Effector 13 Disaster Fuzz

Deceptive in that there's only two knobs. Easy right? Well, it would be except that both of them affect each other in arbitrary, unpredictable ways. So as someone else mentioned, volume knob changes the pitch of oscillation. No tone knob, so the tone is always way too bright. Weird and not very user friendly. But simple.

Trebley buzz pretty much sums it up. It's noisy on every setting, although it's possible to dial in NOTHING BUT an oscillating roar that I can't imagine a single use for. I could see this being a neat "find" in the corner of a studio, maybe. Something that the band uses on one track for the solo on one song, or something. But if this sort of thing is really your bag you should be looking at the Truly Beautiful Disaster, or even just a simple feedback loop.

Amp used was a Fender Deville 4x10.

Not that I'm an electrician in any sense at all, but it looks pretty simplistic on the inside. Small MXR-sized case seems sturdy enough, as do the knobs. Seems like the sort of effect that will sound different every time you plug it in, though-- and I think that was the designer's intent.

I don't know what people would want fixed about the pedal since it's supposed to sound broken in the first place, but whatever.

I've been playing for 8 years, in addition to the Fender amp I'm using a Fender Jaguar or Toronado into various OD and delay pedals (Visual Sound J&H, BOSS DD-20 etc), a Moogerfooger MuRF, and a Foxrox Octron.

I play alt-rock/experimental music. Like I said, maybe a good fit for the occasional solo or lick, but mostly worthless for anything else as it is far too shrill and piercing. Should have included a tone knob at the least. If you're considering buying this, don't. Either give this company the boot, look into the Truly Beautiful version. Barring that, the ZVex Fuzz Factory will do everything this pedal can do but with better control and functionality.

Yuo turn the VOLUME knob and the PITCH of the ocillation changes.

That is how bad this thing is.

Get a wasp, stick it in a can, put mic in can, connect mic to amp, that is closest thing to the sound of this thing.
It sounds terrible, no, it REALLY does.

Look inside the box then tell me you think it's reliable.

Sure if I'd just spent $100 on it instead of borrowing it I'd be saying "this is amazing" cos like you, I'd be embarrassed.

Don't care whether the guy is like Mother Theresa. FX pedals arenot his thing. you are deceiving the kids pal.

hunk of junk is right.

Two knobs and an on/off switch, how hard can that be? I use a guitar tuner to tune the oscillation to the key I want to play in and hit the switch.

And now for something completely different....

Well, if you are looking for a nice respectable Tube Screamer-type distortion that will get the frat boys at your local drinking establishment pumping their fists as you play "Pride and Joy" for the 1,000th time, this ain't the pedal for you. If you are looking for a fuzz bomb with a mind of its own that is bent on creating havoc, you may very well have found your man.

Yes, this pedal self-oscillates. It is not a flaw in the design, it is supposed to do that. You can tune the oscillation to any note you want, and play notes on your guitar against that background. Or you can play melodies with the knobs on the pedal, you don't even need a guitar plugged into it. It is unpredictable, and I can never be sure it will do the same thing twice even with the same settings. Which means it provides hours of amusement!! C'mon, live dangerously, predictability is for wimps!!!

Ask me about the time I used it for the solo on "Sweet Home Alabama," live on stage in front of a paying audience!

Wait a minute!?! A 10 means "pristine sound quality???" What's up with that?

Yep, dependable. I mean, it turns on whenever I step on it. I can depend on it to be unpredictable.

No troubles whatsoever.

Never needed to contact them, but I've heard they are great people to chat with.

For a handbuilt boo-teek pedal, the price is very reasonable. And it does exactlty what I wanted it to, er, I mean it is unpredictable in a good way. It is da bomb, a green wonder. I may not use it on every song, but it does give me a little something different (ok, something completely different).

To reviewer Rich (07/28/2005 03:32)

You are completely missing the point of this pedal. This isn't some wimpy little Fuzzface or Octavia you play Hendrix covers on.

Effector 13 products are geared towards experimenters and noisemakers, not people who like their guitars to sound like guitars. If you are one of these people, then E13 products are not for you.

Two nobs and a switch...

The guy who makes these seems to have found a gap in the market:
Pedals which sound dreadful and self oscillate ON PURPOSE! The Kids are gonna LOVE that!! I kind of think that if you want the sound of a detuned longwave radio why not buy a $4 radio rather than spend 100 dollars on a piece of crap that you will NEVER be able to find a use for.

It sounds terrible - Anyone who thinks this is good is like the emperor in his new clothes. You are naked pal.

Wiring etc is shoddy and full of tape, solder everywhere.
I would not gig with it because I would get laughed off the stage as soon as I turned it on, especially if the guys found out the price of this thing.

Sure the guy is probably friendly and whatever, but the bottom line is that he is a con-artist and anyone who buys his expensive pedals is throwing money away and only encouraging the guy.

Do not buy this or any other **** pedals like it.

This is a scaled-down version of the Truly Beautiful Disaster. There are only 2 knobs, but I was able to stumble upon a couple of usable tones. With a tuner of some kind, it is fairly easy to tune the oscillation pitch.

This is an oscillating fuzz, which mans that it constantly produces an underlying tone ... even when you are not playing. The tone is very thick and can even be synth like or sputtery at times ... and responds very well to picking nuances at certain settings. This is a great pedal for producing unconventional solo textures with guitar ... and even sounds decent with keyboards.

I have not yet taken it outside of the home, but it seems pretty solid.

Effector 13 is very conscientious about returning emails and answering questions.

I would have hoped for a little more flexibility for the $$$, but am still impressed by the auditory wierdness that exudes from this pedal ... it can even act as a theremin with the oscillation maxed(using the volume knob to manipulate the pitch).