New pedal prototype

Building a new pedal. This is a modern version of the Baldwin Burns Buzzaround, one of the first custom-builds I ever did. I’ve never been much of a fuzzface guy, but the BBB was the one exception to that rule. It sounded like the best fuzzface I ever heard. I’ve built fuzzfaces, one-knob fuzzes, and heard a dozen others have made and though they all sound awesome, the BBB matches my personal tastes better by far.

It was a little strange to use. The controls are super interactive, and there’s always a bit of level drop or boost for your favorite setting. It uses three rare germanium transistors and all that germanium hisses and even changes character with the weather. But, for all its quirks and foibles, it was just the most musical dirt box ever. Touch sensitive, cleans up with the volume, and goes from gentle overdrive to full-on fire breather when set right.

I built a couple more Buzzarounds using the original NKT214s and some russian trannies, and they absolutely rocked. I fell in love with the tone of each one and I still don’t know why I never built one to keep for myself. But with the rarity of really good germanium trannies, and all the associated issues, I’ve shied away from producing more than the occasional build for the aficionado.

This beast uses a modern driver section and has a volume control on the output to help you match levels with your board. The dirty part is still germanium, and the tone is still wonderful, but it is better behaved and almost completely hiss free! And I can probably produce them more consistently, so all my friends and favored customers will be getting a fuzz upgrade soon.

Graphics are yet to be designed, but a fully dressed version will be ready soon. Sound files, too! Until then, here’s the guts of the prototype.