Lucky to live in this era of pedals. I have an EHX Ripped Speaker, which is a bit of a mystery, but I found someone who said the schematic suggests it has 4 silicon transistors, an Op amp and a couple of diodes creating the magic. All I know is I can get great fuzz sounds with no issues about having to have it first in my signal chain, no temperature issues like germanium, and with guitar volume roll off, it cleans up like good germanium, but with the high end clarity of silicon. So, I don’t really know how to classify it, but damn… Kudos to Electro Harmonix for engineering a great fuzz, and for dirt cheap too!
For me its Germanium in the studio/ at home everytime because you can keep your fuzz in the fridge. At 10-20 degrees Germanium sounds absolutely ace , everything is there cleanup, glassy top end, and a tight & cutting bass response. All this goes aways if the temperature rises above 20 degrees, then problems like overwhelming bass, no cut through the mix and "farting" appears. So for live and especially outside gigs everytime Silicon. Thats why many people say Hendrix preferred Silicon, he only preferrred it in live situations, in the studio you always hear a germanium fresh out of the fridge
@@jmproductions59 in tropical australia it is going to be hard getting a good germanium tone because of the temperature. I live in Germany and last Summer was quite warm (~35 degrees celsius) , my germanium fuzz didnt sound right at all unless I put a cooling pad under it or stored it in the cold basement and only got it out for a 20 min playing session then the sound would change. In your situation I would look out for a good Silicon fuzz , there are great builders out there and you will have no temperature problems whatsoever
Must say you've got the audio volumn and quality dialed in. I listened to this in my car and the sound quality is perfect man. Probably the best on the tube. 👍🎶 👂 Would be good if you could do you just jamming for like 50 mintues so I can listen to it while driving and just mention what pedals your using every now and then.
@Sasha Ivantic but we'd all listen to it! Have a few friends on every know and again. A little Danish Pete, Buddy Blues, Chris Buck, etc.. 😂 Boy, that would make for a good podcast 😂
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy needed some Hair. So how Fuzzy...Really was he? I like the fact you get both versions in one box. Also, that there was some semblance of note separation not particularly or usually associated with fuzz. The sound was some of the best fuzz I've ever heard. How well the pedal interacts with the guitars volume control goes a really long way as you demonstrated. That was the major takeaway imho.
Fuzz is Fuzz. If it sounds good it is good no matter what transistor type it uses or what batch of the transistors or does it have or not the red dot or what type of the font it has :)
My favorite sounding fuzzes are always the ones that make my amp sound like it might explode at any given second. The "worse" they sound the better they sound to me.
I love my Tone Bender and I love my Vezzpa. What does that say about me? I love gated fuzz the most actually and I'm assuming that puts me in a major minority?
Silicon for me, they have a "glassiness" to their character that is awesome and a tighter bottom end. Not to say I don't enjoy a good germanium fuzz from time to time.
its all in the settings of the fuzz, you get insane glass with germanium if you max out the fuzz control & the the level also at least at 3/4, if you go max on the level the bass flubs out on my fuzz its tight &cutting at 97% level and at 100% insane bass explosion
Hey Mr. I antic! Your Caribbean/Barbadian fan here again! 😅🇧🇧 Question: when you stack with overdrive, is it before or after the fuzz pedal? I use a MXR Blue Box (currently my only functioning fuzz). I found that it has its limitations, but when I run it through a Joyo Vintage Overdrive, it makes it sound something like a MKI Tone bender. Also, what about running a fuzz through a distortion, such as a Boss DS-1? Have a great day, great videos!!!
The problem is that most of these factory fuzz effects use poor quality germanium transistors. You should try to make a fuzz with Russian germanium transistors from the GT series. These are high-quality transistors that are normally used for precision electronics. For example GT321B.
