FUZZ- VOODOO LAB Super Fuzz ...from 1997 the ZAPPA Fuzz ...still made & unchanged!

VOODO LAB & DIGITAL MUSIC

Since 1986 Josh Fiden was Mr. Problem solver. He made custom electronic problem solvers in the era where anything goes. The company was called Digital Music. Keyboard players had mountains of Synths  and guitarists wanted the sounds they were getting in the recording studios and soon found that teaming up Marshall Stacks with rack mount gear, pedals and preamps had endless problems and if nothing else everyone needed switchers and interfaces. Eventually Voodoo lab was born and by the 90's pedals had made a big come back thanks to the Grunge scene. The ol' rock motto had returned. "If it sounds good. It is good."   

Indy Alternative music was popping up world wide. The idea of making custom made pedals had started. 

Analog pedals did not fit the 'vibe' of a company called Digital Music so soon the company had two divisions but one phone. LOL.     

Being small everyone wore several hats. so it soon It became apparent life would be easier with one name. 

The Pedals sold really well but the power adapters were the first of their kind. The originals were made for a demand of them being dead quiet and with zero variations in the current. It is not simple because all other companies make compromises that can cause variations in a perfect amount of uninterrupted current. Variations in current change the sound of the pedals.

Everyone that uses pedals finds there are days when your gear is in the same room but the your rig sounds weak or muddy & sounds like sh@t. At least you can stop thinking it is all in your head.

$130.00 USD

 VOODOO LAB SUPER FUZZ 

Because pedals just won't go away the demand for high quality Power Supplies far beyond the companies handmade capacity to keep up. The pedals are deliberately kept at a low profile and 99% are sold by word of mouth. With hundreds and hundreds of small handmade pedal makers it is not to hard to become invisible if you want. Many, many great players have used Voodoo Lab pedals for years. Converts in Indie bands keep up enough demand that Josh will not kill anyone of them unless certain parts can no longer be found even in small amounts.

HISTORY

In '68 Jordon Electronics made the Bosstone. First of significance is it uses PNP transistors invented in 1949 and favoured for 'signal' amplifiers and switching. Do not be confused by the word amplifier. It only means to increase the level of a signal. These transistors were never designed for audio. The first Fuzz was the result of getting a cool sound by the accidental failure of a preamp that was meant for audio and ever since transistors meant for audio have been used both because they can do a great job and also from tradition. The idea to try this was that Jordon  needed small parts to fit in pedals tiny box. They are not meant for audio they would likely distort like crazy.The thing is ...would that distortion sound cool ??? Luck would have it that although it does sound different ...but cool as well.

It is a pedal that plugged right into your guitar so it had to be small hence the PNP transistors. Jordon are not the first to do a plug into the guitar design but it is a nobrainer dumb move as it is self defeating since if your company made a second pedal why would you buy it? You could not use both. LOL It was a time when the thinking was there are Fuzz pedals and amp distortion but not a pedal that gave you amp type distortion. It could be by plan or dumb luck but the Bosstone had an OD vibe before the Rat came along with the first 'real' OD. In fact it became a 'secret weapon' at more than a few Recording Studio's. The company did it's main biz with cheap transistors amps. Once the MIJ amps arrived it was game over. Even back then defunct pedals soon became both 'cool' and then expensive. 

Enter Josh ...with his take on the pedal in 1997 with more gain and a mid boost.

Frank Zappa was one of the first customers. It was his main dirt pedal.

So after 20 years plus it is still around with its old parts and an old price tag. There

are always a few used ones kicking round. Unlike 'you' the average player has no idea what it is so you can find them as low as $55.00 USD though in excellent condition $95.00 USD is going rate.

HANDS ON

Well curiosity got the best of me. This is not a pedal I need.

It is not a Dumble pedal but I feel a lot of guys who like that vibe would love it for

an additional sound and an alternative voice.

This pedal has more of an OD sound than a Fuzz. It has just a bit of rasp but is otherwise smooth. It easily controllable. It has an exceptionally long sustain yet still sounds a bit open not squashed. The coolest thing is it easily and smoothly soars up to the second harmonic which gives you a killer octave jump with that screaming vowel sound thing. Zappa liked to project a crazy man out of control thing but he liked a sound that was completely in control and predictable. I wouldn't call it a fat sound but it is pleasingly full enough and lays  beautifully in the mix. 

It is not a Dave Gilmour sound but I think he would love it's control. If I were doing a solo thing with a lot of long singing tones with a very, very plaintive vibe this would be my 'go to'.

Last but not least it can do all this long sustain and sining thing at very low volumes

I know of no other pedal that can do this without a lot of volume or if that can do it a bit they sound artificial.