Zvex Fuzz Factory

stephen sawall

Well-known member
Any fans of the Zvex Fuzz Factory around here ?

I found this stuff ....

I was getting sick of it bein thiner than a fuzz face so i checked a correct schem i have and noticed its only got 10uF input and output caps in it.anyway,i ripped out the output cap and replaced it with a 22uF (double the value),i was gonna put a 47uF input as well but tried it first with just the 22uF and the results are quite amazing.Its no longer thin at all,its still got the nice sound for lead but it also has a sick bottom with chords and wound strings.It would still cut thru live but it sounds so much better now,not muff territory although i have a feeling the 47uF would fix that if thats what you were after but its definitely fface territory.Everything else works as normal obviously.


Leary was still lucid. Although the five knobs are named for the parameters over which they seem to have the most control, please don't hold me to it. They are controls for various operating levels and biases, and basically shape you a personalized fuzz.
VOLUME:
Output level.
GATE:
Squelches noise after end of sustain. Turn to right to eliminate squeals, hiss and buzz, stopping just as they disappear, or use to tune in exact feedback pitch, if you're that kind. Turning to left opens gate.
COMPRESS:
Adds attack characteristic when turned to left, which gets softer to right, and suddenly pinches tone when all the way right. Also use to tune in fat feedbacky fuzz, if you're that kind. Lower the Stability and see what happens to this control.
DRIVE:
Increases distortion when used as a "normal" fuzz, and adjusts feedback pitch and tonal thickness, if you're that kind. This control becomes meaningless when Compress is all the way right.
STABILITY:
Use all the way right. Do not attempt to adjust this control below 2:00, unless you like your fuzz soft and squishy. Use to control feedback pitch. (Did I say that already?)
WARNING:
Many "incorrect" settings on this pedal squeal. This may annoy the faint-hearted. If you use the example settings, you won't get hurt. I don't want to see anyone hurt. Unless you're that kind. Don't forget to memorize or write down your favorite settings.
GREENNESS:
Yes, folks, like all Z. Vex pedals, it's as low current as possible, extending battery life so long... I have never changed the battery in the prototype (3 years). 'On' current is less than 3 mA... compare to the Tube Screamer (of course an entirely different animal) at almost 40 mA.
ARTINESS:
Z.Vex “Vexter Series” effects are hand-polished aluminum, hand silk-screened in two colors and hand assembled. They are produced in small batches by umm, elves.
EXAMPLE SETTINGS (These use "o'clock" notation- not spinal tap 1 to 11)

Hi compression fuzz
Vol 10:00 Gate 3:00 Comp 9:00 Drive 5:00 Stab 5:00
Velcro fuzz
Vol 10:00 Gate 7:00 Comp 5:00 Drive 5:00 Stab 2:00
Cleanish hi octave intermodulation
Vol 10:00 Gate 2:00-3:00 Comp 7:00 Drive7:00 Stab 5:00
Smooth fuzz
Vol 10:00 Gate 7:00 Comp 3:00 Drive 5:00 Stab 5:00
(lower Stab is more mellow)
Radio fuzz
Vol 10:00 Gate 7:00 Comp 10:00 Drive 12:00
Stab: Lower from fully clockwise while playing open 'A' with left hand. Stop at most interesting tone.

