Boss FZ-3 Fuzz

I only buy effects pedals that are simple to edit on the fly when gigging

I use a gibson SG with a Marshall JVM 410 head and Marshall 1936 cab. I bought this pedal through Ebay for ??50, got home from work late and decided to plug it into a little tranny amp just to try it out. It sounded terrible. The bass notes sort of dropped in volume then swelled. Strange.
The next day I plugged it into my Marshall and it was a competely different animal.
The lower fuzz settings give you early Cream, 12.00 gives you Hendrix and full on gives you pure sustained fuzz for early 70's soloing. Sounds great. Does everything that a simple fuzz box should do.

Its Boss

Never had a Boss pedal go wrong

I use this pedal for early Cream and Hendrix mainly plus a little Zappa. Does the late 60's / early 70's fuzz thing really well. I used to own a Big Muff but never seemed to find any useable sounds. This little pedal produces great gig quality sounds when played through a valve amp. If you own a tranny amp-forget it. You should probably buy the latest COSM digital thing that Boss have replaced this with. I tried it (FZ-5?? I think) through my valve amp and it sucked. If you own a valve amp get one of these. I know it does not have any boutique quirkiness but if you play live regularly like me you just need quality sounds, ease of use and reliabilty.

This depends on your equipment. I've used this pedal on 4 different amps and I can't even compare the 4 different tones I got. On 2 of them getting a good tone was almost impossible. On the other two getting a good town was easy as hell.

Also depends. The tonal quality I got with solid state amps was dull, boring, awful. It didn't matter what settings you used, it sounded toneless and boring But then I played with it through a Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier, and heard a completely new pedal. suddenly the pedal came to life and I had more distortion then I knew what to do with. I currently play the pedal through a Marshall JCM 900 with KT-88 tubes, and although I don't find myself getting a tone I liked as much from the Mesa head, I still really like the tone I get out of this head. So from my experience, only get this pedal if you are going to get tube amps.

Hasn't broken on me yet, though my Boss Compression Sustainer has, so who knows?

I don't know? I've never really dealt with Boss, I'm not sure. They are a major corporation, so I'm sure they are a pain in the ass, but I can't back that up...

Great pedal if you have the right equipment. The sound difference between solid state and tube amps is ridiculous. This pedal has only been useful to me with decent quality tube amps. Otherwise, you're probably better off getting another fuzz pedal, like a Big Muff Pi, which is cheaper, though not as effective for live performances.

It's is your typical 3 knob Boss pedal, so it is incredibly easy to use.
Like 99% of Boss pedals, the manual is concise, and easy to navigate.
The only thing I did notice with this pedal is that it has definite "sweet spots." Once you find them, this pedal is gorgeous.

This pedal can cover so many artists from the 69's, right up to now.
Throw a little comp, delay, and chorus with your Fuzz, and you can make some magnificent sounds.
I use this pedal with all types of guitars, and both solid and tube amps.
I love it on all, but it is especially sweet on p90's through a tube amp.

It's a Boss, need I say more???

Can't comment because none of my many Boss pedals over the years have ever died.

I have been playing guitar for 10+ years, and I think this is a fantastic little Fuzz.
I know there is more "elite" brand fuzz pedals on the market, but I feel this fuzz pedal is just covers a simple and broader range of sounds.
If there is one thing this fuzz isn't, its limiting.
I just find I ALWAYS keep coming back to this sweet little number.
If it was stolen, I would replace it ASAP.
Basically, I LOVE THIS PEDAL!!! Thats why it got all 10's.

Extremely easy to tweak for sounds. Found the manual on the Roland web-site

This a very good sounding 'fuzz', especially if you play guitar with single coils. I use a Godin Exit-22 (maple neck) into a hot-rodded Traynor YCV-40 tube amp. The sound is definitly 'ripping'
I also own the vintage Marshall Super Fuzz and Super Wah, in addtion to the Colorsound Fuzz/WAh pedal. The FZ-3 sounded totally different and 'valid' in its own way, compared to the greats.

It's a Boss. It should stand up to normal kicking and pushing.

This is where I am currently having problems. Roland/Boss Canada used to be such a great company over the years. I bought loads of Roland/Boss stuff, when a certain rep called Barry Creamer used to work for them. He left Roland Canada in the late 80s, and since then, Customer service has gradually 'plunged', to the point where I don't buy any of their products anymore. As a matter of fact, I get more timely help from Roland US, Roland UK, and Roland Germany, than from Roland Canada. Go figure.