That there are quality differences is a myth. The characteristics of these devices are driven by semiconductor physics, with one exception: noise, especially 1/f noise. If you want less 1/f noise (which for audio application does not matter because humans can't hear well below 10Hz), then you need to let your devices sit in the drawer for 50 years. There is a type of surface defect in these materials that causes 1/f noise that and slowly (logarithmically slowly) goes away as the devices age. I had to work with somebody on a scientific preamp once and we had an over 40 year old design that worked really well. We replicated it 1:1 with new parts and the new circuit was considerably worse at 1Hz (by a factor of two or so). We tried everything... until we looked at the noise physics of transistors... and there it was. There was nothing we could do but... wait. ;-)
I don't know why pedal builders don't design around high current Zener diodes .... the High Current ones Leak before they break down. I put a pair on my solid state amp's first Op feed back loop, and it it soft clips, similar to a tube, just fine..........I mean I prefer Ge over Si in the example here, but Zeners are Si
@@lepidoptera9337 the high current Zeners bull nose the wave, is what I meant...more like Ge, or tube clipping, ....more expensive than rated SI, but less expensive than Ge
@@RulgertGhostalker To be honest, I am not hearing all that much difference between Si and Ge, all diodes have more or less the same characteristic if we scale for bandgap, Germanium just has more leakage and higher internal resistance, if I am not mistake, and one can simulate all of that with a Si diode and a few resistors. I tried different things in simulation and on the breadboard and what sounded best to me (and that is really just meant as a personal preference) is more like a piecewise logarithmic amplifier made from multiple cascaded saturating opamps. That's also the circuit with the lowest noise and the highest possible compression. It's usually used in RF stages as part of automatic gain control and power measurement, but it sounds great in audio applications to me. I don't play the guitar, though, so I can only plug my $100 bass in and play one string at a time or maybe strum a few or I can run somebody else's clean track through there. That's completely meaningless because the circuit has to work for an actual musician playing live. What I have not tried, yet, but I will, is a power law circuit with variable power (that's a log amp with an attenuator followed by an exponential amp). I also like rectification far more than I like asymmetric or symmetric clipping, but that doesn't get us the compression (sustain) that a guitarist is typically looking for.
@@lepidoptera9337 you can't hear the difference between SI and Ge ???.. I would have to study the circuits you mention ... I have a Tech 21 Mop Top Liverpool; I don't know how they do it, but it's all silicon semi conductors but sounds like a tube amp .. that's different, it's no simple diode clipping circuit where SI or Ge would actually make a difference.
there are some great Si circuits out there (axis fuzz , fjord mjolnir) and there are some great Ge circuits (spaceman fx sputnik 2) . the temperature thing with a Ge circuit i have personally ran into issues as we play outdoors in the summer . of course we have all played different circuits in different configs thru different amps ang guitars so perhaps its not so cut and dry and then you have everyone has their own idea for what sounds good . all this " tone " discussion is not so night and day for some of us. I think we should try to keep open mind and not speak in blanket statements or claim to know everything - me i have not layed every fuzz pedal so i cant say what is best , especially for YOU. what you think is the best fuzz may not be one i care for in the least so maybe take er easy with the absolutes when you are online . perhaps our gear should not define us as players. if you play all analog and record on tape thru huge hot tubes thats great but it doesnt give you the right to trash talk the next guy for playing a korg pandora or even line 6 spydur . ultimately our music should define who we are as musicians not our gear , but if you do not have any of your own music ... thats kind of how i look at it . I have also noticed its a certain type of musician who attacks others for not using the same gear as themselves and this is more of a coverband guitar hero type than a home recordist or original music type player. The people who are sucessful or people who have acomplished their goals no matter what those may be as for some we are not dreaming to rule hollywood with a harem of scanty clad womens , some of us merely wish to make music which we can be proud of and not even consider things like money , record deals or an audience . people who have acomplished their goals , player who are secure in who they are as musicians do not go on forums and attack the next guy for not playing thru the exact same gear that they own . TLDR = be nice .
It sounds amazing, but 500$, seriously??!? I have a few boutique fuzzes which are fantastic (Formula B Mini bender, Lateral Phonics Deadman) and they are half that price or even less… Anyway, excellent playing, as always.