The Fuzz Factory Setting List
Atari 7:00 3:00 5:00 8:00
60'sFuzz 2:00 8:30 3:00 5:00
Arpegio 12:00 3:00 3:00 3:00
Bonkers Fuzz (1) 2:00 2:00 11:00 3:00
Bonkers Fuzz (2) 1:00 1:00 11:00 3:00
Clean Fuzz 5:00 2:00 11:00 5:00
Clean Up Fuzz 7:00 7:00 5:00 (lower till squeal stops) 5:00
Clean to OD 5:00 2:00 10:00 5:00
Dummy Fuzz 11:00 11:00 5:00 5:00
Dead Quite Ripper 9:00 3:00 5:00 7:00
Electric Beans 7:00 5:00 7:00 5:00
Fizzy Fizz 10:00 1:00 11:00 12:00
Fuzz Bright 1:00 12:00 1:00 4:00
Fuzz Distortion 12:00 12:00 3:00 9:00
FuzzFace71 (1) 12:00 12:00 12:00 5:00
FuzzFace71 (2) 3:00 7:00 12:00 4:30
FuzzFace71 (3) 7:00 12:00 1:00 5:00
FuzzFace71 (4) 12:00 7:00 12:00 5:00
Fuzz Mellow 1:00 12:00 1:00 9:00
Fuzz Splutter 3:00 12:00 3:00 9:00
Fuzz Squeal 9:00 12:00 3:00 9:00
Hi-Compression 3:00 9:00 5:00 5:00
Hi-Octane 2:00 to 3:00 7:00 7:00 5:00
Interference 7:00 3:00 12:00 5:00
Intermodulation 2-3:00 7:00 7:00 5:00
IYW 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00
Juice Face 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00
Krackle Fuzz 1:00 4:00 10:00 2-5:00
Mellow Mud 2:30 7:00 7:00 9:00
Metal Distortion 4:00 10:30 7:00 5:00
Modulated Mud Fuzz 12:00 11:00 5:00 7:00
Modulated Sticky 12:00 1:00 5:00 7:00
Modulated Sticky Fuzz 9:00 3:00 9:00 3:00
Muse-esque 2:30 3:15 5:00 5:00
No-Name Fuzz 1:00 11:00 2:00 7:00
No-Name Fuzz (2) 10:00 7:00 12:00 5:00
OD/Fuzz 7:00 7:00 7:00 5:00
OD Squeal 7:00 12:00 3:00 3:00
Pitch Drop 7:00 12:00 5:00 7:00
Please Fuzz 12:00 7:00 3:00 2:00
Prickly Vexter 8:45 12:15 2:00 4:45 1:30
Psychedelic Crackle 1:00 8:00 3:00 3:00
Punky 2:30 - 3:30 7:00 7:00 5:00
Radio Fuzz 7:00 10:00 12:00 5:00 (play A, lower to taste)
Random Fuzz 1:30 7:00 5:00 4:00 (approx)
Range 7:00 12:00 3:00 12:00
Resonant Fuzz 7:00 7:00 12:00 4:00
Smashing Pumpkins-esque 2:00 9:00 5:00 10:00
Smooth Fuzz 7:00 3:00 5:00 5:00 (lower to mellow)
Soft Fuzz 1:00 7:00 7:00
VariableSpastic Muff 5:00 7:00 5:00 5:00
Squealer Fuzz 9:00 9:00 9:00 9:00
Squealer Fuzz (2) 7:00 8:00 1:00 7:00
Static / Low 12:00 12:00 5:00 7:00
Stooges Fuzz 3:00 7:00 3:00 5:00
Stylo Fuzz 12:30 12:30 7:00 7:00
Super-Heavy 3:00 9:00 5:00 5:00
Sweet Sustain 1:00 7:00 10:00 1:30
Tight and Sweet 12:00 8:00 8:00 5:00
Tiny 10:30 12:00 12:30 9:30
Traditional Fuzz 9:00 7:00 11:00 to 1:00 11-1:00
Traditional Fuzz (1) 9:00 7:00 1:00 5:00
Traditional Fuzz (2) 2:00 7:00 3:00 5:00
Ugly Fuzz 2:00 8:30 3:30 2:00
Velcro 7:00 5:00 5:00 2:00
Weezer-esque 2:30 7:00 7:00 5:00
Whale 7:00 1:00 5:00 9:00
What the Fuzz? 7:00 7:00 5:00 5:00
 
Wow, what a little digging will get you. I have some new settings to try out!
 
I highly recommend writing down the names of the ones you like ... by the time you get thru the list it is difficult to remember for me...
The other thing is this will show how versatile the pedal is .... After over 10 years I still find new sounds in it.
 
I'm usually pretty good with rememberrring settings. I just haven't settled into anything yet. I'm still in the experimental. Phase with mine (a week later).
 
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