This is part of my studio arsenal of secret weapons. The unit lives in a studio alongside Roland JP-6/JP-6, Juno 60/106, mks-50,70/jx-10, S-220/330/550/760 samplers, SRV/SDE effects, and various Roland drum machines, and Boss pedals.
I ran the FZ-3 alongside the new FZ-5. The new COSM-based FZ-5 sucked big time. BOSS, what the f**k is this COSM thing?. Is this some kind of a sick joke?

Standard three knob configuration

Pretty good tones to be had in this pedal. I came off a boutique Tonebender clone to this and it held it's own. The tone controls allows you to dial in a bassy or a raspy fuzz tone. The only thing I will say is that it lacked a bit of personality - it was a bit "Joe fuzz pedal" for me. I couldn't really fault it tonewise, but it never really spoke to me. I've since picked up the Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz. Mode 1 on the Hyper Fuzz is somewhat similar to the FZ-3, with the most obvious difference being it has a slight upper octave element to it. Out of the two I preferred the FZ-3, probably because it has a bit more general applicability. The FZ-2 is crazy, which can be fun, but wasn't much more than a novelty for me.

Overall, a nice little fuzz tone for the money. Yet with opting for Boss reliability comes the cost of settling for the Boss' 'generic' tone - like a lot of Boss pedals the FZ-3 had no real voice or character. As it's name implied, it was just a generic fuzz pedal. I guess you have to venture into fuzz pedals with actual titles, like Big Cheese or Flying Tomato, to find something with a bit of character.

Basic features, already covered by now. Very easy to use. Manual is ok, but didn't need it. I bought it used and got used to it very fast.

I have it for a week now and i like the tone a lot. I was searching for some sort of a Hendrix tone. Well, this unit isn't what i was searching for, but it works pretty well for some modern fuzzy rock. So, no vintage here, but nice modern fuzz.
I use it with my Epiphone Les Paul with Duncans - Jim Dunlop Hendrix Wah - into my Fender HR Deluxe. I tried the settings mentioned below and found them very usefull.

I would and probably will gig with it.

Never dealt with them.

Nice tone for a cheap pedal. Good value, but i would like to try other fuzz pedals. I'm not sure yet if this one is a keeper.
Next one on my list is the Big Muff.

Well, your tipical boss pedal. Built to last. Unbrakable, so to speak. It has the three knobs which were already discussed here.
I got mine used, so no box or instructions, but it is pretty easy to get the Fuzz sound you're after.

Well, I use mine with a vintage Fender amp (BF Fender single showman or a BF Tremolux)and mostly Japanese Jazzmaster's and Jaguar's. It is not very noisy. I really think it works great as it is able to provide a decent Fuzz sound, going from 60ties (kind a) to overdriven Fuzz. It does seam to cut a bit of bass when the effect is on. It's also quiet sometimes at lower volumes.
I think Boss did great on this one, however...since it is Fuzz it does sound a LOT better with a LOW gain amp (Like the older Fender's) This is probably why a lot of guy's complain about the crappy sound it produces with a Marshall (for instance...High gain ampn two to three gain stages after the Fuzz....)I think this is one of the main reasons why QOTSA use low gain amps.

So with a single gain stage amp it sounds like it should imo. Creamy Fuzz, but not super vintage (read 60ties Garage fuzz) But close enough. It also is useable for chord work, however I suggest to keep the Fuzz intensety low.

I play all kinds of music ranging from Surf to Stoner rock and everything in between. It does extremely well in lower tunings (C or D)

Well, it's a boss...Built like a tank. Who needs backup for a boss. I never had a Boss break down on me (although I don't use Boss pedals that often)

Never had to deal with them.

Well it's a good Fuzz. I would not of bought it myself, but it does what it is suposed to do. I could not resist it because the are no longer made and I traded it for some leftover Tele parts I had.
It does serve well in my band practice set up (Jaguar,FZ-3, Danecho, Vintage Farfissa FA/R reverb unit, danelectro Tuna Melt tremolo, Tremolux on a Marshall 4x12" JCM cab)
It also works very well with Echo units (newer and vintage) it thickens the sound up and gives it a real Garage feeling.

