Ashbass FUZZbrite

This is a great fuzztone. Straight forward with no bells and whistles. Volume and Depth pots and a true bypass circuit. 9volt adapter jack is a nice touch.

The fuzz is genuine no matter what amp I am using. Mostly twin reverb with JBL's or a 69 Bassman with two 15's. Even works great trough my Kustom sidewinder. Using my Gretsch with Hilotrons is a little weak but all my other guitars make the fuzz more than adequate. Only weak point seems to be roll off on the depth pot, other than that the pedal is flawless.

The unit is well built and the case is indestructable. Only concern on reliability is the components being buried in bondo. Makes it almost imposible to field repair if it ever needed it. So one might be smart to have a back up just in case.

I play mostly 60's and early 70's rock and a lot of contemporary Gospel. This pedal definitely gets the "Ventures" fuzz as well as the Stones and Iron Butterfly. I have been playing for 45 years. I would probably buy another one but would try and see if they could keep the bondo off. I compared it to a Maestro fuzztone. Sound is better and the 9volt system is a plus. Also tried and fuzzface and big muff. This is still a better sound even with the few little problems.

There's not a whole lot to this guy, two knobs.

Here's my setup: A custom built Jazzmaster (GFS Wild Dog oversized humbuckers w/coil split) into a Fender Supersonic (wonderfully versatile all tube amp that I cherish) cranked between 6 and 10 (depending) w/ a hot plate attenuator ...and some other pedals in the train (big muff, blue box, so on) but we're here to talk about the Fuzzbrite.

If you're after that thick, bassy, cream drenched fuzz like the Big Muff Pi, then don't bother. This thing just seethes and buzzes and spatters, I can't get enough of it. It's a pretty right on recreation of that old famous Mosrite pedal based directly on an original, in terms of recreation I'd give it a ten (think Davie Allen and the Arrows, a whole lot of the Nuggets bands, the little fuzz parts in the Stooges' 1969, Swamp Rats to some extent, though not quite...). I'm knocking it down to an 8 because the thing's primative (intentionally so), a little noisy, depending on what guitar I use it can be difficult to keep the treble below something murderous (think hat pin to the eardrum), and there's not a whole lot of versatility. But I'm bumping it back up to a 9 for the fact that Ashely improved the original design by making it true bypass.

The output of your pickups seems to have quite an effect on it, my overwound Strat (10k bridge pop) and humbuckered Jazzmaster get a strong, solidified zzzzzz with some breakup as the notes fade, whereas my vintage output Tele gets some more breakup and spit and seems to stop dead once the note starts to fade out, similar to what I've noticed in some of those old garage singles. Also, when wide open, I get a bit of this white noise over the top of my power chords. It can be controlled a little, and I personally welcome it to a degree, but you let that do what you wish to my rating.

I've had it about a year and there have been two times this pedal hasn't worked for me. Once was because I didn't change the batteries. The other time, during a show in Minneapolis, I had noticed the nut coming lose on the output jack and tightened it. This had rotated the jack a bit, and it wound up coming in contact with the volume pot (to which it is very close, apparently), which cut the signal (shorted it out?). I feared the worst but when I got it home, took it apart, and saw what simple fix it was, I was totally relieved; this pedal may be a third of the ebay price of the original Mosrites, but a hundred bucks is still a lotta scratch.

Additionally, it's a big metal box. You'd have to subject it to Nazi torture methods to break it. Or stupidly drop it *directly* onto the volume knob from halfway up a flight of stairs onto concrete like I did (bent it slightly, but broke the plastic knob cover)--Works fine. ;)

You'll probably have to repair it yourself since the company is just the dude who builds these.

The band I play it in is sort of my friends and I's inept attempt at a Birthday Party / Stooges / Pussy Galore kinda thing, a lotta Nuggets/Pebbles influence. And in my case some Blind Willie Johnson and the like, though I never seem to use the Fuzzbrite when I'm playing slide--don't know why not!

If you want some '60s fuzz that's just mean and spits razors then this is a solid bet. It's a one trick pony, as others have mentioned, but damn it's a great one. Great for stinging leads, groovy hooks, or raunchy noise.

I give it a ten overall because not only is it an improvement over the original (true bypass), it's a third of the price, and the sound is killer.

Really only 1 knob, since volume is pretty self explanatory.

