Keeley Fuzzhead Is A Great Pedal!

[castpolymer]

Just thought I would post a follow - up after having this pedal for a few months. Not only does it do a nice fuzz, but it makes a heck of a OD pedal also. I have been using it more than my Keeley Time Machine and Keeley Modded Blues Driver for OD lately. Definately worth its price.

[Axis29]

I'll second everything you're saying!

I bought my Fuzz Head several months ago and am almost afraid I'm gonna wear it out! LOL. I love the grit and grind. Sure it colors the sound of my guitar, but in one great flippin way!

I don't even know how to describe it, but it's that germanium tastiness all the way. I've tried a couple of other fuzzes and they just don't compare. It's not that it cops a another Fuzz that I know of, but it does it's own thing magnificently!

Every time I play with it just makes me grin like a kid on Christmas morning.

I use it all the time, it's on almost all the time really. And i use it like an overdrive pedal. It's very responsive to guitar volume and drives my Deluxe Reverb like a demon!

[Lance]

Note: Yes - I can attest to the fact that Axis29 uses his Fuzz Head all the Time!!!!

It's an awesome fuzz...probably the only one I'd buy. It really has a nice range without sounding like a bag of bees.

My only problem is that I've moved to a Line 6 M13 and the fuzz models just ain't happening.

[Doc]

I love mine as well. It is one of my very favorite fuzz pedals. Tweakable, flexible, plays well with others and works with buckers as well as singles. If you can't good sound out of it I think you just have not really adjusted it right.

[kidfortuna]

I've had mine for a while now and I just can't help feeling that run through my 65 Twin Reverb RI it sounds too bright and somewhat sterile. REALLY tried to like this fuzz and spent a lot of time toying with the trim pots and various resistors without much joy - it does however, work brilliantly as a boost for a low gain pedal like the FD2. Gonna be trying out a Dark Peppermint Fuzz in the next few days....will report back!

[Tonemonkey]

Mine's on the way out the door. Offers welcome.

Never got that sound , even after adjusting the internal trim; now get my OD from amp, vol, and keeley'd BD2/TS9. Love Keeley....not blown away by the FuzzHead.

Worst thing is, every time I see a thread like this, I think its my own lack of ability/taste that means I've missed something in the pedal!

Gonna give it another roll tomorrow night!

[castpolymer]

Originally Posted by Tonemonkey

Mine's on the way out the door. Offers welcome.

Never got that sound , even after adjusting the internal trim; now get my OD from amp, vol, and keeley'd BD2/TS9. Love Keeley....not blown away by the FuzzHead.

Worst thing is, every time I see a thread like this, I think its my own lack of ability/taste that means I've missed something in the pedal!

Gonna give it another roll tomorrow night!

To my damaged ears ( too many concerts ), I like the minimalist OD / Fuzz from the pedal. Not overpowering, just right.

[Tonemonkey]

Originally Posted by castpolymer

To my damaged ears ( too many concerts ), I like the minimalist OD / Fuzz from the pedal. Not overpowering, just right.

Thanks, now I'm definitely gonna roll it out...plus just remembered my Bixonic Expandora....that's coming out too!

[Charless]

To me, as a standalone fuzz it's not ideal HOWEVER as a boost into another (prefably low gain OD) pedal it is terrific! If that is what you might use it for I say its great. Now the volume is intense so you have to adjust very carefully or it will overpower. The fuzz is not extreme, even with internal dial set full but this is the kind of pedal you want more boost than fuzz/grit to achieve a great tone.

[kidfortuna]

To those of you not getting 'that sound', what amps are you running it through?

[Tonemonkey]

Tried it last again last night, through a Bjr and old YGM-3, creamy smooth fuzz especially on Germanium mode and almost in straight OD category with Silicon (slightly hotter) not bad at all, if that's what you want.
The Expandora was much more extreme when pushed with a LP, and gave a harsher fuzz (than the F/head) with Strat (with SDs) and Tele with SD5-2's.

[jmecale72]

All this talk has got me wanting to try one....

It's bad enough that I have major GAS...these kind of threads don't help!
Hehehe

[Tonemonkey]

Originally Posted by jmecale72

All this talk has got me wanting to try one....

It's bad enough that I have major GAS...these kind of threads don't help!
Hehehe

So what is it you're gassing for? The creamy, smooth, kinda sexy illegal too goodfuzz of the Ge Mode or the extra, mmm baby, crunch of the Si mode?

[jmecale72]

Originally Posted by Tonemonkey

So what is it you're gassing for? The creamy, smooth, kinda sexy illegal too goodfuzz of the Ge Mode or the extra, mmm baby, crunch of the Si mode?

Being that I never was really was into a "fuzz" tone until now, I have no idea what I'm looking for. I know that sounds kinda funny, but it's a case of...

"I'll know when I find it!"

