The Z.Vex Vexter Fuzz Probe is a fuzz pedal from Z.Vex that adds theremin-like gesture control to the company's Fuzz Factory circuit. A copper antenna built into an acrylic plate sits on the pedal, and moving a foot or hand close to it adjusts the STAB knob by proximity. Z.Vex describes the result as varying oscillation pitch and strange fuzz and guitar interactions, "making it a big favorite of experimental noise fans."1
MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen described the Probe series as taking "a pedal and adds theremin-like gesture control to it," and called the Fuzz Probe "A brilliantly bonkers marriage of a fuzzbox with a theremin."2
What it does
The Fuzz Probe is, in Z.Vex's words, "the older brother of the Fuzz Factory"1: the same fuzz circuit with an antenna added. The pedal "has a theremin-like antenna that lets you adjust one the knobs (STAB) by moving your foot or hand close to the copper plate"1, so the stability control can be bent while you play rather than only set by hand.
MusicRadar explains how the gesture control works: "Wave your foot around near the plate and you'll disturb a field of RF energy coming from the antenna, altering the circuit that generates it."2 With the stability knob set low, the reviewer found "you can wave your foot around for police car sirens and faux-theremin squeals," with the sounds determined by the stability knob setting.2
"A brilliantly bonkers marriage of a fuzzbox with a theremin."
Controls
The Probe carries the Fuzz Factory's control set, which Guitar World lists as covering "volume, comp, gate, drive and stab"3, with the STAB knob doubled by the antenna plate:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level3 |
| Comp | Compression of the fuzz3 |
| Gate | Gating of the fuzz3 |
| Drive | Fuzz drive amount3 |
| Stab | Stability; sets how readily the circuit oscillates3 |
| Antenna plate | Adjusts the STAB knob by proximity of a foot or hand1 |
Where it came from
The Fuzz Probe's circuit comes from the Fuzz Factory, Z.Vex's germanium fuzz with self-oscillation, which Guitar World types as a "Germanium Fuzz / Self-Oscillating Fuzz Effect Pedal"4. The Vexter version of the Fuzz Factory carries the circuit in Z.Vex's standard enclosure, with an on/off LED and center-negative DC power jack5, and MusicRadar's review of the Fuzz Factory praised its "Quality build"6.
Z.Vex has since built a wide family around the circuit, including:
- the Fat Fuzz Factory, which Premier Guitar noted "also helps it enhance the lower-register output of basses with Earth-shattering results"7
- vertical, silicon, Russian and limited-edition versions of the Fuzz Factory1
The Vexter Fuzz Probe takes that circuit and adds the antenna plate, making the stability control playable by gesture. For players exploring fuzz pedals on the noisy, oscillating end of the spectrum, it is the Fuzz Factory with that interaction extended to the foot as well as the hand21.
Videos
FlyingTex
Get Offset
60 Cycle Hum
Sources (7)
- Fuzz Probe Vexter, ZVEX Effects
- Z.Vex Vexter Fuzz Probe review, MusicRadar, 2014-08-13
- Z.Vex is Offering a Limited Number of Very Cool Clear Fuzz Factory Pedals, Guitar World, 2019-05-10
- Z.Vex Vexter Fuzz Factory review, Guitar World, 2026-09-14
- Fuzz Factory Vexter, ZVEX Effects
- Z.Vex Fuzz Factory review, MusicRadar, 2014-11-05
- Z.Vex Fat Fuzz Factory Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2013-06-18