@@SashaIvantic Bro I ain't got no Facebook let alone Instagram lol old school sell me yours it's worth an extra hundred being touched by a guitar legend
Lucky to live in this era of pedals. I have an EHX Ripped Speaker, which is a bit of a mystery, but I found someone who said the schematic suggests it has 4 silicon transistors, an Op amp and a couple of diodes creating the magic. All I know is I can get great fuzz sounds with no issues about having to have it first in my signal chain, no temperature issues like germanium, and with guitar volume roll off, it cleans up like good germanium, but with the high end clarity of silicon. So, I don’t really know how to classify it, but damn… Kudos to Electro Harmonix for engineering a great fuzz, and for dirt cheap too!
That volume rolled back tone with the germanium is HEAVENLY
Heard the playing on the intro; subscribed. The rest was also very interesting, thanks. Going to check out your other vids now.
For me its Germanium in the studio/ at home everytime because you can keep your fuzz in the fridge. At 10-20 degrees Germanium sounds absolutely ace , everything is there cleanup, glassy top end, and a tight & cutting bass response. All this goes aways if the temperature rises above 20 degrees, then problems like overwhelming bass, no cut through the mix and "farting" appears.
So for live and especially outside gigs everytime Silicon. Thats why many people say Hendrix preferred Silicon, he only preferrred it in live situations, in the studio you always hear a germanium fresh out of the fridge
Is this true for other people? If so, I can't do germanium in tropical Australia (and don't want to sit in the fridge and play!) Cheers
@@jmproductions59 in tropical australia it is going to be hard getting a good germanium tone because of the temperature. I live in Germany and last Summer was quite warm (~35 degrees celsius) , my germanium fuzz didnt sound right at all unless I put a cooling pad under it or stored it in the cold basement and only got it out for a 20 min playing session then the sound would change.
In your situation I would look out for a good Silicon fuzz , there are great builders out there and you will have no temperature problems whatsoever
Exsactly mate, grettings from Bielefeld;)
Awesome video Sasha, and a great topic. Love your shirt. Greetings from Montenegro!
Hvala!
7:53- Doyle tone right away! So good!
Must say you've got the audio volumn and quality dialed in. I listened to this in my car and the sound quality is perfect man. Probably the best on the tube.
👍🎶 👂 Would be good if you could do you just jamming for like 50 mintues so I can listen to it while driving and just mention what pedals your using every now and then.
That would be the laziest podcast ever 🤣
@@SashaIvantic 🤣
@Sasha Ivantic but we'd all listen to it!
Have a few friends on every know and again. A little Danish Pete, Buddy Blues, Chris Buck, etc.. 😂
Boy, that would make for a good podcast 😂
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a Bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy needed some Hair. So how Fuzzy...Really was he? I like the fact you get both versions in one box. Also, that there was some semblance of note separation not particularly or usually associated with fuzz. The sound was some of the best fuzz I've ever heard. How well the pedal interacts with the guitars volume control goes a really long way as you demonstrated. That was the major takeaway imho.
Great watch. These are both fantastic sounding . It starts to all get a little bit like apples and oranges . Both taste great, just different
So good. All of it, the Sasha, the chops, the Pedal. This pedal does it all, you don't need much else.
There is no better, just what is best for you and your tone search............ enjoy the ride. FYI Aaron is a solid dude
Helpfull video with your comments which are a plus! Thanks!!
I love Germanium and Silicon Fuzz Faces . It all depends on what I’m going after
Long long time Si (BC108) convert. The Pedal Pawn Fuzz cleans up like a Ge. I like the Ge cleanup on that one but the Si gain tones sound great.
Big fan here! Outstanding tones here from you! Best regards from Austria!!
Vielen dank! 😁🤘
Man that shirt is killer
Yeah wonder where he got it from, what brand
Fuzz is Fuzz. If it sounds good it is good no matter what transistor type it uses or what batch of the transistors or does it have or not the red dot or what type of the font it has :)
My favorite sounding fuzzes are always the ones that make my amp sound like it might explode at any given second. The "worse" they sound the better they sound to me.
Can we love both of them?
