work with a wah?
It can. The pedal has an optional buffer stage selected by a toggle switch, and the review says that switchable buffer makes the 1954 wah friendly and that it works well with other pedals or active pickups placed in front of it. Fuzz circuits and wahs often clash when placed together, so the buffer toggle is the feature to reach for if you run a wah.
Is the 1954 Transparent Fuzz a silicon or germanium fuzz?
It is a silicon fuzz. The review describes it as an all-original silicon fuzz circuit, completely analog in design, with a low transistor count intended to maintain transparency of tone. Silicon fuzzes are generally less temperature sensitive than germanium designs, though the review does not make that comparison itself.
Where is the ScreaminFX 1954 Transparent Fuzz made?
The pedal is hand-made in Austin, Texas. The review describes it as built like a tank, in a powder coated enclosure with screen printed graphics, finished in bright orange with a clear shield.
What does the buffer toggle do?
The toggle switch selects an optional buffer stage inside the pedal. According to the review, engaging it makes the 1954 play nicely with wahs and work well with other pedals or active pickups in front of it. If you run neither, you can leave the buffer off and use the pedal's true bypass switching instead.
Sources (1)
- ScreaminFX 1954 Transparent Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2015-10-14