The Shiny is an analog fuzz pedal from Union Tube & Transistor, described by the maker as its take on the hard to find Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz circuit12. The original FY-2 was made by Shin-ei in Japan in 19773. Union Tube & Transistor says the Shiny delivers that signature, blown-out "friend-of-P" splatty crunch, refined to account for the original's volume drop1. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as now louder and with less low end muddiness2.
What it does to your sound
Union Tube & Transistor places the Shiny in "the gritty, textured world of classic Japanese fuzz"1. The maker's own description is that the pedal delivers "that signature, blown-out 'friend-of-P' splatty crunch without any of the vintage unit's legendary" shortcomings, with the refinement made to account for the original's volume drop1. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry sums up the change from the vintage circuit as "Now louder and with less low end muddiness"2.
Controls
The Shiny carries over the two knobs of the original unit1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Tailors output volume to taste1 |
| Fuzz | Applies a subtle EQ to shape the tone of your fuzz1 |
Where it came from: the Shin-Ei FY-2
The Shiny is inspired by the Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz circuit, which Union Tube & Transistor describes as rare and highly sought after, from the late 1960s1. TONEHOME lists the Shin-ei Fuzz Box FY-2 as made in Japan in 19773. The circuit has an active builder community: on Guitar FX Layouts, a builder named D Russ reported in 2022, "I built this with 2N2222 and hot dang it's stupid loud. Sounds great! The mid scoop knob is excellent."4 Another builder, Purple Cat, noted in 2024, "i put a 1k in place of the 390ohm resistor and the output volume is MUCH more manageable now."4 That volume issue is what Union Tube & Transistor says the Shiny addresses1.
The vintage Shin-ei Fuzz Box FY-2 is described as hard to find2. For more on the original unit, see the Shin-ei Fuzz Box FY-2 page.
Versions
Union Tube & Transistor offers the Shiny in two versions, Deluxe or Bean Counter1. The maker notes that the Bean Counter version looks different than the photo on its product page1.
More from Union Tube & Transistor
The maker's other fuzz designs include the Union Tube & Transistor Tour Bender and the Bumble Buzz, the pedal made for Third Man Records5. For other circuits in this family, see the site's Fuzz Pedals page.
Videos
Once Upon A Tone
Questions
What is the Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz?
It is a fuzz pedal made by Shin-ei in Japan in 1977, according to TONEHOME. The circuit is rare and highly sought after, and Union Tube & Transistor describes the Shiny as inspired by it. Builders who have reconstructed the circuit report it as very loud, with one noting that replacing a 390 ohm resistor with a 1k makes the output volume much more manageable.
Is the Union Tube & Transistor Shiny an analog pedal?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the Shiny lists its circuit type as analog.
What is the difference between the Shiny Deluxe and Bean Counter?
Union Tube & Transistor offers the Shiny in two versions, Deluxe or Bean Counter. The maker notes only that the Bean Counter version looks different than the photo on its product page, so the difference between the two is in appearance.
What does the fuzz knob do on the Shiny?
The Shiny has two knobs, called volume and fuzz on the original unit. According to Union Tube & Transistor, the volume knob lets you tailor output volume to taste, while the fuzz knob applies a subtle EQ to shape the tone of your fuzz.
Is the Shiny louder than the original FY-2?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the Shiny as now louder and with less low end muddiness than the vintage unit, and Union Tube & Transistor says it was refined to account for the original's volume drop.
Sources (5)
- Shiny - Union Tube & Transistor, Union Tube & Transistor
- Shiny by Union Tube & Transistor, RockBoard (PedalPedia), 2026
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Guitar FX Layouts: Shin-Ei FY-2 Companion Fuzz with mods, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2024-01-10
- Third Man Records launches new pedal made by Union Tube & Transistor, Union Tube & Transistor