Hey great demo thanks. Where you using germanium or silicone in the intro? Very nice
I have a Germanium Fuzzface and a Silicon Thorpyfx fuzz pedal :) I use the Thorpyfx all the time :)
Russian players prefer the Polonium 209 fuzz pedals. ---- SO glad I stumbled upon your channel, Sasha.
Only 3.6 roentgen
@@SashaIvantic Over my head Sasha. lol
Germanium or silicon? Fight!
Tone Bender - Germanium
Fuzz Face - Silicone
The End 😉
I prefere properly made pedal over rubbish pedal made from sacred NOS parts.
I love my Tone Bender and I love my Vezzpa. What does that say about me? I love gated fuzz the most actually and I'm assuming that puts me in a major minority?
GATED FUZZ IS AWESOME
Silicon for me, they have a "glassiness" to their character that is awesome and a tighter bottom end. Not to say I don't enjoy a good germanium fuzz from time to time.
its all in the settings of the fuzz, you get insane glass with germanium if you max out the fuzz control & the the level also at least at 3/4, if you go max on the level the bass flubs out on my fuzz its tight &cutting at 97% level and at 100% insane bass explosion
Sounds amazing!! Was intro jam with the germanium or silicon side?
Both versions do not sounds oversatured with is great!
Hey Mr. I antic! Your Caribbean/Barbadian fan here again! 😅🇧🇧
Question: when you stack with overdrive, is it before or after the fuzz pedal? I use a MXR Blue Box (currently my only functioning fuzz). I found that it has its limitations, but when I run it through a Joyo Vintage Overdrive, it makes it sound something like a MKI Tone bender. Also, what about running a fuzz through a distortion, such as a Boss DS-1?
Have a great day, great videos!!!
Mr. Ward! I run overdrive after fuzz. Don’t think fuzz will do well with a DS-1 unless it’s mayhem you’re after!
fantastic demo of a stellar pedal imo !!
The problem is that most of these factory fuzz effects use poor quality germanium transistors. You should try to make a fuzz with Russian germanium transistors from the GT series. These are high-quality transistors that are normally used for precision electronics. For example GT321B.
That there are quality differences is a myth. The characteristics of these devices are driven by semiconductor physics, with one exception: noise, especially 1/f noise. If you want less 1/f noise (which for audio application does not matter because humans can't hear well below 10Hz), then you need to let your devices sit in the drawer for 50 years. There is a type of surface defect in these materials that causes 1/f noise that and slowly (logarithmically slowly) goes away as the devices age. I had to work with somebody on a scientific preamp once and we had an over 40 year old design that worked really well. We replicated it 1:1 with new parts and the new circuit was considerably worse at 1Hz (by a factor of two or so). We tried everything... until we looked at the noise physics of transistors... and there it was. There was nothing we could do but... wait. ;-)
I love the tone of your guitar!
I don't know why pedal builders don't design around high current Zener diodes .... the High Current ones Leak before they break down.
I put a pair on my solid state amp's first Op feed back loop, and it it soft clips, similar to a tube, just fine..........I mean I prefer Ge over Si in the example here, but Zeners are Si
Did you try LEDs?
@@lepidoptera9337 I have heard of people clipping with LEDs....but do the really sound much different that Si diodes ?
@@lepidoptera9337 the high current Zeners bull nose the wave, is what I meant...more like Ge, or tube clipping, ....more expensive than rated SI, but less expensive than Ge
@@RulgertGhostalker To be honest, I am not hearing all that much difference between Si and Ge, all diodes have more or less the same characteristic if we scale for bandgap, Germanium just has more leakage and higher internal resistance, if I am not mistake, and one can simulate all of that with a Si diode and a few resistors.
I tried different things in simulation and on the breadboard and what sounded best to me (and that is really just meant as a personal preference) is more like a piecewise logarithmic amplifier made from multiple cascaded saturating opamps. That's also the circuit with the lowest noise and the highest possible compression. It's usually used in RF stages as part of automatic gain control and power measurement, but it sounds great in audio applications to me.
