The Stonefly Effects Alien Sasquatch is a fuzz pedal from the Quebec builder Stonefly Effects, and it is a take on the rare Earth Sound Research Graphic Fuzz. Pedal of the Day, which featured it in January 2020, called it "another killer effect with a name to match" and found that "this thing is loud and awesome, and really has a unique fuzz sound."1
The circuit it comes from
The Earth Sound Research Graphic Fuzz is an obscure original, not a clone of a better-known design. On the Guitar FX Layouts forum, where the circuit's schematic and a stripboard layout were worked through, the layout author described it as "one of my favorite bizarre and unique fuzzes of all time. Gnarly, spacey, heavy, and broken. Nothing else sounds like it."2
The layout discussion also flagged one quirk worth knowing: "Read up a bit on this circuit, seems some oscillation is normal."2 Players coming to a Graphic Fuzz style circuit should expect some of that instability as part of the character rather than as a fault.
Controls and construction
The front panel keeps things simple. The two main knobs are Filter and Level, and Pedal of the Day notes the pedal is "hiding a LOT inside it's relatively small enclosure and seemingly simple control section."1
- Filter: one of the two main knobs on the front face1
- Level: the other main knob on the front face1
- Internals: a socketed UA74ITC chip inside1
The Alien Sasquatch was a milestone for the builder: "the Alien Sasquatch is the first PCB build from Stonefly, with each one being handmade."1 The enclosure artwork came from Wildner Lima from Brazil.1
Availability
Availability is unclear. Pedal of the Day wrote in January 2020 that "you'll have to contact Marc-Eric, as we're not sure how many were produced or are for sale."1
Other Stonefly fuzzes
Stonefly Effects has released several fuzz pedals, each with its own circuit basis and construction approach:
- Stonefly Effects Grizzly Fuzz1
- StoneFly Effects Two Headed Werewolf1
- StoneFly Effects Switchblade Fuzz1
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Fuzz Freaks
Ryan Kiesshauer
Questions
What circuit is the Stonefly Alien Sasquatch based on?
Pedal of the Day describes the Alien Sasquatch as a take on the rare Earth Sound Research Graphic Fuzz. That original circuit has a reputation among builders for a strange character, described on the Guitar FX Layouts forum as gnarly, spacey, heavy, and broken, with nothing else sounding like it. Stonefly's version uses a socketed UA74ITC chip inside.
Is the Alien Sasquatch still available to buy?
Availability is unclear. When Pedal of the Day featured the pedal in January 2020, the reviewer noted that they were not sure how many were produced or are for sale, and that anyone interested would have to contact Marc-Eric at Stonefly Effects directly.
Is the Alien Sasquatch a handmade pedal?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, the Alien Sasquatch was the first PCB build from Stonefly Effects, with each one being handmade. The builder had previously released pedals built on tag-board construction.
Who did the artwork on the Alien Sasquatch?
The enclosure artwork was done by Wildner Lima from Brazil, according to Pedal of the Day's January 2020 review.
What does the Filter knob do on the Alien Sasquatch?
The Filter knob is one of the two main knobs on the front face of the pedal, alongside the Level knob. Pedal of the Day notes that the pedal hides a lot inside its relatively small enclosure and seemingly simple control section.
Sources (2)
- Stonefly Effects Alien Sasquatch Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2020-01-25
- Guitar FX Layouts: Earth Sound Research Graphic Fuzz, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2020-07-12
