Dallas-Arbiter Fuzzface

First of all, this review is for an ORIGINAL dallas arbiter fuzz face (mine is from '70-'71), not those stupid reissues or clones or boutique copies. I've tried a bunch, nothing compares. Okay, let's begin:

This is yet another pandora's box of pedals. There are no "right" settings, as the fuzz face is UBER responsive to your playing style, picking, guitar/pickups, guitar volume and tone levels, amp, and effects chain. This pedal is not for beginners. You really have to be good about adjusting your guitar's volume knob based around what your playing, how your playing, and where your playing on the fretbaord. I've found that when I'm playing around the 12th fret a 7 on the volume knobs sounds great, but at around the 9th fret i drop it down to around a 6.5, and at the 3-5th frets a 5 sounds nice, and anything below that I keep er at around 3. If you don't use it right, this thing can be VERY muddy sounding.

Also, you really HAVE to try this thing out alone for a while (no other effects, just guitar > FF > amp) to find "your" sound. And again, the other pedals in your chain will seriously affect tone, especially the ones before it. if you can go true bypass from your guitar to the fuzz face and fuzz to the amp, your definitely best off.

Besides the actualities of the pedal's complexity, aestetically it's a very simple pedal to "use," with 2 simple knobs for volume and fuzz.

This thing is creamy! I've tried the analogman sunface (which is supposed to be a near exact replica) and the keeley fuzz head, and neither even come close in comparison to the original, which is so much more warn and smooth and just, creamy!

Easily clips though when run in line other pedals (having all true bypass pedals helps), even my noise gate was making it distort funkily. The trick is to just plug it in with every other pedal, one at a time, and see what works and then deal somehow with those that don't (loop-master.com makes quality bypass loopers if you need, or, if you're spending $1000+ on a single pedal, maybe pete cornish is the way to go).

But, beyond the issues, this thing is worth the hype, and there's a reason why %75 of all fuzz pedals are cloned variations of this one. Without a doubt the best fuzz pedal out there, and if dialed in can even be one of the best overdrives out there.

Jimi? YES! Duane Allman? YES! David Gilmour? YES! Pete Townshend? YES! Clapton? YES!!!!

Disclaimer: back in the day everything was handmade, even the transistors and such, so every vintage fuzz face, no matter how exact the parts may be, sound a little different. Some are probably noisy, some probably have corroded parts, etc. So, what I'm getting at is for the money it's probably not a good idea to buy one on ebay or whatever. Go to a vintage guitar and amp store (luckily I'm in LA right now so there are plenty), and find the one YOU love.

Just got it, so no idea....

Don't think the company is still around. Luckily though the guts of this pedal are so friggin basic that almost any pedal tech can fix em. They're expensive enough that I wouldn't recommend it, but you probably fix it yourself.

I play blues, blues rock, psychedelic rock, jam rock, and the like. I've been playing for 4 years everyday (still a newb, but i know my **** about electronics) and my rig is as follows:

guitar (Warren Haynes LP w/Stevens Design PAFs or ES339 w/Fralin P92s) > ISP Decimator > RMC Picture Wah > Mu-Tron III > Chandler Tube Driver > Keeley TS9DX > Ross Compressor > Klon Centaur Overdrive > CMATMODS ProCo Rat II > **FUZZ FACE** > RC Booster > Ernie Ball Volume > Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe 2 > Ibanez AD9 > Peavey Delta Blues Amp

If it were lost or stolen, I don't know if I could afford to buy a new one, defintely not right not, but eventually yes I'd save up and buy a new one.

I love the tone, love the "collector's item" thing it's got going, hate it's sensitivity to everything.

I've tried a Keeley Fuzz Head, and a couple Big Muffs, and I've A/Bed it with an Analogman Sun Face (BC108). No comparison, clear winner when dialed in right. I chose it for the hype, keeping it for the sound.

Wish it had a power on/off switch built it (NO WAY am I modding this thing now though), so I wouldn't have to unplug the input jack everything I stop playing.

Definitely HELPS you make music, and teaches you about effects and vintage effects and how electronics work with your guitar. This pedal will help you master working with the knobs on your guitar as you play.

