The Z.Vex Fuzz Factory is a
fuzz pedal
An effects unit or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.
Common effects include distortion/overdrive, often used with electric guitar in el ...
made by the American inventor and musician Zachary Vex of the
Z.Vex Effects
Z.Vex Effects is an effects pedal company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their name derives from the name of founder Zachary Vex
who is a respected innovator in the business, and by some described as a "mad scientist".
Products
The company's ...
company.
The Fuzz Factory is based on, yet vastly expands the tonal palette of, classic
fuzz-tone designs from the 1960s. Invented in the mid-1990s, the pedals are mostly handbuilt and painted in
Minnesota,
United States, with a budget line being manufactured in
Taiwan.
Custom Finishes
Each unit is handpainted, and while there is a stock design that adorns most models of the pedal, there have been several variations released in limited quantity, including sparkle finishes,
kanji finishes (writing and labelling of controls are in
Japanese kanji characters), Korean finishes (all controls labelled in
Korean), and so on. These limited runs of custom paintjobs underscore the handmade, one-of-a-kind nature of the devices. From the earliest incarnations of the device in the mid-1990s, Jason Myrold painted all Fuzz Factories leaving the Z.Vex shop. Briefly during the mid-2000s the artist Laura Bennett assumed painting duties.
Vexter Series Fuzz Factory
In December 2004, Z.Vex released a new model of the Fuzz Factory, called the Vexter Series Fuzz Factory. The Vexter series differs from the Handpainted version in that it has a
silkscreened enclosure and a shorter warranty period. This effectively lowers the price point, and makes both production easier for Z.Vex and allows the effect to become more accessible to musicians. The Vexter Fuzz Factory contains the same circuit as the original Fuzz Factory pedals, with the inclusion of modern touches such as an indicator
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor Electronics, device that Light#Light sources, emits light when Electric current, current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy i ...
and DC power jack for powering the fuzz with an adapter. As of August 2006, Vexter series Z.Vex pedal subassemblies are completed in
Taiwan, but a large portion is still done in Minnesota.
Variations and Followers
Soon after the rise in popularity of the original Fuzz Factory, the Fuzz Probe was introduced. This version kept most of the circuitry the same, but added a voltage-sensitive copper plate affixed to, and extending downward from the bottom of the unit. This copper plate, hardwired to the 'Stab' control on the pedal, allowed for real time control by use of one's foot or hand. By varying the distance from appendage to plate, the self-oscillation effects of the Fuzz Factory (Probe) circuit could be tempered and played musically, similar to a
Theremin.
Several newer effects makers, such as
Death By Audio, have introduced products which exploit the feedback-loop characteristics in the same way as the Fuzz Factory. Japanese manufacturer
Zoom released a self-oscillating/feedback loop-derived fuzz design called the Ultra-Fuzz, which some have likened to be a "poor man's" Fuzz Factory. In addition,
circuit bending
Circuit bending is the creative, chance-based customization of the circuits within electronic devices such as low-voltage, battery-powered guitar effects, children's toys and digital synthesizers to create new musical or visual instruments and ...
is now a commonplace technique among experimental electronic musicians, with the principles employed in the Fuzz Factory being extended to include almost any electronic device.
Muse frontman
Matt Bellamy is perhaps the best known user of the Fuzz Factory. The feedback heard at the beginning of
Plug In Baby is a Fuzz Factory oscillating before Bellamy launches into the song's iconic riff. Bellamy also owns several guitars with a built-in Fuzz Factory which he came up with the concept and was built by Hugh Manson of Manson Guitars. The first such guitar was popularly known by fans as the "Silver Manson" but now named "Manson Delorean". It was retired after the
Absolution era, but Bellamy still uses the Fuzz Factory in the studio and on stage.
Since the Fuzz factory is very expensive, but the electronic circuit rather simple – with the PCB board containing only 13 parts – it's a popular project in the D.I.Y Scene.
Fuzz Factory users
Notable musicians who have used the Fuzz Factory include:
*
Matthew Bellamy of
Muse
*
Vigilante Carlstroem of
The Hives
*
Dan Boeckner of
Wolf Parade
Wolf Parade is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2003 in Montreal. The band released three full-length albums before taking a five-year hiatus in 2011. They announced their return in 2016, releasing a self-titled EP in May of that year, and a ...
*
Stephen Carpenter of
Deftones
*
Buckethead
*
Greg Camp
Gregory Dean Camp (born April 2, 1967) is an American songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. He is best known as the founding guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Smash Mouth (1994–2008, 2009–2011, 2014, 2018–2019). Camp is credited as ...
formerly of
Smash Mouth, currently of Defektor
*
Lloyd Cole
*
Sharin Foo of
The Raveonettes
*
Rivers Cuomo of
Weezer
*
Steven Drozd and
Wayne Coyne
Wayne Michael Coyne (born January 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is the lead singer, guitarist, keyboardist, theremin player and songwriter for the band the Flaming Lips.
Early life
Coyne was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United Stat ...
of
The Flaming Lips
*
Liam Finn
*
Robert Fripp
*
John Frusciante of
Red Hot Chili Peppers
*
Billy Gibbons of
ZZ Top
*
Michio Kurihara of
Ghost
A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...
and
Boris
*
Scott Henderson
*
Jack L. Stroem
Jack may refer to:
Places
* Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community
* Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community
* Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA
People and fictional characters
* Jack (given name), a male given name, ...
*
Mark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus (born March 15, 1972) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer best known as the bassist and co-lead vocalist for the rock band Blink-182, being the only constant member and the only one to appear on every album. ...
of
+44
*
Daniel Johns of
Silverchair
*
Stephen Malkmus of
Pavement and
The Jicks
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks is an American rock band consisting of Stephen Malkmus, Mike Clark, Joanna Bolme, and Jake Morris. Malkmus was the main singer and songwriter behind the influential 1990s indie rock band Pavement.
History
The Ji ...
*
J Mascis of
Dinosaur Jr.
*
Trent Reznor of
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN and stylized as NIИ, is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland in 1988. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Trent Reznor was the only permanent member of the band ...
*
David Sylvian
*
Nels Cline of
Wilco
*
David Torn
David M. Torn (born May 26, 1953) is an American guitarist, composer, and producer. He is known for combining electronic and acoustic instruments and for his use of looping.
Background
Torn has contributed to recordings by artists as diverse ...
*
Annie Clark of
St. Vincent
Saint Vincent may refer to:
People Saints
* Vincent of Saragossa (died 304), a.k.a. Vincent the Deacon, deacon and martyr
* Saint Vincenca, 3rd century Roman martyress, whose relics are in Blato, Croatia
* Vincent, Orontius, and Victor (died 305) ...
*
Tim Wheeler of
Ash
Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...
*
Jack White of
The White Stripes and
The Raconteurs
*
Dustin Kensrue of
Thrice
*
Tegan and Sara
*
Alan Sparhawk
Alan may refer to:
People
*Alan (surname), an English and Turkish surname
*Alan (given name), an English given name
**List of people with given name Alan
''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.''
*Al ...
of
Low
Low or LOW or lows, may refer to:
People
* Low (surname), listing people surnamed Low
Places
* Low, Quebec, Canada
* Low, Utah, United States
* Lo Wu station (MTR code LOW), Hong Kong; a rail station
* Salzburg Airport (ICAO airport code: LO ...
*
Drew Goddard of
Karnivool
{{Div col end
External links
Zachary Vex's page on the Fuzz Factory including a demonstration video.
Harmony Central's review page on the Fuzz Factory Effects units