The Stomp Audio Labs White Widow Silicon Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from the Brazilian builder Stomp Audio Labs, sitting in the wider field of fuzz pedals. Pedal of the Day describes it as based on a special version of the Big Muff Pi from the late 1970s, the same circuit family that General Guitar Gadgets identifies simply as "based on the Big Muff distortion"12. Where a standard Big Muff style fuzz gives you a fixed voicing, the White Widow adds Mid and Pre controls on top of the usual Fuzz, Volume and Tone, which is what makes it a more adjustable take on the design.
The controls: Fuzz, Volume, Tone, Mid and Pre
The White Widow carries five controls, and each shapes a different part of the fuzz voicing. The big knobs present on the pedal are Fuzz and Volume, the Tone knob has a big range and is super expressive, sweeping from a sharp, crisp EQ to a fuller, deeper-bodied low end chunk, the Pre knob acts as an input pre-gain, setting the stage for some powerful overdrive, distortion and fuzz combinations, and the Mid control lets you dial in the vintage mid-scoop of the Big Muffs, or gives you the ability to boost the midrange as you see fit1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Main fuzz amount, one of the two large knobs on the pedal1 |
| Volume | Output level, the other of the two large knobs1 |
| Tone | Wide-ranging tone shaping, from a sharp, crisp EQ to a fuller, deeper-bodied low end1 |
| Mid | Dials in the vintage mid-scoop of the Big Muffs, or boosts the midrange instead1 |
| Pre | Input pre-gain, setting up overdrive, distortion and fuzz combinations1 |
The two largest knobs are Fuzz and Volume, which Pedal of the Day described as "defined by a cool squiggly line" on the panel1. The Tone knob has what the same review called a big range, sweeping from a sharp, crisp EQ to a fuller, deeper-bodied low end chunk1.
The Mid control is where the White Widow departs from the Big Muff template. It lets you dial in the vintage mid-scoop of the Big Muffs, or gives you the ability to boost the midrange as you see fit, and Pedal of the Day found it works really well alongside the Tone knob1. Players who know the classic Big Muff scoop can recreate it; players who find that voicing too hollow can push the mids back up.
The Pre knob acts as an input pre-gain, setting the stage for powerful overdrive, distortion and fuzz combinations. Pedal of the Day said it "jives perfectly" with the Fuzz control1, which puts the pedal in territory closer to stacking a preamp or overdrive into a fuzz, but with that stage built in.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the White Widow in March 2017 and called it one of the more flexible fuzzes they had come across recently. Their verdict came quickly1:
"Today's featured pedal took us about 8 seconds before we knew it was a keeper."
The same review played on the pedal's looks, noting that the White Widow, despite being black in color, is "a monster waiting to be let loose"1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Raphael Strambi
Raphael Strambi
Questions
Where is the Stomp Audio Labs White Widow made?
The White Widow Silicon Fuzz is made by Stomp Audio Labs, a builder based in Brazil. Pedal of the Day noted in its 2017 review that the pedal "comes to us all the way from Brazil," making it one of the smaller builders whose pedals reach players in the United States from outside the usual pedal-making countries.
What does the Pre knob do on the White Widow?
The Pre knob acts as an input pre-gain, setting the stage for overdrive, distortion and fuzz combinations. Pedal of the Day found it works especially well alongside the Fuzz control, letting you push the front end of the circuit harder before the fuzz stage clips.
Is the White Widow based on a Big Muff?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the White Widow as based on a special version of the Big Muff Pi from the late 1970s. The Mid control reflects that heritage: it can recreate the vintage mid-scoop of the Big Muffs or boost the midrange instead.
What does the Mid control do on the White Widow?
The Mid control lets you dial in the vintage mid-scoop associated with the Big Muff circuits the White Widow is drawn from, or, turned the other way, boost the midrange as you see fit. Pedal of the Day found it pairs well with the Tone knob.
Sources (2)
- Stomp Audio Labs White Widow Silicon Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2017-03-27
- Deluge Bass Distortion: DIY Kit & Schematic, General Guitar Gadgets, 2014-07-13