Anything else you'd like to share?
Yes this thing is $1000+ for an all original. Yes there's a huge a amount of hype surrounding this thing. No it won't make you Clapton. No the electronics aren't the most advanced and it's a real pain in the *** to work with to be honest. But. First of all, as for the expensive part, the fuzz face is an investment that will only and most assuredly go up in value as time goes by and more and more start to break and get stolen and what not (in 20 years this thing will be the next '59 Les Paul, maybe it won't go for $400,000+, but you get the idea). Second of all, as for the hype, there's a reason why all the greats have used this pedal or some variation thereof, this thing rocks, plain and simple. Thirdly, as for the clapton thing, no it won't make you great, but it will definitely get you started on your path to greatness. I've never used a pedal that has taught me more about guitar playing than the FF. Fourth, yes it's a pain in the ***, but so is guitar playing, until you figure out what the hell you're doing. Great thing are all a pain in the ***. Deal. Fifth, if you have the money, and find one that's %100 original and sounds delicious, don't think twice. I just broke the bank buying this pedal, I've been eating PB&J sandwiches for the last few weeks, and I don't regret it one bit. BUY IT!!!!

This is a Crest Audio Fuzz Face reissue that I bought back in '89 or '90. This thing is in brand new condition as it has not been on my pedal board. Until now that is. Wow! With the right guitar (EJ Strat) and the right amp (Marshall 1959S Super Lead reissue) this thing sounds great. I run the fuzz up pretty high and I set the volume to be a little bit higher than the straight guitar signal.

This pedal really does get that creamy, smooth fuzz. The sound is close to some of Jimi's later tones and Eric johnson comes to mind too. This pedal suffers greatly from radio interference and other strange sounds. It happens when I roll down the guitar's volume knob. If I roll the volume down far enough it goes into this howling oscillation sound which is actually kind of cool. So I have to knock off a point because of this. But with the guitar's volume up all the way or close to it, this is a great lead pedal. I'm basically using it for all out leads and it works fine for this.

Solid contruction, silent switch, true bypass. It is reliable. Again, I'll knock off a point for the mystery noises but I have actually made use of some of these noises.

I suppose you would have to get in touch with Dave Fox.

I'm glad that I hung onto this pedal. It used to come out only for the odd recording session but it's on my pedal board now. It's flutey, fat fuzz sound is an inspriration when playing lead. It just makes my fingers want to move. There are some modifications that can be done I believe, but I'm a disaster when it comes to technical stuff. I like to keep my gear stock for the most part and work with it to get the best out of it as is. With George L cables and a non-alkaline battery, this pedal sounds pretty sweet! It has become a part of my sound and if it were stolen, I would try to find another sweet sounding silicon fuzz.

With three sliders; tone, sustain, and volume; its well near impossible to get a bad ton. The sustain tends to control the overall fuzziness and the tone how dirty the channel is. Considering that mine must be upwards of 40 years old, the pedal is in great condition. It also has full bypass.

I've actually found this pedal a better recreation of the Hendrix sound than a lot of fuzz faces, due to the endless feedbacking and whistling of the pedal when its set all the way up on all controls. I've used this with a million different setups and I've never recieved less than some of the best sustain I've ever had and really reactive, specific distorted tones. I've played with it from bass amps to a Fender Stage amp and with a variety of guitars (and even some basses and keyboards (electric pianos sound great with it)).

It goes through about a battery a year and the only time its ever given me issues is when the knob would stick and it wouldn't turn on at full volume, which is rare.

There is no support or resources on this pedal at all, whatsoever. I think this pedal predates basically all manufacturing done by the current Dallas Arbiter company.

Over the years, I've attempted to find another pedal to match this one so I could sell this and cash in on the pricey vintage fad going on, and after about 7 years, nothing has come in to the same ballpark. I play everything from noise music to jazz to generic types of rock and for soloing, lead work, and anything requiring distortion, this pedal does the job. It has no real weaknesses and only adds to music and adds versatiliy to other pedals. A worthwhile pedal if there ever was one.

Simple, just two knobs but lots of different tones in those knobs.

This one sounds fantastic, it is my second one to own. NKT-275s, unreal sound. It is perfect. It is ugly with a broken knob and a replacement bottom plate, But when you find a good one it is divine. I use a Strat - Deja Vibe 2 - Clyde McCoy - Fuzz Face - TS-808 - SD9 - H2O - 61 Fender reverb - 61 Fender Super amp.

When it gets hot it sounds kinda fizzy. After it cools it sounds good again.

I use Analogman for support.

It is exactly what I wanted it works with the Clyde when most fuzz pedals would just flunk. I got lucky with this one. I play hippie blues. I like that it's ugly and messed up. It has character.

quite easy to use...only 2 knobs. If you are looking for a hendrix sound, try to get your hands on the original.NOt a reissue, because they sound way to muddy, and dont have enough "edge" or "grit" to them.There was no manuel when i bought my fuzz face of some hippy back in 69'i have changed the transistors a few times ranging from silicon to germanium. the germanium sound best for hendrix, and the silicon...well they just suck.

