The Sundance Electronics HI-1 Fuzz is a fuzz pedal built as a take on the Interfax Harmonic Percolator, the rare early-1970s fuzz/drive unit that has inspired a family of modern pedals. Pedal of the Day summed up its character as "Loud, gritty and raucous, this pedal is a beast from the west"12. It came out of Lake Forest, CA, and was the first pedal from Sundance Electronics1.
The Percolator lineage
The circuit the HI-1 draws from has a story of its own. Aion FX's Tracing Journal calls the original "a unique and extremely rare fuzz/drive from the early 1970s"23, built by Ed Giese under the Interfax name as the HP-14. Pedal of the Day, reviewing another Percolator-based pedal, framed the question players still ask of the design: "Is it a fuzz? Is it a distortion? Is it its own entity entirely?"5. The HI-1 is Sundance's answer to that design, which Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio called "an interesting take on the Harmonic Perculator-style fuzz"3.
Controls: one knob, three toggles
The layout is deliberately simple. There is just one gigantic Volume knob, which delivers plenty of output3, and three toggle switches providing tonal and gain variation3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level; the level can differ depending on where the toggles are set1 |
| Gain | Switches from high gain to mid gain31 |
| Comp | Goes between a standard, more compressed feel and a more open, higher headroom feel1 |
| Mids | Flat or slightly scooped; dials back the harsh mids just a bit31 |
Delicious Audio notes that mixing and matching the switch options opens up a variety of tones3.
Different switch combinations result in different volume drops or boosts, so the pedal's output level shifts as you flip the toggles. Pedal of the Day's advice: "just use that big old knob accordingly"1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the HI-1 Fuzz on 22 December 2021 and dug it as the maker's first pedal1. The site later revisited Sundance's follow-up, the Clean Fuzz, and looked back on the HI-1 as "a complete ripper overall"6.
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Pedal of the Day
Questions
What is the Interfax Harmonic Percolator?
The Interfax Harmonic Percolator is a unique and extremely rare fuzz/drive unit from the early 1970s, built by Ed Giese under the Interfax name as the HP-1. Pedal of the Day describes it as sitting between fuzz and distortion, its own entity entirely, and a number of modern pedals, including the HI-1 Fuzz, are based on its circuit.
What does the Comp switch do on the HI-1 Fuzz?
The Comp switch goes between a standard, more compressed feel and a more open, higher headroom feel. Combined with the Gain and Mids toggles, it is one of three switches that shape the pedal's tonal and gain character.
Why does the volume change when I flip the HI-1 toggles?
Different switch combinations on the HI-1 Fuzz result in different volume drops or boosts, so the output level shifts as you change the toggles. Pedal of the Day's advice is simply to use the big Volume knob accordingly, adjusting it after you settle on a switch setting.
Was the HI-1 the first pedal from Sundance Electronics?
Yes. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the HI-1 Fuzz in December 2021, called it the first pedal from Sundance Electronics, a maker based in Lake Forest, CA. The maker's Clean Fuzz followed later.
What does the Mids switch do on the HI-1 Fuzz?
The Mids switch toggles between flat and slightly scooped midrange. Pedal of the Day describes it as dialing back the harsh mids just a bit when engaged, which helps tame the pedal's raucous character.
Sources (6)
- Sundance Electronics HI-1 Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2021-12-22
- Tracing Journal: Catalinbread Karma Suture (Germanium & Silicon), Aion FX, 2021-02-21
- Sundance Electronics HI1- Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2021-12-22
- Latent Lemon Audio Hurts Fuzz V2, Delicious Audio, 2022-11-28
- Malaise Forever Clubber Lang Harmonic Percolator Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2021-10-16
- Sundance Electronics Clean Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2022-01-24
