The Spun Loud Effects Structures FVZZ is a two-stage, handmade fuzz circuit with germanium clipping, released in July 2024 and made in collaboration with Structures Brewing, the Bellingham, Washington brewery whose FVZZ IPA inspired it1. It is an all-analog original circuit design, assembled by hand2, and at lower gain settings it can act as an overdrive as well as a fuzz1.
A two-stage fuzz that can also act as an overdrive
The FVZZ is built as two gain stages that can be run independently. Guitar World noted that "there are dedicated dials for its two stages of fizzy-fuzzy goodness, which can also be run independently"3. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described the pedal as "a two-stage, handmade fuzz circuit with germanium clipping"1, and Bass Magazine reported that independent controls for the gain stages allow players to get a huge range of both gain and sounds2.
At lower gain settings, the pedal can act as an overdrive1, which places it in territory shared with dedicated overdrive pedals as well as fuzz pedals. Bass Magazine described the pedal as offering "effervescent, deliciously gainey" fuzz tones2.
The controls: two gain stages, tone and volume
Each stage has its own gain control, and the two stages clip in different ways23:
| Stage | Clipping | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Germanium hard clipping | Gets fuzzy as soon as you start to turn the gain up; "instant fuzz gratification"1 |
| Stage 2 | LED clipping with a Darlington transistor | Milder, overdrive-like tones while bumping the overall output; more actual volume when turned up12 |
Bass Magazine reported that "cranking both stages produces a searing but articulate fuzz with octave hints when chords are played"2. Alongside the two gain controls, the pedal has a tone control and a volume control. The tone control mostly affects the high frequencies, for a warmer or edgier tone1, and the volume has plenty on tap to push amps into higher gain territory2.
Made with Structures Brewing
The pedal is a collaboration between Spun Loud Effects and Structures Brewing. Guitar World reported that "the two firms have now come together to rectify that marketing mishap and bring the Structures FVZZ into existence"3. Delicious Audio described the design inspiration as uniquely coming from a beer, the FVZZ IPA by Bellingham, WA's Structures Brewing1.
The enclosure carries the collaboration through visually. Bass Magazine described it as a gorgeous purple pedal whose art is taken from the FVZZ IPA can, with scratch font labels hand-drawn by Jonny Wilkerson2.
The FVZZ runs on a standard center-negative 9V power supply only2. As with any pedal without a battery option mentioned, plan your pedalboard power accordingly.
Videos
Harsh Tones, Inc.
Questions
What is the Structures FVZZ named after?
The pedal is named after the FVZZ IPA beer made by Structures Brewing of Bellingham, Washington. Spun Loud Effects designed the pedal in collaboration with the brewery, and the pedal's purple artwork is taken from the FVZZ IPA can, with scratch font labels hand-drawn by Jonny Wilkerson.
What kind of clipping does the Structures FVZZ use?
The first gain stage uses germanium hard clipping, which gets fuzzy as soon as the gain is turned up. The second stage combines an LED with a Darlington transistor, giving a milder, overdrive-like drive with more actual volume when turned up.
Can the Structures FVZZ be used as an overdrive?
Yes. At lower gain settings the FVZZ can act as an overdrive, and the second stage in particular is described as offering creamy, overdrive-like tones while raising the overall output. Cranking both stages produces a searing but articulate fuzz with octave hints when chords are played.
Where can you buy the Spun Loud Effects Structures FVZZ?
At its 2024 release the pedal was available from www.spunloud.com, direct from Spun Loud Effects, and at Champlin Guitars in Bellingham, Washington.
Is the Structures FVZZ analog?
Yes. The pedal uses an all-analog original circuit design, assembled by hand.
Sources (3)
- New Pedal: Spun Loud Effects Structures Fvzz, Delicious Audio, 2024-07-12
- Spun Loud Effects Releases New FVZZ Fuzz Pedal, Bass Magazine, 2024-07-11
- “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