I use this fuzz face with an original fender twin(inherited through my father)and a american standard strat. I also run this fuzz face with a vox wah wah, and an octavia. this pedal is a tad bit noisy, and can provide nice feedback and sustain stuff, think jimi hendrix at monterey pop. I can nail hendrix, early early clapton(cream), robin trower, parliament funkadelic with this pedal. One note though-***USE THIS WITH A MILD DISTORTION FROM THE AMP*** cause' if you dont, the fuzz overpowers your amp, and sounds muddy. If you want slight grit or edge, you have to put some distortion from the amp you are using.

i can depend on it. Has been my default fuzz for about 20-25 years. I would maybe bring a backup just in case though, because of how long i have had this pedal(30 years)

i have never talked to dallas arbiter, or had any problems

this pedal is great. IT nails 60's pyschadelic. But remember get an original if you can. THey are the best. TRust me, ive been playing for 30-some years now, and these pedals, you just cant imitate.

Easy! USE THE VOLUME KNOB OF YOUR GUITAR!!!!...not only step-on-it!

First of all: I'm realy into vintage stuff!
BUT: I simply don't like the Fuzz Face. (Fuzz pedals I like: Maestro FZ-1A, Mosrite Fuzzrite, Schaller Fuzz, Fender FuzzWah and mor 60's-like sounding effects...I don't go for 70's thickness...this sound is so bowringn...sometimes

It may be right that the Fuzz Face was the top of the heat in the 60's where all other Fuzzes sounded realy crazy. But me, I like CRAZY FUZZ!

I would say that the Fuzz Face (only had one with NKT-275 transistors.) was the FIRST DISTORTION PEDAL and maybe the LAST FUZZ PEDAL. You know things went down much faster in those days. Just think of the sound of 1966 till 1970. It's only four years but the sound is REALY different. Think: Beatles or Black Sabbath.

...So if you realy like the 60's you woun't like the Fuzz Face. BELIEVE ME! ...it sounds a bit absurd but that's the way it is!

Of course Hendrix could get a good tone out of it. But you woun't! ;-)
Hendrix used many different Fuzzes to create his sound. The FuzzFace is only one of them.

The Dallas Arbiter FuzzFace is the less agressive Fuzz I've ever heard. It's all those things I don't like about fuzz: warm, smooth, sweet sounding, cuts the mids ans his A LOT! ...is it realy still a fuzz???????

I'm sure there are people out there who like this box ...so

I HATE IT! ...of course it's way better than a non-vintage fuzz!!! ...but I HATE IT!
THERE IS NO AGGRESIVITY IN THIS BOX...NO WAY!!!

It's as if the big record companies of the 60's would have put out a fuzz pedal that can be played on the radio and be heard by older people too without hurting their ears.....OH MAN!

I've heard the reissues sound even worse. I can immagine that ;))))!!

two knobs not so hard to figure out eh?

Playing with a 1969 fender telecaster thinline to a sunn beta lead, sometimes a vox cambridge org.

The effect sounds great on the clean setting or with moderate amp dist. I don't play amps with your tradition dist so I dunno how it would match up on a marshall, or mesa or whatever is hip at the moment.

The tonal varations you can acquire with the volume control on the guitar is amazing .

This is some reissue dont know when, on a printed circuit board but with the nkt-275s in it. So if someone could tell me what I have I would be happy.

Gets the classic fuzz response and everything I need. I dont know if this is a JD reissue if it is, it is a good one.

Don't like the noise, your looking at the wrong pedal, yeah it adds noise, but I like the organic , more musical analog pedals.

The battery worries me, but no problems thus far. If it is a JD reissue I wont think about having them fix it. They are horrible. Seems simple inside, could fix myself. Giged with it no probs.

Does what I need. Been playing long enough to know what I like, and what tones I want. Hence why I play through odd equipment some people might knock, but when they hear it they dig it. I wish the battery stayed in place my only problem. It will always be in my chain unless I find a fuzz I like more, which I havent.

I use my Dallas-Arbiter FF reissue through a Marshall AVT50 combo. My primary guitars include a Gibson Les Paul Standard and a Fender Mexican Standard Strat. When used in conjunction with my Vox wah (V847) this pedal is fantastic - instant Hendrix with the Strat, really good, heavy sound with the Les Paul (think Jeff Beck's Truth sound). It's almost as if the Vox wah was meant to be partnered with this pedal - it really brings it to life, accentuating the mids and trebles. However, without the wah, the sound is often very bass-heavy and muddy, somewhat usable but not nearly as good as with the wah. Overall it's a fairly usable pedal for what I do: classic rock, blues-rock, and jazz.

