The Black Spiral II is a fuzz pedal from Spiral Electric FX. It is a circuit based on a '70s era Maestro Fuzz, inspired by the classic Maestro FZ-1S, and it is 100% analog with true bypass switching1. It is the second version of the pedal that began life as the Black Rose Fuzz, the company's first release, and was renamed Black Spiral because of a copyright issue12.
What it does to your sound
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, writing with Tom Cram, described the base fuzz tone of the original Maestro FZ-1S circuit this way1:
"But the base fuzz tone was rude, raunchy, and very '70's Biker Metal, just how I like my fuzz1."
They also describe the pedal as an unapologetically bright fuzz, meant to pair with an already crunchy amp or channel, but one that also works quite well into a clean amp or channel1. A practical feature for players who clean up with the guitar: the pedal is described as having incredible clean-up with guitar volume1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Along with Bias, yields a wide array of fuzz tones from overdrive to splatty, horn-like sounds1 |
| Bias | Separate from Gain; the MkII version has a wide-open Bias Control1 |
| Three-way voicing toggle (right side) | 1. N2 + Silicon, 2. N2, 3. N2 + Germanium1 |
The heart of the voicing switch is a Nanolog N2 Molecular Junction, with Germanium and Silicon diodes selectable in series with the N2. On the N2-only setting, the circuit is described as having a Germanium-esque sonic quality without the volume loss normally associated with Germanium diodes1.
How it differs from the original Black Rose
The MkII features a few changes that make it darker than the original: a wide-open Bias Control, three discrete voicing options, a hybrid tonestack that is a mix of the Brute and the Allora, and extra output1. The Brute, a variation of the Black Rose/Spiral circuit using BC108C transistors, and the Allora, a higher-gain Darlington fuzz developed from customer requests, are both part of the same Spiral Electric FX line2.
The original version was sold as the Black Rose Fuzz. The name changed to Black Spiral in early 2019 due to a copyright issue, so used listings appear under both names12.
Enclosure and history
The pedal sits in a brushed aluminum chassis with an industrial, textural, chemical oxide top and laser-etched graphics1. Cram has said he planned to offer other clipping options on future Limited Edition versions of the Black Rose, so variations of the circuit exist1. The company has since released other fuzzes in the line, including the Demhe Fuzz, a streamlined version of the Demhe Shadow3.
Videos
Spiral Electric FX
Demos In The Dark
Questions
What is the Spiral Electric Black Spiral II based on?
It is based on a '70s era Maestro Fuzz circuit, specifically inspired by the classic Maestro FZ-1S. Designer Tom Cram has said the idea came from seeing a mint condition Maestro FZ-1S in a pedal collection. The base fuzz tone of that circuit is described as rude, raunchy, and very '70s Biker Metal.
Is the Black Spiral II true bypass?
Yes. The Black Spiral II is a true bypass pedal, and it is 100% analog throughout the signal path.
What does the three-way voicing switch do?
The three-way toggle on the right of the pedal selects the clipping arrangement: position 1 is the Nanolog N2 molecular junction with Silicon diodes, position 2 is the N2 alone, and position 3 is the N2 with Germanium diodes in series. The N2 alone is described as having a Germanium-esque sonic quality without the volume loss normally associated with Germanium diodes.
How is the Black Spiral II different from the original Black Rose?
The MkII is darker than the original. It adds a wide-open Bias Control, three discrete voicing options, a hybrid tonestack that mixes elements of the Brute and the Allora, and extra output. The original Black Rose was the company's first pedal, announced in November 2018, and was renamed Black Spiral in early 2019 over a copyright issue.
Is the Black Spiral II analog?
Yes. The Black Spiral II is 100% analog, with no digital processing in the signal path.
Who designed the Black Spiral II?
Tom Cram designed it and released it under his own company, Spiral Electric FX, in April 2019. Cram had previously worked in the effects industry before starting the company.
Sources (3)
- Pedal Update: Spiral Electric Black Spiral II (aka Black Rose), Delicious Audio, 2022-04-19
- WHY SPIRAL ELECTRIC FX DESERVE A LOOK, JHS Pedals, 2019-04
- Spiral Electric FX Demhe Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2021-08-10