I own a lot of gear and I play for over 15 years now and served in numerous bands. If it were lost or stolen, I would not replace it I think. I also have a old Shaller Vintage Fuzz (germanium transistors) which sounds better but is not as reliable as the FZ-3

You couldn't screw this up if you wanted to... 3 knobs, self-explanatory. (kinda nice to have proper names for the knobs instead of shit like "junk" or "goobers")

well this is a tough call... on the one hand you have to be up front about the fact that this pedal isn't a fuzzface... you can't get a fuzzface tone out of it. Further, ballpark tonebender vibes are easier to obtain, but still certainly not this pedal's forte. Exactly what BOSS voiced this for is quite beyond my tone-scope, but I will say that for a self-proclaimed "classic fuzz" it certainly does get some wildly contemporary tones. Songs like "Girl Like You" by Edwyn Collins or "Someday I Will Treat You Good" by Sparklehorse come to mind. The fuzz is so saturated and thick that I don't know think we guitarists have invented words for it yet... thats not to say its unusable or inaccesible... the opposite would be true, but you've gotta get down with it for a while, stop trying to reign it in like your other fuzzboxes, 'cause you're just not gonna win that battle. To put it simply: if you have a thing for wildly unsubtle fuzz ala the Jesus & Mary Chain or the WL/WH era Velvet Underground, you owe it to yourself to check this pedal out.

You bet.

Haven't ever dealt with them so I can't say... probably the shits since its a huge company.

I love it and use it often. Certainly a unique box, maybe not for everyone, but then what is, y'know? I've been playing for just under ten years and play a lot of alternative rock like the Chain and Velvet Underground and this pedal gives me my own voice while being similar enough to my favorite tones that I don't feel lost when I plug it in. If it were lost or stolen, absolutely I'd replace it. And to be honest, if there was one thing I could have, it'd be that the pedal could do some more subtle stuff... but oh well, nothing does it all and it looks cooler when you've got a full board of pedals anyway, so its cool.

Couldn't be easier. I bought it used, so no manual, but it's hardly necessary.

I use SG Jr.'s and stratocasters loaded with lipsticks tubes and I get what I want: fuzz. It's not noisy. Just like any fuzz, run it into a dirty amp or with other overdrive pedals and you won't hear much fuzz. I use it with a Mesa-Boogie Maverick, which I adore unequivocally. My favorite artists aren't known for being fuzzheads, and I tend to use this just to put an exclamation point on the occasional seriously fundamentally basic pentatonic styling. Works like a champ for that.

Oh, it's a Boss. Working for a Boss dealer, I can tell you, I NEVER see their stuff having to be returned for repair or replacement. Their service department must be like being the Maytag repairman.

I've worked with Boss and Roland plenty, working for a dealer. Depends on who you get on the phone. Most are courteous and helpful. Some are surly and rude.

I play rock and pop music, hopefully in the vein of the Velvet Underground, Beatles, Kinks, that sort of thing. It works well with what I do. I have been playing for about 18 years. I own a metric ton of stuff in which nobody on this site has the least interest. Uh, for a $39 pedal, if it got lost or stolen, if I could replace it for that or less, sure, why not. If not, nah. It was purchased mostly because it was a screaming bargain, and turned out to be a decnt buy. Love about it, nothing, really, but nothing to hate either, it's just a Boss pedal with one tone that's occasionally useful. I did no comparison shopping, as I couldn't afford any of the other things I would like to try out.

three knobs: level, tone, fuzz. Sadly though, I know that is too complicated for some brilliant gentlemen...
Too bad its discontinued.

Pretty sweet fuzz comes from this thing. It doesn't have the harsh bite of the Fuzz Face, and it doesn't have the wild range of nauseating sounds like the Z.Vex Fuzz Factory, but this pedal makes good fuzz. With the level below 12:00 the effect stays in the background. With the level high this pedal screams. Fuzz knob to full sounds awesome: chaotic but not ear splitting.
Plus, amazingly, this pedal boosts the crap out of my signal, much more so than my overdrive pedal. With the level up full, and fuzz on zero, my signal gets a serious boost (word of warming, fuzz on zero still adds a bit of fuzz to your sounds though).

duh

I wish they didnt discontinue it. Maybe they are developing an FZ-4???

I would like it if it were a little cheaper, but since it's discontinued...ah well. I'm glad I went with this pedal and didnt dish out $160+ for a fuzz face or factory.

