Post by asmith on Dec 26, 2011 13:37:08 GMT -5
Newey kindly sent me a package that arrived a few days before Christmas Day, for being a geek. Inside it was a Seymour Duncan Tweakfuzz.
When I received it, I sent Newey a PM in thanks. The words I used to describe it were, "I sound like Led Zeppelin. This rocks!" And it does.
I put together a soundsample file that on reflection turned out more like a comedy record with the gain knob stuck on full.I was about to post it today but on a quick recheck of the forum rules for sound samples, I'm wary of doing so as it's full of copyrighted riffs. For the meantime,
EDIT: Stop the press, here's the demo.
And here's the ProGuitarShop.com demo vid, full of copyrighted riffs.
My own thoughts
Sound
I've had a play using a Strat, and a Les Paul. With a bridge single coil, then like I said, I sound like Led Zeppelin. With a neck single coil I get a sound getting close to Hendrix. With full whack on the gain, the pedal really works best on single coils. With a humbucker or B*M, I've found it a little muddy on rhythm, and a little strangled on leads. Using the Tweak knob towards the leftmost 'trebley' end and rolling back the gain a little can solve this, but it does noticeably sound like a different animal.
Which is good. This I like. It isn't so much a wholly "transparent" pedal, but it interestingly responds to different guitar settings in different ways. Like I said, I really think it works best for the lead tones with single coils. For humbuckers, I think coming back off the gain for a rhythm tone is its most useful application.
The pedal is, graciously, transparent enough that I can't attempt to noodle off into oblivion without being absolutely on-the-mark accurate. Good. I need to be told.
Nutz
Unity volume on this pedal (clean sound = dirty sound) is at 3 o' clock, which is frankly ridiculous. However, there is a simple mod which requires nothing but the purchase of a jumper wire and some solder, to get unity to around 10 o' clock. I'll be doing that in the near future.
Also, after some research and a quick comparison of the schematics in confirmation, the Tweakfuzz is essentially a Fuzz Face with multiple input capacitors on a rotary switch. Fuzz Face extension mods are currently being googled - apparently there's plenty more room in the enclosure. What's an extra control knob between friends?
If anybody has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
Once again, thanks Newey. And once again, I apologise to my neighbours.
When I received it, I sent Newey a PM in thanks. The words I used to describe it were, "I sound like Led Zeppelin. This rocks!" And it does.
I put together a soundsample file that on reflection turned out more like a comedy record with the gain knob stuck on full.
EDIT: Stop the press, here's the demo.
And here's the ProGuitarShop.com demo vid, full of copyrighted riffs.
My own thoughts
Sound
I've had a play using a Strat, and a Les Paul. With a bridge single coil, then like I said, I sound like Led Zeppelin. With a neck single coil I get a sound getting close to Hendrix. With full whack on the gain, the pedal really works best on single coils. With a humbucker or B*M, I've found it a little muddy on rhythm, and a little strangled on leads. Using the Tweak knob towards the leftmost 'trebley' end and rolling back the gain a little can solve this, but it does noticeably sound like a different animal.
Which is good. This I like. It isn't so much a wholly "transparent" pedal, but it interestingly responds to different guitar settings in different ways. Like I said, I really think it works best for the lead tones with single coils. For humbuckers, I think coming back off the gain for a rhythm tone is its most useful application.
The pedal is, graciously, transparent enough that I can't attempt to noodle off into oblivion without being absolutely on-the-mark accurate. Good. I need to be told.
Nutz
Unity volume on this pedal (clean sound = dirty sound) is at 3 o' clock, which is frankly ridiculous. However, there is a simple mod which requires nothing but the purchase of a jumper wire and some solder, to get unity to around 10 o' clock. I'll be doing that in the near future.
Also, after some research and a quick comparison of the schematics in confirmation, the Tweakfuzz is essentially a Fuzz Face with multiple input capacitors on a rotary switch. Fuzz Face extension mods are currently being googled - apparently there's plenty more room in the enclosure. What's an extra control knob between friends?
If anybody has any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
Once again, thanks Newey. And once again, I apologise to my neighbours.
