The Thermion Stone Age is a multi-engine fuzz pedal from Thermion, described by the maker as capable of creating everything from classic and renowned to modern and experimental fuzz tones1. Instead of committing you to one fuzz circuit, it packs four selectable engines, a bypassable EQ section and two blend footswitches into one chassis, which makes it a fuzz that can cover a lot of ground on a board.
The four fuzz engines
At the heart of the pedal is a fuzz selector switch offering four engines: Single Transistor, Maestro, Face and Thermion1. Each one provides a different sonic flavor using the pedal's Volume and Gain controls as a base, so the same two knobs behave differently depending on the engine you have dialed in2. The fuzz amount itself is turned up by a Gain knob3.
The Thermion engine is the maker's own take on the Big Muff family: a modern Muff "Thermion" modified with improved dynamics and definition1. Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen heard that Muff character in the circuit:
"The Thermion has plenty of Big Muff flavor, though the filters can't replicate the exact extremes of variation you'd get"
Clean and Octave blend footswitches
Two of the pedal's footswitches are not for turning the fuzz on and off at all. They are blend switches, and Pedal of the Day found them the most interesting part of the design: "The real fun for us is in the two Blend footswitches"2.
- Clean Mix: controlled by footswitch, it lets you inject as much of your clean signal into the mix as you like, keeping low strings and chords defined under the fuzz12
- Octave Mix: also controlled by footswitch, it conjures up classic octave fuzz tones, some that get wildly experimental and psychedelic12
Because both blends sit on footswitches rather than knobs, they can be brought in and out while you play, which is where the octave fuzz character earns its keep in a live setting21.
EQ section and controls
The Stone Age carries a bypassable EQ section that controls the High Cut and Low Cut frequencies of the fuzz effect, with an EQ In/Out switch to take it out of the circuit when you want the engines untouched2. That gives the pedal more practical tonal control than a fuzz with a single tone knob, which is exactly how Guitar World framed the Thermion engine's filters against a stock Muff3.
The full control set, as listed in Guitar World's review3:
- High Cut
- Low Cut
- EQ In/Out switch
- Octave Mix
- Fuzz selector switch
- Volume
- Clean Mix
- Gain
- Add Octave footswitch
Switching and bypass
The Stone Age is transistor based, with relay switching and true bypass2. Guitar World's feature list agrees, naming True Bypass alongside the four fuzz engines, Octave, Clean Mix and EQ3. For a player, true bypass means the pedal drops out of your chain entirely when off, and the relay switching points to a footswitch design without a conventional mechanical switch carrying the audio signal.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2022 review came down firmly on the side of the pedal's ambition, calling it "Powerful, bold and experimental, we love pedals like this" and describing an options-laden fuzz topped with two other signal blends and a slew of controls to fit any rig2. Guitar World counted the four distinct fuzz engines in one chassis among the pedal's plus points3.
If the Stone Age's Muff flavored engine is what draws you, Thermion also makes the Thermion PowerMuff, a dedicated Muff style fuzz in the maker's range. For a wider look at the category, see the site's guide to Fuzz Pedals.
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Questions
What are the four fuzz engines in the Thermion Stone Age?
The Stone Age offers four fuzz engines selected by a switch: Single Transistor, Maestro, Face and Thermion. Each engine provides a different sonic flavor using the pedal's Volume and Gain controls as a base. The Thermion engine is described by the maker as a modern Muff style circuit modified with improved dynamics and definition.
Is the Thermion Stone Age true bypass?
Yes. The Stone Age is transistor based, with relay switching and true bypass. Guitar World's review also lists True Bypass among the pedal's features, alongside its four fuzz engines, Octave, Clean Mix and EQ.
What do the Clean and Octave blend footswitches do?
The Stone Age has two blend footswitches. The Clean footswitch injects as much of your clean signal into the mix as you like, while the Octave footswitch conjures up classic octave fuzz tones, some of which Pedal of the Day described as wildly experimental and psychedelic.
Does the Thermion Stone Age have an EQ section?
Yes. There is a bypassable EQ section that controls the High Cut and Low Cut frequencies of the fuzz effect, with an EQ In/Out switch on the control panel.
Is the Thermion Stone Age transistor based?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the Stone Age is transistor based, with relay switching and true bypass.
Sources (3)
- Stone Age, Thermion (thermion.eu)
- Thermion Stone Age Fuzz Tone Engine, Pedal of the Day, 2022-04-11
- Thermion Stone Age review, Guitar World, 2022-07-13
