Uno Fuzz

Project overview

If you could only take one fuzz pedal to a deserted island, this is the one you should choose. Inspired by the legendary Univox Super Fuzz, one of the most important circuits ever made. It set the bar for what a grizzly fuzz should sound like and has inspired countless pedals since then.

Introduction

The Uno Fuzz is the modern equivalent of one of the most worshiped pedals out there. Those crazy loud and heavy waves are the reason why so many consider Univox Super-Fuzz the ultimate fuzz and a legend in its own right.

The history of this pedal is complex and exciting. It has its origins in the 60’s Japan when the country was booming in an economic miracle. Many guitar companies like Teisco, Aria, Guyatone appeared at that time thanks to the manufacturing growth. Japan started exporting affordable instruments, many of them based on their American counterparts.

This is the context in which the first Super Fuzz made its apparition. The circuit was combined with a multi-effects unit that looked like an amp, the Honey Psychedelic Machine that mixed a tremolo, a vibe, and a fuzz. Later, because of its potential, they decided to manufacture the effect separately. The rest is well-known history; the circuit kept popping up in many brands throughout the decade.

When something keeps emerging like that, it’s generally because it has something good to offer:  delivering an octave fuzz that turns any note or chord into a thick and searing texture, playing a high octave up alongside the distorted note, this is an effect that demands your attention. Nothing is more primal than plugging your guitar into a vintage fuzz circuit; it is raw, untamed, and so pure that it pushes the boundaries of what your instrument can accomplish. Get ready to immerse yourself into sixty years of beautifully broken sound. 

Controls

• Balance
• Expander

For further analysis on this circuit take a look at this thread on Free Stomp Boxes Forum.

For any technical questions regarding this build don’t forget to check out our Facebook Group and our forum at Free Stomp Boxes.

Uno Fuzz – Building Docs