Boss FZ-3, simple 3 knob layout the way all great pedals should be.'
Very simple to use, plug in and fuzz it up.

I cant vouch for any so called "vintage" fuzzes or "it doesn't should like my 50 year old super conductor fuzz pedal worth 5 million dollars that grandpa gave me". Boss never makes any claims to sould like anything vintage - they sound like Boss. That being said, i feel that this is a great Fuzz Box - I love playing through it. from mild to over the top fuzzes, they are in there. I run it into a Mesa Dual Rec or my Mesa F-30 with great results. Great with humbuckers for soloing and does well with chords too.

DUH

Never had to deal with them - cannot comment

I was searching for one of these for a while. I dig Boss pedals, they always work and they always sound good. Its a one trick pony - but i am not complaining - its a fuzz box and it does it well. Guitar players are at the point now where they care more about the names and how old it is - I say worry about your playing.
the greats sound the same no matter what they play through.

The FZ3 uses the time-honoured three knob design which most Boss pedals have. Therefore it is very simple to use. The manual had two suggested settings which was useful for getting started. As far as I am aware this is the original issue of this pedal.

I play both strats and teles. For amps i have a Fender Bassman re-issue and a Marshall JTM45 re-issue. I like to try out different pedals - my old workhorse fuzzface is my usual pedal, but i also use a Pro Co Rat, Ibanez TS9 and a TYM fuzz all the way from Australia. I bought this fuzz as a backup to those pedals. It is certainly a very reliable, sturdy pedal but it isn't in the same league as any of my other fuzzes. It sounds better with the Marshall than the Bassman. I'd agree with the other reviewers who say that the pedal lacks volume and i also find it hard to coach real sustain with this thing. It sounds fine for leads, but messy and muddy for riffs or chords.

Very high build quality, as are all Boss pedals.

I play everything from Beatles to Pink Floyd Black Sabbath, and have been playing nearly 20 years. This is a cookie cutter fuzz. It doesn't do anything that plenty of other fuzz pedals can't do 100 times better. I'll probably sell it on Ebay once the prices get high enough. Take the advice of an old man - get an old fuzz pedal! Seek out an old Fuzzface, or go to Analog mike or Roger Mayer and get one of their clones.

The easiest - just three controls,like all the best BOSS pedals.

I play a Gibson Les Paul Standard into an Orange 120 head and Orange 2 by 12 cab. For pedals i use a wah and either a Boss SD1 or a Roger Mayer Mongoose(or sometimes both). I like old-school heavy rock like Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult, and some new stuff like Foo Fighters and QOTSA. I wanted a fuzz which would give me super thick vintage sounding fuzz, but this pedal isn't it! The sound quality, in terms of clarity etc i guess is ok, but it has very low output, and just sounds weak with my other gear. I ran it along with my Mongoose and there was no competition!

I sold it on before it got road tested.

Overall i'd say this pedal was very disappointing. it sounded poor with both single notes and chords, and certainly didn't sound like a vintage fuzz to me. A very "transistor" sound - and i mean as in a waspy solid state amplifier sound. I would save the extra few pounds and go get either a Mayer fuzz or maybe a Big Muff.

only 3 knobs...u nimrod..

Yamaha Eg303, Samick Tele Custom Pro, 69'Japanese Jazzmaster -> crybaby wah -> earnie ball volume ped -> vintage pro co rat -> boss fz-3 fuzz -> Zvex fuzz factory -> e-harmonix sovtek big muff [mod true bypass] -> boss CE-2 chorus -> e-harmonix small clone chorus -> ibanez ph7 phaser -> vodoo lab tremolo -> e-harmonix microsynth -> moogerfooger ring modulator -> boss dd-3 -> e-harmonix holier grail reverb -> ibanez lo fi -> ibanez fz3 fuzz [for noise] ----> Fender Twin Reverb / Peavey Blaze 128 connected to another Bassman copy running simutaneously.....

As you can see...im a total gear head and obviously..i play in an experiment / noise / ambient / alternative band...using multiple fuzz and dist. pedals are a necessity to me....and the boss fz-3 is no exception...

Crank up the Fuzz and u can actually hear your speaker rattling and rambling...provided me the fuzz that i needed...if u want to hear comparisons and samples of the fz-3 in action...listened to Smashing Pumpkins - Rocket / Cherub Rock / Bullet With Butterfly Wings....
or if u have Smashing Pumpkins Vieuphoria documentry...check out the part where they play the song "Slunk"...the fuzz is similar to fz-3..
or Sonic Youth's - 100%...

i can bludgeon someone to death with this thing..

never dealt with them...

