Demeter FUZ-1 Fuzzulator

Just a stompbox; not too difficult to figure out... it does have some features that take a minute to dial in and tweak, however, most notably the pot that sits inside a recess on the side of the pedal that controls the overall output volume of the unit. Tweaking that definately affects the sound, and it is worth experimenting with.

In my experience, this pedal has its good nights and its bad nights, if you know what I mean. I use a lot of pedals and gig about every weekend. My chain is Garmopat-modified Crybaby, Boss TU-2, Garmopat modified re-issue MXR phase 90, Demeter Fuzzulator, Analogman KOT ver 4, Analogman Bi Chorus, Analogman Modified Boss DD6, Barber Launch Pad, into a Fender Blues Deville. Setting the Fuzzulator where it is works well, as I can kick on a boost during solos to kick it up a notch. I play a Fender Strat, and standing alone I don't care for the pedal except on a couple of songs. I virtually never use it without it being in conjuncture with either a boost from the KOT or the launch pad. That gives it a managable fuzz effectwhen using it for rhythm, and more umph for the solos. When doing covers, I use it for 'sunshine of your love' and '3rd stone from the sun'. Some nights it sounds b**chin'. It does both of those OK, but I personally can't get it to do a good Gilmour solo sound. It may just not be a good match for my amp/guitar set-up (or me!), but that's my experience.

I've owned this unit since 5/06, nand it has broken once during that time. In 7/07, the 'fuzz' stopped working entirely, and I had to send it back to Demeter. I am the original owner. (It's not an indispensable part of my sound, so I can play it without a backup). I've gigged it dozens of times, though, and it has always worked with the exception of that one break-down

I give them a 9 for this because even though the unit was passed the one year warrenty cut-off, they fixed in a timely fashion without charge. I did have to pay the shipping charges, however, and they never told me what happened... why it busted... but they were very cool to fix it for free (not everyone woulda done that!) I don't think I broke it out of neglect; I'm pretty cool with all my gear (as cool as you can be when being a working musician)

Been playing blues and classic rock for years and years, and need fuzz... I love Gilmour and Hendrix and SRV and that genre. I like this pedal as it can really kick up to the great fuzz sounds of old... but I haven't been able to dial it in consistently or get it to be very versatile on the fly... to cover a lot of sounds in a nights gig or to give such a great solo sound that I get wood. Sometimes its a 10 and it soars (3rd stone & sunshine), and other times its a 5, and I turn it off. You may get this one and it is the answer to your dreams. For me it's been good for a while, but not the last stop on the block.

very easy to use, controls for Volume, Tone and Gain, and switch for loose(germanium transistors)/Tight (LED Transistors). also a kinda hidden pot on the side for setting a master output level to get the best sound with your rig, 9v battery or an old DOD style jack for power :(, would have preffere the boss type. there are four screws to take of the underside to replace the battery, kinda a pain, but this thing is built like a nuke shelter.

My setup is as follows, Fender Strat or Hagstrom UltraSwede>E-H Soul Preacher>Demeter Fuzzulator>BK Tube Driver>CAE Booster/Line Driver >Digitech GSP1101>Eventide Timefactor>Mesa Boogie Nomad 100.

Ive been a Big Muff guy my entire music life, but i started to want something a little more refined (think On An Island era Gilmour) and not take some of the vintage muffs i have out to gigs. I stumbled across this one and it was what i was looking for.

The sound deffintaly has a half fuzz/half distortion quality to it. like take the best of both worlds and this is that pedal. it doesnt have huge amounts of gain but more than enough for all except for the most depraved. it's tonefull everywhere, the loose setting has a more vintage Fuzz Face-ish tone, while the Tight setting has more a Pete Cornish SS-3/G-2 sound. it sounds great with both single-coils and humbuckers, you can roll off the volume knob and get a spectacular overdirive. its the quietest fuzz ive ever heard even at the most extreme settings.

like i said earlier, built like a nuclear bomb shelter. would not worry about it breaking down on me.

don't think ill ever need it.

If you want a Fuzz that is truly unique and has a very pro sound. look no further. i would buy another in a heartbeat. this is my defacto fuzz from now on. i have several vintage muffs(triangles, rams, green russians)and this one is great for eveything, whearas the muffs are more specific and only truly sound great on cranked tube amps. they are not cheap, but quality usually isn't.

Pretty straight forward controls; On top there's fuzz, tone and volume. On the left side is a "loose/tight" mini toggle. On right side is a small, recessed trim pot for adjusting output. The controls all work as you'd expect them to and it's fairly easy to dial in your sound quickly.

