The Tone Cloud Jaffa Fuzz is a handwired fuzz pedal from Tone Cloud Effects, an up-and-coming builder from Australia whose output is exclusively dedicated to fuzz pedals. The Jaffa is the company's take on the Fuzz Face circuit, but with a difference: it adds one gain stage to the traditional Fuzz Face circuit for extra flexibility, and uses four silicon transistors to ensure tonal stability1.
How the circuit works
The pedal consists of two separate circuits whose stacking can be modified through the Cue toggle, with one added gain stage over the Fuzz Face design1. That extra stage is what gives the Jaffa its flexibility compared with a standard three-transistor Fuzz Face, and the silicon transistors are there, in the builder's words, "to ensure tonal stability"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz knob | Pre-amp gain when the Cue toggle is engaged1 |
| Gain knob | Master volume when the Cue toggle is engaged1 |
| Cue toggle | Reconfigures the circuit so the two knobs act as pre-amp gain (Fuzz) and master volume (Gain)1 |
| Cut/Fat toggle | High-pass filter: Cut removes the low end, Fat boosts the bass frequencies1 |
The Cue toggle is the heart of the pedal's flexibility. Engaged, it reconfigures the circuit so that "the two knobs act as a pre-amp gain (Fuzz) and master volume (Gain)"1, letting the Jaffa work as a stacked pair of circuits rather than a single fuzz stage.
The Cut/Fat switch, mounted on the top, acts as a high-pass filter. In the Cut position it removes the low end for a more mid-focused tone, almost reminiscent of the cocked wah trick, taking out the flubby lows often found in fuzz pedals. In Fat mode it boosts the bass frequencies for a warmer tone which produces extra overtones at higher gain settings1.
How it responds to your guitar
Paolo De Gregorio of Delicious Audio describes the Jaffa as very responsive to your guitar pickups' load, writing that it "will clean up nice and glassy with your volume control back"1. That volume-knob cleanup is a quality players traditionally prize in Fuzz Face style circuits, and it is the reason the builder calls the Jaffa a touch-responsive pedal1.
Versions and build
The Jaffa is available in both pedalboard-friendly enclosures and larger hand painted enclosures1. It is handwired in Melbourne, Australia, with true bypass switching using Alpha switches and Alpha 16mm potentiometers1.
Power is by 9V battery or wall wart power supply1, so a standard 9V DC supply works alongside a battery option.
Videos
Tone Cloud Effects
TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow
J Cruz Project | Guitar Content Creator
Questions
What does the Cue toggle do on the Jaffa Fuzz?
The Cue toggle reconfigures the circuit so that the two knobs change roles: the Fuzz knob acts as a pre-amp gain and the Gain knob acts as a master volume. The pedal consists of two separate circuits whose stacking can be modified through the Cue toggle, which is part of what the added gain stage over the Fuzz Face design makes possible.
What is the difference between Cut and Fat?
The Cut/Fat switch acts as a high-pass filter. In the Cut position it removes the low end for a more mid-focused tone, described as almost reminiscent of the cocked wah trick. In Fat mode it boosts the bass frequencies for a warmer tone that produces extra overtones at higher gain settings.
Is the Tone Cloud Jaffa Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. The Jaffa is wired with true bypass switching, using Alpha switches and Alpha 16mm potentiometers.
Can the Jaffa Fuzz run on a battery?
Yes. The unit can be powered by either a 9V battery or a wall wart power supply.
Does the Jaffa Fuzz clean up with the guitar volume?
Yes. The Jaffa is described as very responsive to your guitar pickups' load and will clean up nice and glassy with your volume control backed off, which is typical of what players look for in a touch-responsive Fuzz Face style pedal.
Where is the Jaffa Fuzz made?
The Jaffa Fuzz is handwired in Melbourne, Australia, by Tone Cloud Effects, a builder described as up-and-coming and exclusively dedicated to fuzz pedals.
Sources (1)
- Tone Cloud Jaffa Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2021-09-27