I play mostly experimental / noise / ambient / stoner / alternative rock band...as u can see from my pedal board...i have multiple of fuzz and distortion stomboxes...the fz-3 is one of my fav but nothing beats the Zvex fuzz factory...

i will definately get another new one if this pedal is stolen or lost...but unfortunately...it's discontiniued...urgh...

Needs little tweaking, but when it's done... fuzzy to the bone.
The manual is, well, thin and not exactly bursting with info. But it does show you how to set-up the unit and suggests some settings for different types of guitars (single-coil, h'buckers).

I'm using it with a Les Paul copy (Roytek), Ibanez Tone Blaster 15R, Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, ZOOM 606. I use it with the amp and BD-2 (for boost & creamy tone). This fuzz sounds amazing. I can get Muse and 60's fuzz. Together with the distortion on the amp - Hendrix (think Star Spangled Banner) and sustain heaven. Great for slow solos. The basses pack a great distortion on this little fuzzer - thick, even wobbly with applied distortion.

Sure, it's very sturdy. BOSS truly excels in this area. A metal chassis that can really take a beating.

Never needed to deal with BOSS. No trouble with their pedals so far.

I play mostly blues, rock and classical, but with this pedal i've startet to get into hard rock, metal and experimental. I've been playing for a year, but thanks to 5 years worth of piano lessons progressing quite fast.

If it were stolen or lost, I'd definately buy another one, because I can get really dreamy tones out of it.

I have compared it to the fuzz on the ZOOM 606, BOSS DS-1, BOSS-MT2 and Marshall Guv'nor. None of them produce such a mid-rich distortion.

It certainly helps me make music, experiment a lot and I'm discovering new musical grounds with it.

If you want some fuzziness to your sound, this is surely worth a try.

The FZ-3 is as straight forward as boss distortion pedal. 3 nobs, dont have impressive range but better than some. comes with a manual but like most boss manuals its not really worth reading! the tone nob gives the best range, and you dont have to have hardcore metal fuzz all the time- the fuzz nob does turn down (but not up enough!)- Extremely easy to get the best sound you want, or can. ive had this pedal for a few months now and i initially thought id work out a favourite sound but its pretty limited control wise, so its probably still on the same settings!

my set up- a crappy squire bullet(soon to be replaced be a brand new jagstang if they ever deliver it!), FZ-3, BOSS DS-2, BOSS SD1, EHX SMALL CLONE, BOSS CS-3, BOSS DD-3, MARSHALL MG50. as you can see i like a range of distortions (and i do use them all!) so the fz-3 is my heaviest. my band plays nirvana, radiohead and are ,originally like placebo.
its as silent as you could want it to be, considering its a fuzz pedal, so is no hastle on stage. i usually have the fuzz on full with the tone about half way. i paid #60 for it- way,way,way too much but happy with it. expected to get sounds like smashing pumpkins- everlasting gaze or muse- stokholm sindrome but its not that fuzzy. its very good sound quality, not really a metal dist like heavy heavy bands use, more for a heavy rock sound.

Would use it without a backup. just drains the batteries a bit, like all my others, so im used to that. never really stomped on it but possitive it could take it. however the paint on boss pedals always comes off so easily???

Never had a pedal fail on me, never a boss one anyway. took me a while to master internet shopping for pedals, started off with danelectro pedals- i absolutely hate those pedals, my distortion was held together by celotape! nope, this was fine, and its probably third hand going by the amount of stickers it had on the box!

was well pleased with the fuzz pedal, couldnt really expect the sound i listen to on territorial pissings or owt like that but it is still very good. paid too much but not bothered- dont regret it, he fuzz is an important sound in my music. like most distortion pedals there isnt massive range in the sounds available but im used to that- thats why i use three distortion pedals! ite ace for just messin around with at home- i usually use the fuzz instead of my ds-2, just coz its a bit more hardcore and it is quite a satisfying sound. if it was stolen, hmmm, im a pretty lazy person so id probably do nothing. id look on ebay and buy it again if it was there, but not for 60 pounds this time. if your in a rock band thats a bit alternative and you want an extra aggression to certain songs then this does the trick.