To me, the Fuzzulator is a very "polite" fuzz, kind of like a fuzz and a smooth distortion combined. It's very articulate for a fuzz and allows endless sustain when you crank it up. I personally liked the loose setting much better than the tight. The loose setting uses Germanium diodes and sounds very warm with rich harmonic content. The tight setting uses LEDs for a more modern, distortion-like sound that cleans up pretty well when you back off your volume a bit. The Fuzzulator won't do the old school "splatty" fuzz sound, there's other pedals that are much better for that. For me, the "splatty" fuzz sound is a bit of a novelty, only to be used occasionally. It's a cool sound, but not always practical. The Fuzzulator is much more useable. I absolutely love the Fuzzulator with a bridge single coil and the guitar's tone backed off about half way. Killer lead tones, think Jeff Beck.

I've only had the Fuzzulator for about 3 months. So far no problems.

Never dealt with Demeter.

Rating something like a fuzz is very subjective, no single pedal will be everyone's cup of tea. As I mentioned before, the Fuzzulator has a smoother, more articulate sound than your "traditional" fuzz. If that's the sound you're after then the Fuzzulator is it. It's also quiet and nicely built, definitely boutique quality. The sound clips on the Demeter web site are pretty good, check them out and decide for yourself. For me, the Fuzzulator is a keeper and I highly recommend it.

Demeter Fuzzulator has controls for volume, fuzz and tone. It also has a switch on the side for loose/tight settings (germanium/led). There is also a gain control on the side which you can adjust for your rig via a mini screwdriver. Powered by 9V or you have to use a Dunlop style adaptor jack. Very easy to dial in great sounds, wish they used Boss style adaptor.

I use this with bass and this is my favorite "dirt" pedal. There are so many shades of dirt/fuzz from very subtle to grind/sustain but never harsh. This is a very warm, focused sound, no bass loss on the tone control if anything it adds a little at full counter clockwise ... awesome tone control.I prefer the tight setting. I found this to be the best pedal to emulate that vintage tube/speaker break up sound we all like, especially for blues. Really turns my clean Eden/Mesa Boogie rig into a vintage blues rig. I own the Xotic Bass BB preamp and that is also a great overdrive/distortion but the Demeter is warmer (hard to believe),more vintage but stays focused. You can also dial up intense fuzz for acid rock or whatever. Works great with my EVH MXR 90 Phase. If your looking for gated/synth fuzz or octavia sounds look elsewhere, The Demeter is really based more on a vintage fuzz design but with modern cut and focus.

Very well built, except I don't like the mini toggle switch on the side.

Bought mine from Scott at www.axeandyoushallreceive.com. Excellent service. I don't know what Demeter's service is like.

Great fuzz pedal for me, works great with all my basses and equipment. A little pricey for a fuzz pedal but it is definately my favorite fuzz/dirt pedal. I own this and the Xotic Bass BB preamp and Xotic Bass RC Boost. I own an EBS Multidrive (not bad has some versatile sounds, may sell).I've owned the Fulltone Fatboost and Bassdrive (pretty good but both can be harsh). I've owned a EH Big Muff(muddy) and a Prescription Depthcharge (cuts thru great because of the octave up but hard to tame even with the blend). All and all the Demeter Fuzzulator is a real versatile/musical fuzz.

Very intuitive, very flexible. Fuzz, Tone, Volume controls. Toggle for "Loose" (Vintage) or "Tight" (more modern-more amplike). Recessed trim pot for overall output. Lot of sounds in this little box if you take a little time with it.

Absolutely dead quiet, studio quality. Just what you'd expect frim Demeter. I'm using it through the clean channel of a Demeter TGP-3 Preamp and Demeter Power Amp. From Joe Walsh to Duane Allman and everything in between. Due to an innovative Tone Pre Emphasis Circuit, that produces great tone and note articulation no matter how much gain/fuzz you have dialed in. It also cleans up very well from the guitar volume knob, great for those Duane Allman swells. Guitar Player Magazine "Editor's Pick"

This is one of the first units to come out last year and it's very dependable, I do not have a backup for this unit.

James Demeter and staff have been very helpful on numerous occasion over the 10 years I've been using their products.

For blues to alternative/roots to classic rock, has never let me down. I've tried various other fuzz pedals, but none can compete for sound quality or quietness. A First Class pedal from a First Class Designer/Builder.