SOMA Laboratory SOMA Harvezi Hazze

The SOMA Harvezi Hazze is a distortion pedal from SOMA Laboratory that takes an unusual route to dirt. Instead of the bipolar transistors typical of fuzz circuits, its core is a waveshaper designed around a unijunction transistor, a component SOMA describes as a relic from the early days of electronics¹. Premier Guitar's product page puts it plainly: the pedal is designed to offer both unique distortion qualities and a tonal palette of sonic possibilities².

The signal chain runs from an optical compressor with fixed parameters, into a dual-mode distorting amplifier with either softer or harsher clipping, then into the unijunction waveshaper, and finally through a tone stack². SOMA says that depending on the operating mode, one component can act as a distortion, a limiter, a waveshaper and a generator, with smooth transitions between those roles¹. Guitar World's reviewer found the result is a vast universe of distortion and fuzz effects and much more³.

How it works

Most distortion and fuzz pedals clip the signal with diodes or bipolar transistors. The Harvezi Hazze instead shapes the waveform itself. Guitar World notes the waveshaper circuit is based around a unijunction transistor, whereas typical fuzz devices usually utilize bipolar transistors³. Premier Guitar's editors, writing in their best-of-gear coverage, described the pedal's tweakability as centered around its wave-folding function⁵.

The full chain, stage by stage²³:

1. An optical compressor with fixed parameters
2. A dual-mode distorting amplifier, with softer or harsher clipping
3. The unijunction-transistor waveshaper
4. A tone stack

Because the compressor and tone stack can each be switched out of the signal path, the pedal can run as a straight waveshaper or with the full processing chain in place³.

The controls

The bottom row holds three familiar knobs: Level, Tone and Gain³. The top row is where the Harvezi Hazze departs from a standard distortion box.

The Tone knob is not a typical "mush to bright" roll-off. Guitar World's reviewer found it provides dramatic EQ sweeps, and that its range and characteristics vary depending on which switches are engaged or disengaged³.

Alongside the knobs sit six mini on/off switches on the right side. These switch the compressor and tone control in or out of the signal path, while the Bass Boost, Tone Mode, Notch Frequency and High Cut switches affect various tone characteristics³. Premier Guitar's page details two of them: the Tone Stack side switch routes the signal through the tone stack section when in the lower position, and the High Cut side switch attenuates high frequencies².

A three-position mini toggle in the center of the top row selects the distorting amplifier's soft clipping, harsh clipping or total feedback mode settings³.

Total feedback mode

The right position of the three-way switch turns on total feedback mode, where all the knobs influence each other, producing resonance at certain frequencies and self-oscillation². This is the pedal at its least conventional. Guitar World's reviewer reported that when total feedback mode is selected, sounds can get very wild and wooly, and higher gain settings can become gated and stutter unpredictably³.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's review awarded the Harvezi Hazze four and a half stars out of five, praising its dynamics and note definition and calling its tones and textures truly unique³. The reviewer's standout finding was the tone section:

The same review credited the side-mounted switches with detailed tone shaping capabilities, while listing one drawback: no memory for saving settings³.

MusicRadar's reviewer called it a genuinely fun take on the classic distortion-slash-fuzz pedal, with a versatile control set and great fun experimenting with its myriad settings overall⁶. That review noted the manual includes some useful presets to start from if you are unsure, and found the pedal feels very giggable with its all-metal enclosure and decent weight behind it⁶. On the practical side, MusicRadar flagged that the lack of stereo might put non-guitarists off⁶.

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