New Fuzz pedal from Boss! (Not the Tonebender)

[RetroTeleRod]

https://www.boss.info/us/products/fz-1w/

 

[Chiogtr4x]

View attachment 916095
https://www.boss.info/us/products/fz-1w/

I thought the demo was pretty good.
Definitely a difference in character between the Vintage and Modern voicings. Good cleanup on the Vintage mode.

Probably way out of my budget- but I will say I'm going on 20-25 years on an all Boss board, so there's value, right there

 

[JoeNeri]

$200

 

[Wooly Fox]

Fuzz Face-esque but will play nicely with buffers. Nice.

Need another fuzz after selling the Fjord Fuzz Fenris (build quality let it down in the end) and this looks just the ticket as it's Boss reliable and cleans up well.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

$200

I'd probably get it, if sold off 2-3 other dirt pedals ( what else is new!).
But I've never spent more than $100 for any pedal regardless of function.

( 'youngsters' may not know this, but dirt pedals used to be the cheap effect- back in the dinosaur days- so I can't help remembering that old fart era)

* BTW, nice to see you posting a little more here!

 

[RetroTeleRod]

$200

Yep. I may need to wait until they hit the used market.

 

[middy]

Do want!

 

[JoeNeri]

I'd probably get it, if sold off 2-3 other dirt pedals ( what else is new!).
But I've never spent more than $100 for any pedal regardless of function.

Yeah, me too. Haven’t been able to justify function-to-cost much above $100. On stage, in a band mix my DS-1 sounds every bit as good as any expensive dirt pedal. But, that’s me. To each his/her own.

 

[Guitarteach]

Isn’t the $20 Behringer Fuzz exactly the same circuit as the FZ-1.

 

[middy]

Isn’t the $20 Behringer Fuzz exactly the same circuit as the FZ-1.

No, this is the first FZ-1.
The first Boss fuzz was the FZ-2, a Super Fuzz clone. The Behringer is a clone of that. They are both great, but this FZ-1 is more of a Fuzz Face sound which Boss has never really done before.

 

[Si G X]

Isn’t the $20 Behringer Fuzz exactly the same circuit as the FZ-1.

No, this is the first FZ-1.
The first Boss fuzz was the FZ-2, a Super Fuzz clone. The Behringer is a clone of that. They are both great, but this FZ-1 is more of a Fuzz Face sound which Boss has never really done before.

The FZ-1 ... is the 'satisfaction' fuzz.

I don't know the answer but you two have just confused me.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Yeah, me too. Haven’t been able to justify function-to-cost much above $100. On stage, in a band mix my DS-1 sounds every bit as good as any expensive dirt pedal. But, that’s me. To each his/her own.

I have gone cheap dirt pedal crazy within the last year or so, after years of leaving everything alone...

( which I actually have kept to, with my main gig board- leaving what works alone!)

basically trying out cheap, new ( or new to me) on a 2nd 'fun pedalboard,' for kicks. Then use that board on regular gigs, then listen...

So in an effort to find really just one good, harder-distortion pedal to pair up with a lower gain OD, at low'moderate clean amp volume. (and I only use a Blues Driver alone, on #1 board) I have tried:

- a Dunlop mini BC 108 FF ( not the round FF minis)

- Donner mini- clone of a Big Muff

- an MXR Custom '78 Bad*ss Distortion

- a Biyang (from small Baby Boom series) Max Distortion Rat clone (,with 3 clipping modes)

So far, the Biyang Rat clone is giving me the right sounding, strong distortion I wanted to hear, and volume control that eludes me with the FF and Muff.
(I used to have a GFS Brownie, loved its sound, but big/heavy!- sold it, and always wanted to try little version)

But admittedly the Rat clone though very adjustable with what I want to hear from its controls at the volume I want ( all good), is not ' guitar volume knob cleanup-dynamic' like a real FF. And I do like that.

Sorry, long way of saying I liked what I heard out of the new Boss Fuzz!

 

[middy]

The FZ-1 ... is the 'satisfaction' fuzz.

I don't know the answer but you two have just confused me.

Sorry, I meant that this is the first Boss pedal named FZ-1. It has nothing to do with the Maestro FZ-1.

 

[Ironheadslim]

Preordered.

I am just getting into fuzz after playing for 25 years. I didn't get in on the Waza Tone Bender in time and at the price, I am glad. This FZ-1W makes up for it. I have a JHS Bender (consolation for not getting TB-2W), Dunlop JH Fuzz Face (large, turquoise hammertone), Nano Ram Head Big Muff Pi & Nano Opamp Big Muff Pi for my fuzzy sounds. Some of you guys warn about Fuzz addiction but I think I have it under control.

 

[11 Gauge]

Yeah, me too. Haven’t been able to justify function-to-cost much above $100. On stage, in a band mix my DS-1 sounds every bit as good as any expensive dirt pedal. But, that’s me. To each his/her own.

IMO, there are quite a few pretty cool silicon-based fuzzes out there that will cost someone less than the $200 that Boss wants for this new one.

I can personally justify some germanium-based fuzzes costing $200 or even more, for two reasons:

1. lots of those germanium transistors are harder to source, and then typically require sorting and measuring for gain and leakage
2. the vast majority of 'good' germanium transistors seem to be PNP-types, and if you want to use them with your typical 'negative center pin' external power source, then you need to include the circuitry to invert the voltage

...But a mass-produced (and therefore presumably) silicon-based fuzz like this new one from Boss for two bills? That seems a bit steep. The BD-2W is only $165, and probably has a much more complex circuit.

Really not understanding Boss's thinking here, unless they're trying to get potential buyers to assume that the FZ-1W is in any way similar to the TB-2W, which it probably has nothing in common with.

 

[JoeNeri]

IMO, there are quite a few pretty cool silicon-based fuzzes out there that will cost someone less than the $200 that Boss wants for this new one…

Really not understanding Boss's thinking here, unless they're trying to get potential buyers to assume that the FZ-1W is in any way similar to the TB-2W, which it probably has nothing in common with.

Maybe the bosses at Boss have been reading “fuzz mania” posts on TDPRI and other forums and have come to the conclusion that you just can’t price a fuzz pedal too high. Maybe they are correct.

 

[19sixty3]

IMO, there are quite a few pretty cool silicon-based fuzzes out there that will cost someone less than the $200 that Boss wants for this new one.

I can personally justify some germanium-based fuzzes costing $200 or even more, for two reasons:

1. lots of those germanium transistors are harder to source, and then typically require sorting and measuring for gain and leakage
2. the vast majority of 'good' germanium transistors seem to be PNP-types, and if you want to use them with your typical 'negative center pin' external power source, then you need to include the circuitry to invert the voltage

...But a mass-produced (and therefore presumably) silicon-based fuzz like this new one from Boss for two bills? That seems a bit steep. The BD-2W is only $165, and probably has a much more complex circuit.

Really not understanding Boss's thinking here, unless they're trying to get potential buyers to assume that the FZ-1W is in any way similar to the TB-2W, which it probably has nothing in common with.

Thank you Mate! All said! The subject brought exactly to the point!

 

[Si G X]

IMO, there are quite a few pretty cool silicon-based fuzzes out there that will cost someone less than the $200 that Boss wants for this new one.

Wow, is that what it is?

That does seem a lot.

... £175 in the UK. .... it's more expensive than the DM-2w delay.

 

[gitold]

Waza , schmaza!!

 

[bluesholyman]

Yep. I may need to wait until they hit the used market.

I will let you know if I end up keeping it