The Not The NotRite is a gated fuzz pedal from Wilson Effects, a maker whose fuzz line the maker's own index describes as "A brutal fuzz played by John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers."1 Wilson Effects bills it as "a fuzz like no other": a glitchy, gated fuzz with a massive, chaotic tone that cuts out completely when you are not playing, delivering a glitchy, velcro-like attack.2 Kevin of Wilson Effects puts it plainly: "It's a glitchy gated fuzz that just sounds huge."3
The controls
The pedal keeps things simple with two knobs, and the maker's two pages describe them in slightly different terms23:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Adjusts overall output2 |
| Depth (Intensity) | Controls the fuzz saturation and character2 |
Kevin adds some color to both: "The level control is just that a level control," and of the second knob, "The Depth knob is actually an intensity knob but hey depth also works right?"3 In practice, the Depth knob is where you shape how saturated and chaotic the fuzz gets, while Level sets how loud it sits in your mix.
The gating is the defining behavior. The pedal gates out completely when you are not playing, so there is no fuzz residue or noise between phrases. The maker attaches one warning to that behavior: "don't touch your strings though!"2 Because the gate responds to your playing, accidental string contact will bring the fuzz back in.
The maker's pages disagree on battery power. The main product page states the pedal runs on a 9VDC 2.1mm center-negative power supply with "(no battery option)"2, while a second Wilson Effects page says "The pedal is operated on a standard center negative 9vdc power supply or high quality 9vdc battery."3 Plan for a 9VDC center-negative supply either way.
From the FuzzRite circuit to something different
The Not The NotRite has a family connection to the NotRite, but it is not that pedal. Wilson Effects says it was "Originally based on the silicon FuzzRite circuit" and "has since evolved into something completely different."2 The story, as Kevin tells it, started as a custom project for a certain someone (no, not John) that eventually found its way into the hands of players.2
Kevin describes the process on the maker's product page: "After disassembling the original and of course a few mistakes along the way I came up with a prototype." He then "housed this fuzz in the NotRite enclosure and sent a few of them out to be tested."3 He is explicit about what the result is not: "No, it's not a FuzzRite and no it's not a Germanium Fuzzrite."3 The FuzzRite circuit exists in both a silicon version and a Germanium Fuzzrite version, and the current pedal is neither.3
For players comparing Wilson Effects fuzzes, the maker's range also includes the Fuzz MKIII, the Mordant, the Octave Fuzz and the Knuckle Dragger. The Not The NotRite's niche among them is the hard gate and the glitchy, velcro-like attack, a character shared by other gated fuzzes in the wider world of fuzz pedals23.
Build and availability
Wilson Effects describes the pedal as handmade in the USA, built with high-quality components and expert craftsmanship, and housed in a compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure designed for easy integration into any setup.2 Pre-orders are open and the maker ships nearly everywhere worldwide.2
Videos
Wilson Effects
Wilson Effects
Wilson Effects
Questions
Is the Wilson Effects Not The NotRite true bypass?
Yes. Wilson Effects describes the Not The NotRite as true bypass, which the maker says ensures your tone remains untouched when the pedal is off. That means the fuzz circuit is completely removed from your signal chain when the effect is disengaged, so it only colors your sound while switched on.
Does the Not The NotRite take a battery?
The maker's pages disagree on this. The main product page says the pedal runs on a 9VDC 2.1mm center-negative power supply with no battery option. A second Wilson Effects product page, quoting Kevin, says the pedal is operated on a standard center negative 9vdc power supply or a high quality 9vdc battery. If a battery matters to you, it is worth raising with the maker before ordering.
What does a gated fuzz do?
A gated fuzz shuts off entirely when you stop playing, so there is no fuzz wash or noise floor between phrases. Wilson Effects says the Not The NotRite gates out completely when you are not playing, delivering a glitchy, velcro-like attack. The maker adds one caution: do not touch your strings while playing, since the gate will respond to that contact.
Is the Not The NotRite based on the FuzzRite?
Originally, yes. Kevin of Wilson Effects says the pedal started out based on the silicon version of the FuzzRite circuit, but after disassembling the original and working through a prototype, it has since evolved into something completely different. The maker is clear that the current pedal is not a FuzzRite and not a Germanium Fuzzrite.
Where is the Not The NotRite made?
Wilson Effects builds the Not The NotRite by hand in the USA, which the maker says means high-quality components and expert craftsmanship. Pre-orders are open and the maker ships nearly everywhere worldwide.
Sources (3)
- EFFECT PEDALS, Wilson Effects
- NotTheNotRite, Wilson Effects
- Not the NotRite, Wilson Effects