Seems reliable. I've used it for a gig or two and have had it in the trunk of my car for extended periods of time and it's held up pretty well.

I own two distortion pedals; along with this one, I also have a Marshall BB-2 Bluesbreaker. Generally, I prefer natural tube overdrive/distortion to pedal drive, however, for home practice I need something that will give me that sound at a lower volume. The FF satisfies my Hendrix and classic rock needs; however, the drive isn't good for everything I'm into playing (e.g. Van Halen, Gn'R, etc.), and only really sounds good when I'm using it with my Vox wah. All in all, it's a decent pedal, but not usable for everything.

Only 2 knobs...but isn't so simple...with the fuzz knob u don't regulate only the amount of fuzz...but also the tone...so...be careful and search for your sound!
Also the battery change your sound...because every battery have a different voltage (alkaline...zinc carbon..rechargable) and Q2 saturation is closely legacy to the voltage given by batteries.

This is an '80s Crest Audio Reissue Fuzz Face with Bc109C transistor.
I've bought this on ebay...because i knew that Dave Fox matched the trannie and play everyone that he had built.
Internally there are onl two minor difference from the original...a cap in parallel with the 330 Ohm resistor and a 6.2K resistor instead of a 8.2K on Q2 collector.
While the second is a necessary mod with matched trannie...the cap was there to prevent oscillation and whistle...but that cap...lessens the treble response..so i take it away!

Now is identical to a 70's one!

The sound is good...and the Bc109 are (imho) the armonically richest tranny..and i like very much armonics!
Much of the difference between ge and si tranny is due to gain...if u lower the fuzz knob at about halfway...the sound is much rounder..very similar to a ge type...not equal...but very similar...and very hendrix like...not harsh midrange and sweet treble when you lower your guitar volume
If you turn the fuzz up but not to the max..it became armonically richer and more aggressive...something like band of gypsies...so..more fuzz...more treble.
Hiss is very present with fuzz maxed...but...the story of fuzz is made also of hiss :)
With fuzz maxed it sound similar to David Gilmour at pompei...
I think that u can obtain every sound you want...simply playing with fuzz knob and your guitar volume.
Sound good with every type of guitar...solid body or semi hollowbody...single coil or humbuckers...

I've also an Axis fuzz from Roger Mayer...that is silicon loaded...like my fuzz face.
The axis stay always bright...and is beautiful on clean like "little wing" and on sustained fuzz like "Bold as love" while the fuzz face give you the possibility of a darker sound with the fuzz knob lowered.
Bot are excelent products...(axis dont'have phase deleting problem of fuzz face) with much fuzz...unlike the Fulltone products...
I can play everithing with the Crest Fuzz Face...from janis joplin or Cream kind of sound with fuzz at halfway to hendrix (fuzz on 75%) to "let it rain" crude sound with fuzz high and guitar volume very low.
There's some serious voodoo inside this pedal!
Use always zinc carbon batteries and check your Q2 voltage...the sweet poin imho is between 3.5 and 4.5 volts (it depends from Q2 gain)...if you want to change..put a battery with less or more voltage! (rechargable for less and alkaline for more for example)

Very easy but needs care to get a good sound. Battery can be fiddly to change but if you dont have a screwdriver in your gig bag then you shouldn't be doing a gig?

The "quality" of the sound is debatable, it hisses, picks up the radio, squeals and pops so "quality" it isn't. But thats not why we like valve amps or any of these things. Reading the other reviews I can't help but feel you are all missing the main point of this era and sound USE THE VOLUME ON THE GUITAR!! If you stich your volume on the guitar up full and never touch it (as is the norm with modern pedals) you wont get the hendrix/clapton tones your after. Put the volume up full, gain up to about 9 or 10 and roll back your guitar volume to 7 or 8? You get this wind cries mary type distortion then use the guitar volume to wind it up to full on saturated mush and everything inbetween. These are VERY sensitive to Guitar volume changes. Just watch hendrix live on tape notice how much he plays with the strat volume compared to stomping on the pedals??

Its made of cast metal, I have size 12 feet and weigh a lot and it's survived 10 years of swilling about in spilt beer etc

never needed?

These are legendary devices, you need to get a good one with the kryptonite fart gar transvestites blah blah! USE YOUR EARS I'm playing through a marshall valve amp which is ok on its own but just pick one that gives you the sound you're looking for. Spend more time playing through the thing than soldering it and you'll sound better on the night anyway