I just got a Cool Cat fuzz in the mail today...so we'll see where it goes from here. All I know is that I don't see the GAS stopping anytime soon!

I think what got my interest piqued about the Keeley is the fact that the OP said it did a decent OD too. That sounds like a pretty versitile pedal...IMHO. I did a search for some type of sound clip the other night and found one on youtube. I really liked what the Keeley sounded like.

[Axis29]

When looking for a fuzz, I settled on germanium... After trying silicon. The Fuzz head seemed like a good entry level price for it. It doesn't do the sputtering, super splatty stuff like the ZVex Fuzz Factory. But it gives a nice grindy, mildly splatty, sound.

I love it into my Deluxe Reverb!!! However, I don't like it into my Super Champ XD! It does not behave the same at all. Into the Super Champ it sounds more like an overdrive. A mediocre one at that. But into my Deluxe it's a whole 'nuther story!

I will also say that the Youtube videos I saw didn't do it justice.... sorry jmecale72

[Charless]

This is one the best pedals I've ever used. I love my Fuzz Head.

My amp is a 68 Deluxe Reverb fitted with all NOS tubes (preamp and power, power tubes are sweet RCAs from the 60s)

I run my Fuzz Head into a OCD set for low-gain. I replaced the cap to the 'treble booster' 153 and turned the internal tone knob to about 2 'oclock on the treble side. The internal fuzz wheel is about 1:30 (a bit more than set mid). This is to me world-class lead tone.

BTW.. The germanium side I hear as more crunchy and not the silicon. The germanium has less sustain, cleans up better and has more thickness. The silicon is more compressed, has a little more gain and is smoother. Both are thankfully useful to me. Another great feature of thsi pedal.

One thing about the Fuzz Head is all the settings are great, cause it can be subtle. Also the EQ is voiced perfectly to me.

Anybody else care to share their Fuzz Head configurations?

As a side note ... I am looking for something more cleanish with grit as a boost, I am really eyeing the the Java Boost. I have a Fat-Boost-2 but seemed to bloat the tone a bit too much for me, maybe though I had the EQ set wrong.

Charles

[jmecale72]

Originally Posted by Axis29

When looking for a fuzz, I settled on germanium... After trying silicon. The Fuzz head seemed like a good entry level price for it. It doesn't do the sputtering, super splatty stuff like the ZVex Fuzz Factory. But it gives a nice grindy, mildly splatty, sound.

I love it into my Deluxe Reverb!!! However, I don't like it into my Super Champ XD! It does not behave the same at all. Into the Super Champ it sounds more like an overdrive. A mediocre one at that. But into my Deluxe it's a whole 'nuther story!

I will also say that the Youtube videos I saw didn't do it justice.... sorry jmecale72

Oh I agree about the youtube videos. I guess the proof is in the pudding sort to speak. I just wish there was a store near where I live to actually try one out. I guess until I actually buy one...I'll be left wondering! LOL

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Charless

This is one the best pedals I've ever used. I love my Fuzz Head. ...

As a side note ... I am looking for something more cleanish with grit as a boost, I am really eyeing the the Java Boost. I have a Fat-Boost-2 but seemed to bloat the tone a bit too much for me, maybe though I had the EQ set wrong.

Charles

Skreddy Screw Driver is one good option here.

[Charless]

Originally Posted by Doc

Skreddy Screw Driver is one good option here.

Thanks for the tip! I just picked up a Java Boost tonight and it's sounds pretty awesome ...

[kidfortuna]

So i got the Analogman Dark Peppermint fuzz through and in the process swapped my TRRI for a Cornford Hurricane. The Fuzzhead now sounds AWESOME!! Much better than through the twin. In comparison the FH definitely outshines the Peppermint, it just sounds too bassy and fuzzy to me and with no tone control you can't get the grit that I can with the FH + amp break up. Gotta say that I'[ve definitely rekindled my love for the FH now and love using it all over.

If anyone's after a dark peppermint it's actually on ebay now!

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Tonemonkey

Tried it last again last night, through a Bjr and old YGM-3, creamy smooth fuzz especially on Germanium mode and almost in straight OD category with Silicon (slightly hotter) not bad at all, if that's what you want.
The Expandora was much more extreme when pushed with a LP, and gave a harsher fuzz (than the F/head) with Strat (with SDs) and Tele with SD5-2's.

I have used mine with a 5e3 combo, 5e3 head, Traynor Bass Master II, Blues jr. Gretsch 6150 (rehoused in a 1x12), El Diablo 60C, Blackstar 5ht, Killer Ant and others. I have used a g65 clone, v30's, Swamp Thang, C-rex, Texas Heat, C12n (newer), and some others. I do not like fuzz with the brighter speakers (c12n) bt it has worked as it is apposed to with all of it. As with most all gain I liked it with smoother speakers.