Sounds good for what it does, but what all these reviews fail to mention is that this is basically an Octafuzz. When at full depth, it is exactly an Octafuzz. You hit two notes together and it screeches (yes, I realize that's what an octafuzz does). At lower depth levels you do get "normal" fuzz sounds, but not what you'd consider "fuzz" to be. I can get better "Satisfaction" tones from my Keeley Fuzz Head. This isn't a total knock for the Fuzzbrite. I guess it does what it is designed to do, but all the previous reviews have not given the whole story. The octave effect ruins it. Based on these reviews I thought I'd be drenched in badass fuzz. Instead it's an unpleasing assault on my ears. Not even close to Satisfaction. Kind of close to Iron Butterfly, but harsher sounding.

Solidly built

Not very useful for anything other than harsh, buzzsaw stuff. A one trick pony that's more of a novelty than a useful musical tool.

Very simple to use.
Plug in. Set the depth to 10. Adjust volume to taste. Step on the switch and get yourself ready for the most badass 60s fuzz around.

This pedal is a classic 60s raunchy buzzy fuzz. Not much bottom end, but it's not supposed to sound like a BigMuff.
It is perfect for "Satisfaction," "Psychotic Reaction," and just about anything else on the Nuggets anthology.

Very solid. The box is sturdy. The wiring looks good. The circuit itself is encased in a putty-looking substance, just like the original Mosrite Fuzzrite on which the Fuzzbrite is based.

Ashley was very quick to ship and reply to emails. I suspect that if anything went wrong he'd be cool to make it right.

This is a great addition to my line-up of fuzz.
It gets me the trebly buzzy bee fuzz of many of my favorite 60s garage bands. It's lo-fi in all the right ways, but with a few nice modern touches like true bypass and an LED.

Easy to use. Just plug in and go. You do have to unscrew the bottom portion of the frame to get to the battery.

Great sound. You can get stuff ranging from 60's surf, garage, and that screeching Raw Power sound. I'm using it through a Fender Deville 2x12 combo, alongside a tremelo pedal, and using a strat.Sounds cool combined with the tremelo. Good for the psych, acid rock, punk vibe.

Had it for a week. Looks pretty sturdy. We'll see how it holds up.

Have not had to get it repaired yet.

I play 60's influenced garage punk.It sounds great for the stuff I'm into, which is stuff like the Sonics, Yardbirds, Standells, Pretty Things. If I were to have to replace it I would definitely get another. It beats paying 300 bucks for an original 60's Mosrite Fuzzrite. The one thing that would make it easier to use would be a battery compartment, so you wouldn't have to open up the bottom and expose all the wiring to get to the battery. This pedal is awesome though. A lot of fun, which is what playing rock and roll is all about.

Recently purchased from Ebay for $100 US
Very simple to use.
No signal drop or tone loss in bypass.
Looks great, simple brush metal design.

I consider myself a Fuzz Snob when it comes to Fuzz pedals.
My favourite form of music is mid 60s garage and have been listening to it for 30years.
This is the best fuzztone ive heard.
Never owned any original 60s pedal so i cant compare them.

Only had it a week and only for home use.
Im sure it would be great for live shows.

na

Simple guitar- fuzz pedal- amp set up, no other pedals.
I use the reverb and tremelo on my Vox 15.
Fender Jazzmaster, Epiphone Casino and Gretsch Corvette, they all sound great with this pedal.
Why pay $250 up for a "boutiuqe" ugly pedal when you can get this for 100 bucks?
Would get another if this was lost/stolen.

Only two knobs here (Volume and Depth, which is sort of a combination fuzz amount/tone in that the the more you turn it up the louder and brighter the fuzz gets). Two knobs is easy, but they're mounted on the FRONT of the box, not on the top, so it ain't perfect ergonomics.

If you're looking for a fuzz along the lines of a Big Muff or Superfuzz, you've picked the wrong the horse; this is a classic angry kazoo buzz bomb along the lines on the original Maestro Fuzz Tone, and the Mosrite Fuzzrite, of which this particular pedal is based on.

Sustain? Not much. Godzilla Fart lows? Nope. Massive increase in volume when engaged? Uh-uh. But this fuzz is still plenty fun and musical without being shrill, having a rounded tone that can sound like a sax or sitar when dialed in right. Ever hear the fuzz on old Ventures songs, like "The 2000 pound Bee"? This fuzz'll do it, no prob.

Having played an original Fuzzrite before, I can say with some authority that Ashbass has got it nailed, but maybe with a little more volume when cranked. It also does that same neat thing old Fuzz Faces do, in that you can clean up the fuzz when you roll back your guitars' volume knob.