very easy 3 knobs
volume tone fuzz
if you can't figure out this pedal
i can't help

a funny thing happened on the way to my amp
here's where it get's strange
i tried this guy into a nice low watt class A amp about 8 watts
great defined fuzz--it really startled me
then i ran my 71 triangle bigg muff same setup
same sound! i know it seems weired but then i ran my 73purple big muff
ok that's not fair but still has a killer dynamic germanium fuzz tone
but it has to be the first in your chain no excusses.
sorry english guy below but a 73 sg and a jcm-800 is not the setup to get great tone-jcm-800's sound like bee's traped in a tin can to begin
with and a 73 sg? please! this is a fuzz and using roger mayer as a yard stick err. meter stick is almost funny they ar the grainiest most unpleasing pedals i've heard.
my amps are: 68 Plexi w/68 4x12 and 70 8x10,65 bassman w/2x12,55 4x10 bassman,66 traynor bassmaster(plexi on the cheap),61 princeton,2-62 epiphone pacemaker's blah blah blah. very consistent
unlike a jcm-800. it's a fuzz people

boss

ehhhh!

i got it cheap cause the guy before me couldn't get a good sound
with his jcm-800
i told him it's not the pedal it's you amp-
sorry truth hurts
crap a carvin X100B amp is cooler

as with any 3 knob boss od/dist pedal, the fuzz is a breeze to use.

just got it! i knew they stopped making the fz-3 so I was surprised when my music store had a new one. i realize it's not a fuzz face, a mayer, or big muff pi, but the boss fuzz sounds great to my ears. i don't mind that it's so quiet, i can get plenty of volume and/or fuzz. you do have to set the volume higher than on most pedals but it isn't a problem. personally, i prefer to only turn the distortion up a quarter and no more than half way up and then control amount of distortion from there with the volume knob on my parker nightfly or from the boost on my trademark 60. this is a great fuzz pedal, maybe not the best, but musical and useful. sure it's a one trick pony, but it a fuzz for god's sake.

since i've never had a problem with any of my 15 boss pedals plus loop station or vf-1, i don't expect to have any problem with this pedal.

i'm glad a ran across the fz-3. it provides me with an excellent tone in a durable bedal. i wouldn't use it all the time, but then i don't use any effect all the time with the exception of delay/echo, so i'm very satisfied with my new acquistion. it won't replace your favorite distortion or overdrive pedal, but is can provode a very good sounding fuzz effect. set it where you like it, leave it, and use it when it feels right. can't be any easier of more fun than that.

Very Simple. Just three pots, so very easy.

I bought this pedal for more than i should have paid, based on reviews here and elsewhere. I must say I am very dissappoited - This is a very ordinary fuzz, which lacks the character of the classics. i put it alongside my roger mayer axis fuzz, and knew straight away that i'm not keeping it.I play a '73 gibson SG into a Marshall jcm800, and this pedal makes my gear sound worse!!!

Piece of crap. Anyone who has used a good fuzz (Roger Mayer, Fuzz Face, ZVEX etc) will be dissappointed with this poor pedal. Rubbish!!

SUPER EASY - JUST THREE CONTROLS.

I PLAY A TELECASTER THROUGH AN OLS MARSHALL 100 WATT HEAD AND CAB. I USUALLY USE A USABIG MUFF FOR MY FUZZ, BUT DECIDED TO TRY THIS WHEN I SAW ONE CHEAP. CAN'T SAY I'M TOO IMPRESSED, THIS PEDAL IS SO DAMN QUIET!!! THE OUTPUT IS VERY LOW, SO LOW I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MINE (GOT ITCHECKED AND THERE WASN'T). IT'S A RATHER CHARACTER-LESS FUZZ, CERTAINLY IN COMPARISON TO EITHER A BIG MUFF OR A FUZZ FACE.

ABSOLUTELY, IT IS A BOSS.

JUST NOT A GREAT PEDAL AT ALL. THE ONLY USE I CAN THINK OF FOR IT WOULD BE IN THE STUDIO, AND EVEN THEN I WOULD USE THE BIG MUFF INSTEAD.

