The Structures FVZZ is a fuzz pedal from Spun Loud Effects, made in collaboration with Structures Brewing, a brewery in Bellingham, Washington. The pedal takes its name and its inspiration from the brewery's flagship beer, the FVZZ IPA1. It is a two-stage, all-analog fuzz circuit with germanium clipping in the first stage and LED clipping in the second, and it launched on 12 July 2024 at $1652.
Guitar World billed it as "a bold, full-bodied fuzz pedal with articulate flavors and dynamics," built on "a simple yet refined design based on a two-stage fuzz circuit with germanium and LED clipping"2.
Two stages, two clipping types
The FVZZ's character comes from pairing two different clipping approaches in one box, each with its own gain control23.
| Stage | Clipping | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Germanium hard clipping | "Instant fuzz gratification," very sensitive to the gain dial12 |
| Stage 2 | LED clipping, combined with a Darlington transistor | Creamier, overdrive-like tones that bump the output signal as gain increases213 |
The two stages can be run independently, or blended to taste, and Delicious Audio notes that each offers a different type of tone21. For a player, that means the FVZZ can sit anywhere on the spectrum from a sharp, immediate germanium fuzz to something closer to a thick overdrive, with the blend of the two gain dials setting where it lands.
Controls
The control set is straightforward: independent gain dials for the two stages, a tone knob, and a volume knob23.
- Stage 1 gain: sets the level of germanium hard clipping, and the stage is very sensitive to the dial's position21
- Stage 2 gain: sets the LED-clipped, overdrive-like stage, which also raises the output signal as gain increases2
- Tone: can be used to either cut or boost the pedal's high frequencies2
- Volume: Guitar World reports "gobs of volume on tap," enough to push an amp into higher gain territory, with unity gain landing somewhere around noon or just above, depending on the second stage's gain level23
Bass Magazine sums up the control scheme: "Independent controls for the gain stages allow players to get a huge range of both gain and sounds"3.
Power and build
The FVZZ runs on a standard 9V power supply, center-negative only23. Each unit is designed, assembled and tested by hand in Bellingham, Washington, the same town where Structures Brewing makes the FVZZ IPA that gave the pedal its name21.
Bass Magazine specifies a center-negative 9V supply only, so check your adapter's polarity before plugging in: a center-positive supply will not work with this pedal3.
Where it came from
The pedal is the product of two Bellingham outfits: pedal builder Spun Loud Effects and Structures Brewing, whose flagship beer is the FVZZ IPA2. Guitar World describes the collaboration as the two firms coming together "to rectify that marketing mishap and bring the Structures FVZZ into existence"2. Delicious Audio calls the beer the pedal's design inspiration, "the FVZZ IPA by Bellingham, WA's Structures Brewing"1.
Price and availability
The Structures FVZZ launched at $165 and was available on the day of announcement, 12 July 20242. Bass Magazine reports it is sold direct from Spun Loud Effects at www.spunloud.com and at Champlin Guitars in Bellingham3.
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Questions
Is the Structures FVZZ an analog pedal?
Yes. Guitar World describes it as an all-analog design, and the circuit is handmade: Spun Loud Effects designs, assembles and tests each unit by hand in Bellingham, Washington. There is no digital processing in the signal path.
Can the two fuzz stages of the Structures FVZZ be used separately?
Yes. The two stages have dedicated gain dials and can be run independently, or blended together to taste. Stage 1 delivers germanium hard clipping for immediate fuzz, while Stage 2 uses LED clipping for creamier, overdrive-like tones.
How much does the Structures FVZZ cost?
The Structures FVZZ was listed at $165 when it launched in July 2024, and Guitar World reported it as available on the day of announcement, 12 July 2024.
What does the tone knob on the Structures FVZZ do?
The tone control can be used to either cut or boost the pedal's high frequencies. That gives it a wide sweep, from darker and rounder fuzz settings to brighter, more cutting ones.
Where can I buy the Structures FVZZ?
At launch it was sold direct from Spun Loud Effects at www.spunloud.com and at Champlin Guitars in Bellingham, Washington, the home town of both the builder and Structures Brewing.
What voltage does the Structures FVZZ run on?
It runs on a standard 9V power supply, center-negative only. Bass Magazine notes it takes a center-negative 9V supply only, so it is not a pedal you can feed with a reversed-polarity adapter.
Sources (3)
- New Pedal: Spun Loud Effects Structures Fvzz, Delicious Audio, 2024-07-12
- “When I saw the FVZZ IPA come out, I thought, 'There should be a pedal to go with that!'” This pedal company was so inspired by an indie beer brew that it launched a companion fuzz, Guitar World, 2024-07-12
- Spun Loud Effects Releases New FVZZ Fuzz Pedal, Bass Magazine, 2024-07-11