The Shin-ei Fuzz Box FY-2 is a vintage silicon transistor fuzz box made in Japan in 1977 by Shin-ei1. It is a fuzz pedal from the same Japanese maker whose Companion fuzzes became fixtures of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and TONEHOME describes the original as quite sought after today1.
What it does
The FY-2 is an early 1970s style silicon transistor fuzz, in Aion FX's description2. Its most unusual feature is the fuzz control itself. Aion FX explains that it is "an odd setup that shifts the balance between the two transistor stages rather than direc[tly controlling gain]," meaning the knob changes harmonics and texture rather than the intensity of the fuzz2. Players coming from a conventional fuzz, where the fuzz knob simply dials in more distortion, will find the FY-2's control behaves differently: it reshapes the character of the clipping rather than the amount of it.
The circuit also has a known volume behavior. Fredric Effects, which built a clone called the Unpleasant Companion, notes "the volume drop characteristic of vintage units"3, so the pedal's output level drops relative to the clean signal when engaged, something to plan for on a board.
Versions and brand names
The same box was sold under several brand names. TONEHOME lists it as "available under different brand names like Avora, Companion, Jax, Kimbara and Thomas"1, so a player hunting a vintage unit may find it badged as any of these. The Companion name is the one most associated with Shin-ei's fuzzes, and Shin-ei's own modern line carries it forward.
The reproduction
Shin-ei currently sells a Companion FY-2 Fuzz Box Reproduction, which the maker describes as an "Awesome reproduction of the original vintage 1960's Shin-ei Companion FY-2 Fuzz!"45. It is built with solid steel construction and original style paint on the black units, and carries original vintage style labels including the Official Companion Foil Emblem and battery snap label4. Color options are Woodstock White, Sea Foam Fuzz, and Metallic Green at an additional $20.005.
Related Shin-ei fuzzes
The FY-2 sits in a wider Shin-ei fuzz family that players often compare it against:
- Shin-ei FY-6 Super Fuzz, the two-channel octave fuzz the maker is best known for
- Shin-ei Companion Super Fuzz, released in 1970
- Shin Ei 6TR Fuzz Wah, a fuzz combined with a wah function
What builders say
The FY-2 remains a circuit that players look for: Shin-ei's Companion FY-2 Fuzz Box is described as "quite sought after today"1. For builders interested in the original circuit, a schematic of the FY-2 is available as a GIF file from the ToneHome reference site1.
A schematic for the FY-2 is available as a GIF file from TONEHOME1, which is useful for anyone servicing a vintage unit or building a copy.
Videos
Joe Perkins
blackholeproductions
Pedal Science
Sources (5)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Constellation Vintage Fuzz / Shin-ei Companion FY-2, Aion FX, 2019-11-25
- Unpleasant Companion, Fredric Effects
- Shin-ei Companion FY-2 Fuzz Box, Shin-ei
- Shin-ei Companion FY-2 Fuzz Box, Shin-ei
