The Z.Vex Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Fuzz Factory 7 is a limited-edition fuzz pedal that Zachary Vex's company Z.Vex released in September 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' Abbey Road album, which came out in 19691. It is a variant of the Fuzz Factory 7, built around two NOS 1960s germanium transistors, and only a dozen were made231.
As a fuzz pedal, it covers a wide tonal range. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described what the nine-position frequency switch gives you: the pedal can reach "earthshaking low frequencies to 'dog whistle' high frequencies"3. In his words, "You can have this thing really rumble with the lows or cut glass with the highs"2. Gearnews noted that the tones can also go into more unusual territory if you push the controls there1.
What it does: rumbling lows and glass-cutting highs
The Abbey Road edition has a similar circuit setup to the Russian Fuzz 7 and modifies the Fat Fuzz Factory2. Its controls are shared with the Fat Fuzz Factory: tone, volume, gate, comp, drive, and stab, with stab controlling feedback pitch2. On top of those it adds a nine-position rotary switch with preset tone stacks1, plus a passive tone control with its own switch to roll off high end3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Comp | Compression character of the fuzz |
| Drive | Fuzz intensity |
| Gate | Gating, from sustained to chopped and stuttering |
| Stab | Feedback pitch |
| Tone | Passive tone control, with its own switch to roll off high end3 |
| Rotary switch | Nine positions with preset tone stacks1 |
The frequency range that the rotary switch opens up is what gives the pedal its extremes. Guitar World quoted the pedal's range as "earthshaking low frequencies to 'dog whistle' high frequencies"3, and MusicRadar's Horsley wrote that it can "really rumble with the lows or cut glass with the highs"2. Gearnews added that the tones available "can go into the more wacky, outré side of things if you want to go there"1.
History and versions: a Fuzz Factory 7 made for the Abbey Road anniversary
The Abbey Road edition's artwork is its defining feature. Each pedal has a special livery featuring a rendition of the classic Abbey Road album cover, with a ZVex twist1. Guitar World described it as limited-edition printed art featuring characters from some of the company's other stompboxes crossing the street in homage to the Abbey Road cover3. MusicRadar described the enclosure as a power-blue, sparkling metal box with hand-painted artwork recreating the Abbey Road cover2, and Gearnews noted the powder-blue, sparkling metal enclosures have a little window into the inner workings of the pedal1.
"Even the NOS 1960s germanium transistors have been painted blue and emblazoned with 1969 and 2019."
The two NOS 1960s germanium transistors inside were painted blue and emblazoned with "1969" and "2019"1, a detail Guitar World reported as hand-painted with the anniversary years3.
How it differs from the standard Fuzz Factory 7
The parts are otherwise in the same family as the standard Fuzz Factory 7: Z.VEX describes its Fuzz Factory 7 line as hand-painted pedals whose colors and details may vary4. What sets the Abbey Road edition apart is the anniversary treatment: the Abbey Road artwork, the painted germanium transistors, the nine-position rotary switch with preset tone stacks1, and a run of just 12 pedals231 against the standard model's wider availability.
Gearnews' Jef predicted how the run would land with collectors:
"I reckon that these will sell out fast and become quite sought after, as the link to the Beatles will get a lot of wallets twitching for collectors."
At $469 in September 2019231, it was priced the same as the Russian Fuzz Factory 7 that preceded it. For players comparing Fuzz Factory variants today, the standard Fuzz Factory 7 and the Fuzz Factory 7 USA Vexter carry the circuit in wider production, while the Abbey Road edition remains a 12-piece collector's item.
News
Questions
How many Z.Vex Abbey Road Fuzz Factory 7 pedals were made?
Only 12. Z.Vex announced the Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Fuzz Factory 7 in September 2019 as a super-limited edition, with press coverage at MusicRadar, Guitar World and Gearnews all reporting the same run of a dozen pedals. Gearnews predicted the run would sell out fast and become sought after among collectors.
How much did the Z.Vex Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Fuzz Factory 7 cost?
It was priced at $469 when it was announced in September 2019. MusicRadar also gave an approximate UK price of £425. That price matched the Russian Fuzz Factory 7, another limited Fuzz Factory 7 variant released the year before.
What does the stab knob do on a Fuzz Factory?
The stab knob controls feedback pitch. It is one of six controls the Abbey Road edition shares with the Fat Fuzz Factory, alongside tone, volume, gate, comp and drive. Together they let you shape the fuzz from conventional grit to gated, oscillating and self-modulating sounds.
What transistors are in the Abbey Road Fuzz Factory 7?
It uses two NOS 1960s germanium transistors, and in this edition they were painted blue and emblazoned with the anniversary years 1969 and 2019. The Abbey Road edition follows the same circuit approach as the Russian Fuzz Factory 7, which used Russian germanium transistors.
How is the Abbey Road Fuzz Factory 7 different from the standard Fuzz Factory 7?
The circuit setup is similar to the Russian Fuzz 7 and modifies the Fat Fuzz Factory, so the parts are in the same family as the standard Fuzz Factory 7. The differences are the anniversary details: the Abbey Road artwork, the painted germanium transistors, and a run of just 12 pedals against the standard model's wider availability.
Sources (4)
- ZVex Abbey Road Fuzz Factory 7: Celebrating The Beatles with a 12-unit limited run, gearnews.com, 2019-09-28
- Z.Vex releases Abbey Road Fuzz Factory 7 to mark 50 years of the Beatles' classic, MusicRadar, 2019-09-27
- Oh! Darling, Guitar World, 2019-09-27
- Fuzz Factory 7, ZVEX Effects
