The Spiral Electric FX Brute Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Spiral Electric FX, the project of ex-DigiTech circuit designer Tom Cram. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as "a tough, muscular, and darker fuzz than the Black, but still bright enough to stand out," and as a pedal "designed for the needs of guitarists with bright amps who want to have a bassy options."1
It was unveiled at NAMM 2019 and shown again at NAMM 2020, where Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick noted that Tom Cram's latest builds included "a versatile fuzz that covers both silicon and germanium tones, plus a collaboration with Shoe Pedals."21
Circuit and design
The Brute is built around a complex circuit: Silicon BC108B transistors and a Nanolog N2, mixed with Russian 1N34A germanium diodes and modern silicon diodes on the Texture Toggle. The pedal's feature list also calls for matched NOS BC108B/C transistors.1
Cram described the circuit's lineage this way:
"The Brute is a synthesis of everything I've learned while experimenting on the Custom Artefact, Blush, and Demhe fuzzes."
The Spiral Electric FX Brute Fuzz was unveiled at NAMM 2019, marking the pedal's public introduction.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Texture Toggle | Switches between Russian 1N34A germanium diodes and modern silicon diodes1 |
| Focus Toggle | A low-cut that shaves the low-end just enough to keep the Brute from getting woofy; also works well for lead work in a dense mix1 |
| Bias | A refined bias control1 |
| Detail | A darker, re-voiced detail control1 |
Videos
Premier Guitar
Spiral Electric FX
Spiral Electric FX
Questions
Who designed the Spiral Electric FX Brute Fuzz?
The Brute Fuzz was designed by Tom Cram, a former DigiTech circuit designer whose Spiral Electric FX project produced the Brute. It was built in collaboration with Shoe Pedals, and Cram has described it as a synthesis of everything he learned while experimenting on the Custom Artefact, Blush, and Demhe fuzzes.
What transistors does the Brute Fuzz use?
The Brute Fuzz uses a complex circuit built around Silicon BC108B transistors and a Nanolog N2, mixed with Russian 1N34A germanium diodes and modern silicon diodes. The pedal's feature list also calls for matched NOS BC108B/C transistors.
What does the Focus toggle do on the Brute Fuzz?
The Focus Toggle is a low-cut control that shaves the low-end just enough to keep the Brute from getting woofy. According to the designer, it also works well for lead work in a dense mix, which suits the pedal's intended role for players with bright amps.
What diodes does the Brute Fuzz use?
The Brute Fuzz mixes Russian 1N34A germanium diodes with modern silicon diodes, which sit on the pedal's Texture Toggle. That combination lets the pedal cover both germanium and silicon fuzz tones.
Which Spiral fuzzes is the Brute Fuzz based on?
Tom Cram has described the Brute as a synthesis of everything he learned while experimenting on the Custom Artefact, Blush, and Demhe fuzzes. It is not a copy of any one of them, but a circuit drawn from that work.
Sources (2)
- Spiral Electric FX Brute Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2020-09-21
- Spiral FX Red Spiral & Brute Fuzz Demos, Premier Guitar, 2020-01-21
