The ZVex Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 is a limited edition fuzz pedal from ZVex, a variation on the Fuzz Factory circuit built around the "111" Spam Can-style transistor wired with reverse polarity. Zachary Vex announced it via his Facebook page in February 2017, and it was sold directly by ZVex for one week only, from February 9th until February 16th, at an RRP of $319 plus shipping and taxes1.
The pedal is a deliberate look backward. Gearnews reported that it "harks back to the original 1995 models that originally used the 'Spam Can' transistor for the first 50 ever built"1. Reverse-polarity Fuzz Factory pedals have since become something of a rarity, which is part of what sets the 111 apart from the standard versions of the circuit.
A Fuzz Factory built on a reverse-polarity Spam Can transistor
The Fuzz Factory line is ZVex's best-known fuzz circuit, and the 111 is a variant of it rather than a new design. What makes it different is the transistor and the power arrangement. This limited production run uses the "111" Spam Can-style transistor with a reverse polarity1, a reference to the very first Fuzz Factory pedals of 1995, which used the Spam Can transistor for the first 50 units ever built1.
ZVex describes the reverse-polarity approach as rooted in fuzz history: on the maker's product pages for other Reverse Fuzz Factory variants, the circuit is described as "Similar to many 1960s fuzz boxes with reverse polarity"2. The circuit in those pedals contains Reverse Spam Can transistors, which ZVex says "sound amazing and squishy"3.
Reverse polarity power is a practical consideration, not just a historical quirk. ZVex states that the Reverse Fuzz Factory "can't be daisychained" with other pedals' power3, so a player using one needs a dedicated power supply rather than sharing a chain with standard center-negative pedals.
Limited run, availability window and price
The 111 was announced by Zachary Vex via his Facebook page on February 9, 20171. It was a limited edition sold only directly from ZVex, during a window that ran from February 9th until February 16th, 2017, at an RRP of $319 plus shipping and taxes1. Gearnews described it as a "very limited run," though no exact unit count was given1.
The 111 is not the only reverse-polarity Fuzz Factory. ZVex's own site lists other variants in the same family, all shown as sold out431:
| Variant | Price (as listed) | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 | $319 RRP plus shipping/taxes (Feb 2017)1 | Limited run, window closed | "111" Spam Can-style transistor1 |
| Reverse Fuzz Factory Engraved | $449.002 | Sold out2 | Hand-engraved artwork by LJM, made infrequently2 |
| Reverse Fuzz Factory RSCFF2602 | $449.004 | Sold out4 | "A frankenstein Fuzz Factory made from odds 'n' ends at the shop"4 |
| Reverse Fuzz Factory (clear) | $479.003 | Listed on ZVex site | Lexan enclosure with swirly inside paint by LJM3 |
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the 111 came from Gearnews, whose writer Jef reported the announcement and gave his view of the demos1:
"The demo sounds do sound really good to me. They are, of course, a bit of a specialist pedal, but I've found it such fun"
On price, the same writer was direct: "And no, they aren't cheap, but if you're serious about fuzz you may appreciate these"1. That framing matches the pedal's position in the ZVex range: a limited, specialist take on the Fuzz Factory aimed at players already invested in the circuit, rather than an entry point. A beginner comparing fuzzes would more likely start with a standard Fuzz Factory Vexter or Silicon Fuzz Factory, while the 111 and its reverse-polarity siblings sit at the collector end of the line. ZVex itself calls the Engraved Reverse Fuzz Factory "a cool collector item, for sure!"51.
Videos
Z VEX
Questions
What is a Spam Can transistor in a Fuzz Factory?
The Spam Can transistor is the part ZVex used in the first 50 Fuzz Factory pedals built in 1995. The Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 uses an '111' Spam Can-style transistor wired with reverse polarity, echoing those original units. ZVex says the circuit is similar to many 1960s fuzz boxes that also ran on reverse polarity power.
How much did the ZVex Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 cost?
The Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 carried an RRP of $319 plus shipping and taxes when it was announced in February 2017. It was sold directly by ZVex during a one-week window, from February 9th until February 16th, 2017.
Is the ZVex Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 still available?
No. The 111 was a limited edition sold only during a one-week window in February 2017, and reverse-polarity Fuzz Factory pedals have since become something of a rarity. Later Reverse Fuzz Factory variants listed on ZVex's site, such as the Engraved and RSCFF2602 versions, are shown as sold out.
Who announced the Reverse Fuzz Factory 111?
Zachary Vex announced the Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 himself, via his Facebook page, in February 2017. Gearnews reported the announcement on February 9, 2017, the same day the one-week sales window opened.
How many Reverse Fuzz Factory 111 pedals were made?
ZVex described it as a very limited run but did not state an exact unit count in the announcement. It harks back to the original 1995 Fuzz Factory models, which used the Spam Can transistor for the first 50 pedals ever built.
Sources (5)
- ZVex announces 111 'reverse' Spam Can Fuzz Factory via Facebook, gearnews.com, 2017-02-09
- Reverse Fuzz Factory Engraved, ZVEX Effects
- Reverse Fuzz Factory, ZVEX Effects (www.zvex.com)
- Reverse Fuzz Factory, ZVEX Effects
- Reverse Fuzz Factory Engraved, ZVEX Effects
