The Seymour Duncan SFX-02 Tweak Fuzz is a fuzz stompbox from a company better known as a giant of the pickup world. It was one of a couple of stompboxes Seymour Duncan had added to its product range, and it was produced in collaboration with guitarist Blues Saraceno. The pedal features Class A circuitry and three controls, and it is slightly larger than the average stompbox1.
What it sounds like
MusicRadar's review, speaking through Guitarist, described the pedal's basic character as reminiscent of a number of classic sixties fuzz pedals. The reviewer characterized it as a spongy, compressed proper fuzz sound rather than a tight metal distortion, which places it firmly in the vintage fuzz camp rather than the modern high-gain one1. If you are weighing it against tighter, more modern dirt boxes, it sits closer to the classic end of the fuzz family than to distortion pedals.
The reviewer's verdict was positive overall:
"Lots of great fuzz sounds to choose from. Fun to use. Good price."
MusicRadar (Guitarist)1
Controls and the Tweak knob
The Tweak Fuzz has three controls. Volume and gain are self-explanatory, with Volume setting the output level. The Tweak control is the pedal's signature feature, and its effect is similar to that of the resonance switch on Seymour Duncan's other pedal, the SFX-01 Pickup Booster1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level; self-explanatory per the review1 |
| Gain | Self-explanatory per the review1 |
| Tweak | Shapes the fuzz character, similar to the resonance switch on the SFX-01 Pickup Booster1 |
Power and battery access
The pedal can be powered from either a 9V battery or a DC adaptor, but the adaptor is not supplied1.
Changing the battery is not a quick job: you have to remove four screws and take the whole casing apart to reach it1.
Where it sits in Seymour Duncan's fuzz range
The Tweak Fuzz was an early entry in Seymour Duncan's pedal line, and the company has since expanded its fuzz offerings in different directions. The La Super Rica is a silicon fuzz with parametric mid-range EQ, and the Fooz is an all-analog fuzz synthesizer pedal combining fuzz, filter, envelope, LFO and tremolo-linked functions. Players after a straightforward, vintage-flavored fuzz will find the Tweak Fuzz a much simpler proposition than either1.
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Questions
Does the Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz run on a battery?
Yes. The Tweak Fuzz can be powered from a 9V battery or from a DC adaptor. Be aware that getting to the battery compartment means removing four screws and taking the whole casing apart, so it is not a quick battery swap like on many pedals.
Does the Tweak Fuzz come with a power adapter?
No. The pedal can run from a 9V battery or a DC adaptor, but the adaptor is not supplied, so you would need to use your own power supply or battery.
What does the Tweak knob do?
The Tweak control shapes the fuzz character, and its effect is similar to that of the resonance switch on Seymour Duncan's other pedal, the SFX-01 Pickup Booster. Alongside it, the Volume and gain controls are self-explanatory, with Volume setting output level.
Who helped design the Tweak Fuzz?
The SFX-02 Tweak Fuzz was produced in collaboration with guitarist Blues Saraceno. It was one of the first stompboxes in Seymour Duncan's pedal range, which the company was building out alongside its pickup business.
Sources (1)
- Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz review, MusicRadar, 2007-12-05