Too new to tell; a friend has had one of these for a while with no problems. Personally, I wouldn't mind a little more wire for the individual connections inside, or maybe have the mystery circuit (covered in epoxy so's nobody can copy it--it looks like a big glob of Wrigley's chewing gum) mounted to something, rather than just floating there. Maybe it helps the tone; I dunno.

I got it directly from Ashley Bass himself, who was very prompt and and attentive. I'd bet if I had a beef with the rascal I could send it back and get it fixed no prob.

I've got oodles of Fuzz boxes! Stuff from Boss, DOD, Way Huge, Z Vex, Voodoo Lab, Danelectro, Electro-Harmonix, etc, etc. THIS pedal is the closest ever to getting that old-school fuzz I've coveted ever since I used a borrowed Maestro Super Fuzz Tone for a few months while on tour. This little box already has a place in my heart, and it will certainly be used often around here. Plus, for the price, it can't be beat!

Just got it from my freind for my B-day present two weeks ago.
Quite good-looking fella with 2 knobs (volume and intensity).
True bypass.
Nothing special, just a vintage looking fuzz.
No manual included.
Knobs stays fine when tweaking.
Very easy to get some Freaky sounds from the 60's!
Not like the 70's style fuzz, It has some nasty robotic buzz Fuzz!
Which I prefer than modern junk ****.
Very nice tonality!

Like I said above, its very nasty fella with balls!
Not too heavy and creamy or bassy, Its rather tonally well balanced than any other vintage fuzz(like Fulltones, Frantone, Dallas-Arbiter, RogerMayer).
Since this one appeared, my favourite pedal was RM Voodoo-1 and the Cusack Screamer Fuzz. Now I mainly use this baby for some nasty solos and funk rythm.

Some might say that this pedal lacking the tone knob is a miss, BuT!
ppl who say they need a tone knob for this kinda pedal is a no-brainer in rock'nroll history or a just a Metal-head.

I'm using with Fender Hotrod deluxe and DR.Zs. Man..

Thnk to my friend(thnx dude), I finaally got what I was looking for copying John Frusciantes solos.(in Dani California)

For 60s fuzz and maybe a very robotic and powerful funky solos its a MUST HAVE.

the steel body seems to be strong enough.
can hold my body : )

Talked to Ashley and she(He?) is very eager to solve the matters I have.
Nice.

I said too much.

Just go and dig it up on Ebay.

Ash sells it only for a fraction of any other s****y fuzz pedals on the market.

Can you believe that after listening to my plays my engineer actualy thought fuzzbrite as a Fuzzrite?

And I heard some licks using Fuzzrite, My Fuzzbrite is more clearer than the original!haha!

Thnx Chris

Theres volume depth and a on off switch,if you find this confusing then probaby you should forget the fuzz and spend the money on a brain.

total Iron butterfly -seeds vibe -this sucker does it in spades

cant comment on reliability as I've only had it for a few weeks but the circut is fairly simply and the components are good quility.

The builder was friendly and helpfull with questions

I play pretty much everything and anything,Been playing since the mood ring was hot.Would I use it for a Mosart sonata? ..naw, Would I use it for some white hot ripping.. yes sir-ee.I gave my first one to my brother for a birthday present and replace it straight away so yea there nothing else out there thats being offered that has this fuzzes attack.

Two knobs. But the sound coming from this 60's monster will make you cry.

I have been playing rock, blues, jazz, even metal.. for 9years professionally.

And I had many chances to get to play with many boutique pedals and rack mounted effectors.

And I tell you, this is the by-far the best FUZZ I ever played!
Its not FUZZ pedal for modern stuff(in my opinion) but for any 60s garage rock and PSYCDELICs, 80-90s new wave music.. its jjust got-to-go pedal.

I had a chance to play a Original Morsite Fuzzrite, but Fuzzbrite is like just the same as in quality but for the 3times less the price.

Its well suited for Hendrix style too.
I had 3 Roger Mayer Fuzz pedals and Fulltones' . Fulltones are useless. comparing to this one.
Roger mayer got a point on its own though.
So I keep the Rogermayer and the FuzzBrite.

Guys..

Try it.

SD tweak fuzz and Bigmuff would be 0.0005 point comparing to this

playing for a year and its rolling fine

never dealt

BEST BUY EVER.

many people find RAT a good distortion and a fuzz.
but my friend.
You have a long way ahead of you for a real tone.

If you are mature enough for looking for a real good sounding Fuzz not the brand name.

This might be your choice.

Did I mention that I had 14 Fuzz pedals?


Ash should sell this pedal for like $350..