I don't play the guitar, though, so I can only plug my $100 bass in and play one string at a time or maybe strum a few or I can run somebody else's clean track through there. That's completely meaningless because the circuit has to work for an actual musician playing live. What I have not tried, yet, but I will, is a power law circuit with variable power (that's a log amp with an attenuator followed by an exponential amp). I also like rectification far more than I like asymmetric or symmetric clipping, but that doesn't get us the compression (sustain) that a guitarist is typically looking for.
@@lepidoptera9337 you can't hear the difference between SI and Ge ???.. I would have to study the circuits you mention ... I have a Tech 21 Mop Top Liverpool; I don't know how they do it, but it's all silicon semi conductors but sounds like a tube amp .. that's different, it's no simple diode clipping circuit where SI or Ge would actually make a difference.
there are some great Si circuits out there (axis fuzz , fjord mjolnir) and there are some great Ge circuits (spaceman fx sputnik 2) . the temperature thing with a Ge circuit i have personally ran into issues as we play outdoors in the summer . of course we have all played different circuits in different configs thru different amps ang guitars so perhaps its not so cut and dry and then you have everyone has their own idea for what sounds good . all this " tone " discussion is not so night and day for some of us. I think we should try to keep open mind and not speak in blanket statements or claim to know everything - me i have not layed every fuzz pedal so i cant say what is best , especially for YOU. what you think is the best fuzz may not be one i care for in the least so maybe take er easy with the absolutes when you are online . perhaps our gear should not define us as players. if you play all analog and record on tape thru huge hot tubes thats great but it doesnt give you the right to trash talk the next guy for playing a korg pandora or even line 6 spydur . ultimately our music should define who we are as musicians not our gear , but if you do not have any of your own music ... thats kind of how i look at it . I have also noticed its a certain type of musician who attacks others for not using the same gear as themselves and this is more of a coverband guitar hero type than a home recordist or original music type player. The people who are sucessful or people who have acomplished their goals no matter what those may be as for some we are not dreaming to rule hollywood with a harem of scanty clad womens , some of us merely wish to make music which we can be proud of and not even consider things like money , record deals or an audience . people who have acomplished their goals , player who are secure in who they are as musicians do not go on forums and attack the next guy for not playing thru the exact same gear that they own . TLDR = be nice .
I'm really glad you included a tldr and I fully agree 😄
Absolutely killer tones.
All great! But lot of transistors are not available!
It sounds amazing, but 500$, seriously??!? I have a few boutique fuzzes which are fantastic (Formula B Mini bender, Lateral Phonics Deadman) and they are half that price or even less…
Anyway, excellent playing, as always.
As he said, it is two pedals in one
Silicon for me. (Also good for breast implants too).
That’d be DD183
I imagine a guitar nerd might say to his wife's plastic surgeon that he would prefer germanium implants. LOL!
Cool video!
I got one of these, mine is bc108 & RCA
Awesome shirt
Nice demo! I am curious, how do you setup the tone pot for your bridge pickup?
I rarely touch the tone pots tbh. They’re wide open 99% of the time
Great tones there! Can you post a link to his website, hard to find that pedal.
I think the website is still a work in progress!
@@SashaIvantic well that makes sense, no wonder I couldn’t find it. But if I wanted to grab one of these petals, how could I locate it?
@@Richiez22908 you can find him on Instagram. He lives there 🤣
nice dude!
Killer tones
I want that pedal.. how will I know when it comes out?
They are already out and sold out! Check their website
Oh for fuzz sake!
Bro, do you even FUZZ?? 🥵🔥
FUZZ!!
Nice shirt
do you have a link where to get this pedal?
I don’t think his website is online yet. You can contact him through Instagram
Where can I buy this pedal??
You can get in touch with him on IG. Don’t think his website is live yet.
Where can I buy this pedal
I don’t know if his website is live yet but you can find him on Instagram!
@@SashaIvantic Bro I ain't got no Facebook let alone Instagram lol old school sell me yours it's worth an extra hundred being touched by a guitar legend
Mark Lotterman!!
no scientific spec sheets and data......i'm out of here......sounds great.
🤣
I don't like you or your fuzz pedals because you shake the neck and that makes you a bad player 😉🙃
🤣
@@SashaIvantic 😎😂