Piss easy. Go from Cream to Kyuss in two shakes of a dogs tail. Even though I read it falls short of Sabbath, Ive got it there(well, nearly)

Fender Supersonic Guitar through this pedal to a Roland Jazz Chorus 120. Drop the Treble and Middle to about 1 and bring bass up to 8. Have tone 3/4 on the FZ-3 and full Fuzz for that Stonner rock feel. Lob the Chorus and Vib. on the amp for that extra stonner feeling. Although, I cannot reveal the sounds of SHADE though, That would bve telling

Battery last alright as long as you disconnect the Guitar input. Ive got an adapter anyway, but would rely on a good, new battery if I was gigging.

Never dealt with anyone except the dealer, who is not affiliated with Boss in anyway, So it would be unfare to judge BOSS on this dealer. Nice Bloke Though.

Would like two of these. One for the low distortion and one for heavy distortion. Will be putting through a DS-1 and OD-1 and DSD-3(Yes, this does exsist) and CH-1 soon. Should by ear bleedingly good! I think this is the dogs! Only for chief hackers though!

Very easy to use. Only three knobs volume, fuzz, and tone. I don't know why boss put a tone knob on the FZ-3. I set the tone to "5" all the time, in effect by-passing any tone modification.

The closest thing you will find to an orginal Maestro in a modern pedal. When you dial to "Fuzz" knob to zero you get THE SOUND. Very much like the Beatles' "Revolution" or the Stones "Satisfaction." The sustain is huge and feedback is buttery smooth.

Like boss all pedeals this one is built like a tank.

Boss has discontinued the pedal and no information regaurding this product can be found on the boss web site.

This is a well constructed modern pedal that sounds just like the orginal "Fuzz Face."

It is very easy to get a good sound from this pedal once you figure out where to set the level knob to stop the pedal completely overloading the amp (the level of the pedal will be lower than the unaffected sound but just adjust the volume on your guitar and the pedal will compensate)
The Manual is absolutely useless.

Using with various gibsons, fenders and cheap shit and a Marshall AVT 275 plus a pile of pedals (OD1, DS1, CE2, Danecho, VOX Wah, ROSS Flanger)
Not very noisy at all. This pedal can get a great Velvet Underground second album sound (Sister Ray etc..) and basically any other sixties fuzz sound (with enough tweaking, that is). Best idea is to leave the fuzz up all the way and use guitar volume to adjust amount of fuzz because the output from the pedal basically stays the same. Shitloads of sustain and harmonoic feedback. Great for Nirvana style noise jams. Sounds good with organs too. Forget expensive fuzz faces and all that other crap, the FZ3 can do it all.

I own a battered 1977 OD1 and it still works perfectly. I think the FZ3 should take whatever I throw at it.

Why would anyone need to??!!?

I play sixties blues rock (cream, hendrix, yardbirds, zeppelin, stones), noise rock (butthole surfers, velvet underground), nirvana, beatles, punk (Dead Kennedys, Ramones) and anything else in between (sabbath, chili peppers, Syd Barrett's pink floyd, the who, doors, the shadows) and this pedal has useful sounds for ALL of them (yes, even the shadows). Been playing three and a half years. If it were stolen I would buy another one as soon as possible (the store I bought it from has had a pile of these sitting there for about 3-4 years because no-one wants them)

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Make sure to put this first in you signal chain, and like all other
Fuzzes--use batteries insead of an adapter. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!For some reason the fuzz just sounds better. I might be crazy but the pedal even seems to put out a hair more output with batteries compaired to 9v power supply. Same with my Mr. Cry Baby--it puts out a stronger wah signal with batteries than with a 9v power supply. All other newer pedals sound better with the 9v adapter/switchmode power. With an adapter the Fuzz gets crappier & edgier--which some may like (noise crap bands) but with a battery it is smooth and sustainy (Think Tone Bender,Eric Johnson,Santana,Steve Kimock,etc..) crank it up and you have a great Fuzz Face Sound. And although this is as smooth--it has alot more Fuzz/gain on tap. I don't use it, but some may. I set the Level to
3:00--Tone to 3:00--Fuzz at 9:00. Great for Fusion,Spacy Blues,Rock...Don't forget to at least have your tube amp at 4-5 Vol.

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If used correctly, a smooth great sounding vintage Fuzz Box.

YA!

very easy.

Very good for Boss. Definitely a silicon fuzz rather than
a geranium sound. Late Hendrick's tones are possible, as well
as cool feedback. Great at low volumes. Can be very smooth when dailed
right. Could use a little more output, but there is enough for the
pedal to funtion correctly. Nice reliable Fuzz!

Come on?

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Very good silicon fuzz sound.