The Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B Hella Fuzz is a fuzz and distortion pedal built for bass. Wren and Cuff describes it as "crushing bass distortion, clean-blended": a fuzz pedal designed for the many distortion-loving bass players out there1. It descends from The Pickle (Pickle Pie), a fuzz the maker says earned a reputation as a "guitar" pedal that could handle the low frequencies of bass and give a nice spongy fuzz1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it "can get downright dirty, but still maintains a level of clarity and punch not often associated with bass-centric effects"2.
The controls
The pedal carries three knobs, fitted with genuine Davies "Daka-ware" knobs1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Saturation (Fuzz) | Altered to be highly usable at lower gain settings, with tighter lows at high fuzz settings; Pedal of the Day describes a range from a dirty, gritty, slightly over-driven clean-blended bass sound to fully saturated fuzz12 |
| Shape | Altered tone-stack range geared specifically for bass, giving a widened range of usable tones and a less pronounced mid-scoop1 |
| Blend | Balances the wet and dry signals to taste; the reviewer called it "a key ingredient here, letting you perfectly balance your wet and dry signals to taste"2 |
Wren and Cuff also notes there is no "drop out" when you kick on the fuzz while playing live, which the maker says gives the feel of running two amps, one wet and one dry1.
A bass variant of the Pickle Pie
The Pickle Pie B uses the same basic skeleton as the original Pickle Pie, but reworks it for bass12. Two changes stand out. The Shape knob's tone-stack range is widened and geared specifically for bass, giving a much less pronounced mid-scoop, which Pedal of the Day notes helps retain presence in a live playing situation12. And the clipping section is a FET-hybrid design that, in the reviewer's words, "helps the fuzz to mesh with the clean signal in a natural way"2.
"And that Blend knob is the perfect touch, really letting you explore how the tones from this pedal can work for you and your rig."
The pedal comes in a green enclosure, which the reviewer called "this green beauty"2. For players weighing it against other dirt options, it sits in the overlap between fuzz pedals and distortion pedals, with the clean blend that bass players often look for in both.
Videos
WrenAndCuff
WrenAndCuff
bassfuzzcom
Questions
What is the difference between the Pickle Pie B and the original Pickle Pie?
The Pickle Pie B builds on the basic skeleton of the original Pickle Pie, a fuzz Wren and Cuff describes as a guitar pedal that could handle the low frequencies of bass. The B version alters the saturation knob to be highly usable at lower gain settings, widens the range of usable tones from the Shape knob for bass, and adds a Blend knob for balancing wet and dry signals.
Does the Pickle Pie B have a blend control?
Yes. The Blend knob lets you balance the wet and dry signals to taste, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it a key ingredient. Wren and Cuff also notes there is no drop out when you kick on the fuzz while playing live, which the maker says gives the feel of running two amps, one wet and one dry.
Is the Pickle Pie B Hella Fuzz a fuzz or a distortion?
Both. Wren and Cuff describes it as a fuzz pedal designed for distortion-loving bass players, and calls it crushing bass distortion, clean-blended. Pedal of the Day categorizes it as a bass fuzz and distortion pedal, with the Saturation knob covering a range from a dirty, gritty, slightly overdriven clean-blended sound to fully saturated fuzz.
Does the Pickle Pie B cut mids like other fuzz pedals?
Much less than most. The Shape knob uses an altered tone-stack range geared specifically for bass, giving a much less pronounced mid-scoop, which Pedal of the Day notes helps retain presence in a live playing situation. A FET-hybrid clipping section also helps the fuzz mesh with the clean signal in a natural way.
Sources (2)
- Pickle Pie B, Wren and Cuff
- Wren and Cuff Pickle Pie B Hella Fuzz Bass Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2023-03-26
