Fulltone '69 Pedal

4 knobs, how hard can it be.

Big Eric Johnson, SRV, Billy Gibbons fan. Play a mix of stuff, no metal, but a bit of Vai-ish stuff. I am not a pedal snob, I'll use anything that's ok.

Brilliant sound quality. A vast range of fuzz is on tap with this pedal. I am not a "fuzzy" sound fan. I like relatively clean overdriven sounds. I (like it seems a lot of people) discounted fuzz as a means to get a really nice tone. I always thought of fuzz as for nasty no tone art rock bands/70's glam. Then I thought if fuzz is good enough for Eric Johnson I'd give it a whirl. This fuzz can be really tweaked with the bias and contour controls. And inside there's a dial which you can use to alter the type of clipping. Superb. Not only that it is incredibly responsive to touch and volume. I can go from fuzz ro clean juast by backing off on my strat's volume a little. I'd say this pedal is more responsive than my tube driver. I'm still using my bog standard DS-1 for now but it will probably be on ebay soon.

My chain is as follows: American strat with SCN pup's - seymour duncan pup booster (just to boost if I am using effects that soak up tone and volume) - boss tuner - 69 - tube driver - (holy grail if I am using my combo at home) - boss ds-1 -boss dd3 - into modded Laney LC15 or blackface twin reverb.

seems reliable, well put together, nicely crafted innards.

I've read people giving the guy who makes the pedals a hard time. So what if he is difficult? That's life. Do people email Boss or Digitech for a chat about their pedals and expect a personal reply from the boss man? The 69's not much more expensive than a mass produced pedal, so I guess if I have a problem I will return it and ask for a refund. Simple really.

Great pedal. Give it a whirl first, if you don't like it don't buy it. I can never understand how people can buy pedals they hate. How can you do that if you try it first?

one volumen, tone, bias, and fuzz poti.
???!!!
simple and flexible.
so, easy 9 points.

Fuzz, a original sound.
its raunchy and dynamic, very musical.
No way to compare it to Tube screamers.
Its not overloaded like my Mig Muff and different as my Rat.
Its very important how you play, it react sensitive in this way.
Its very easy to get Hendrix or Blues tones out of it.
I personally play also Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumkins, QOTSA stuff and this Fuzz works good for that.
Not for Metal sounds, because the big E string has no attac ! But this is normal at a Fuzz. Maybe you need sometime to get closer with this Unit, but what you want ? What you are searching for and what you mind about a Fuzz that is called " 69` " ??!!

My stuff ; 70`Strat/ Std. SG - T.C. Vintage Delay - Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe - 69 Fuzz - Cry Baby 353 Q - Korg DT 10 Tunr. Engl Screamer 1x 12 Combo ( with the Z5 Footswitch )and a Marshall 1x12 Box or London City 69?? Plexi Top + 4 x 12 with a Maxon TS 9.

Oh, I am in Europe and needed a converter for the power supply.
And the only thing Mike can make better ; is to build a brighter LED lamp in it or just a different colour ( red box with a red lamp ?! can suck sometimes ).
Ah, and ther is a trim pot inside the box were you can turn the Fuzz intensity more or less. ( I like the original setting the most ).

Have it a year, no problems here !!
When you open it - it looks very quality like.

I mailed them two times and they answer quick.

they are a small company, so I must wait a month on this unit. but its Ok.

I play nearly 20 years,I play 1 - 10 gigs in a month.
So this is not a job I can get rich with it.
Sometimes I can record my stuff in a professional studio and this works good here. ( I can use ther different amps ).
Mind the bigger and simpler youre set up is ...the more this Fuzz shines !
For the sounds I want out of this box, the build quality, the price and and and, I must give it 10 points here.

Great tone (if you set it up right) It's a npn pedal so it can suck the sound right out of many other pedals, and vica versa. Play around with it and you'll find the best place. It took me a whole weekend to fit it in. The bias and contour knobs are easy to dial in a variety of sounds. Always play with the volume knob!

Great great great tone. I found running it first in my chain (even before wah) gives the best break up tone and just sounds heavenly when the guitar volume is backed off to about 7. Gives the wah an interesting (Edge like) effect. The harmonics, lows, highs, mids, and gain is just beautiful on this pedal. Well worth the time it took me to put it into my board the right way.
strats and pauls into 69, clyde wah, keeley overdrives, volume, ehx memory man, choralflange, into fenders, Peavey classic 50, vox ac30

Germanium transistors are a little 'moody' sometimes. Enviroment can make them sound slightly different from one room to another, but the pedal is built like a war machine, and the wiring is perfect. No need for a backup, but I'd hesitate to let it be the only gain pedal i used in case it decided to sound different some night.

Fulltone can be hard to get ahold of, and if you ask a question that is somewhere on their website they won't even respond. But if you have a real issue, they'll get back to you, and try and help you out... just give them some time. They get a lot of questions.

I play mostly rock influenced pop, blues, and some country. I've been playing a while, full time for about 2 years. This pedal is an absolutely great fuzz, very hendrix, but has inspired many riffs. I love pedals that enhance my tone and give me ideas for music. This is a good one. I expect to be using this for a while. I compared to 70, soulbender, mxr, dunlops, and a few others and this one had the best warmth and 'tone' in my opinion. Not as much gain as others. Hard to beat a homemade fuzz though!! Try em' out, almost all fuzzes are a little different, find the right one!

This isn't my first fuzz, but for me it was a lot harder to get the hang of than my other one- a Voodoo Lab Superfuzz (also a great pedal). Just because it takes A LOT of knob-diddling doesn't mean it's a bad pedal though. There are tons of sounds to be had from this little red box, and it took me a couple weeks to find mine. It is definitely worth toying with the internal trim pot- I'm not going to lie, when I first took it home I hated the sound of it. After a little while of being frustrated because I couldn't get enough fuzz out of it, I remembered Fulltone puts those trimmer things inside. THANK GOD! I went from wanting to throw it out the window to wearing a huge shit eating grin in the space of about ten minutes. I'd heard Germanium transistors were tempermental about things like temperature, and this is something I noticed right out of the box. Playing at night in Victoria where it cools down quite a bit as opposed during the day when it's scorching hot made for some extra knob turning, but I eventually got the hang of it to the point where I know exactly where all my best settings are. It's a good idea to mark down your settings right on the unit with a sharpie or something once you find the sound you like the best. The manual is simple, but gives some good suggestions, a la keeping the fuzz knob maxed- you likely won't get enough gain out of it otherwise (though I guess if you're not looking for a ton of fuzz it won't matter).

My guitar is a re-issue Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Great sounding guitar. When I first bought the pedal I also had a re-issue Fender Telecaster Deluxe. Horrible guitar, weak pickups, basically not meant to be played with anything, least of all this pedal. I live with my buddy who's got a 2000 something Gibson SG, a Fender Highway One Strat, a Lite Ash Tele, an Ibanez 335 look alike, a '65 Blackface Showman with matching 2x12 cab, and a Marshall AVT 2x12. My amp setting are always the same- treble 6, mids dimed, bass 8. All of his guitars have been put through this pedal, and since I don't currently own an amp of my own, I use his. Through the Showman, it is REALLY boomy sounding. Definitely on the smoother side regardless of how the trim pot is set. Through the Marshall it's more on the crunchy side- when you crank the output of the pedal it's enough to overdrive the front end of the amp a little. I read a comment from one of the other reviews for this pedal that said it got a good "No One Knows" (pre-chorus anyways) kind of sound. That's definitely a good way to describe it. Depending on how you have the internal trim pot set, it can get pretty Muffy sounding, to pretty fuzz-less. Most of the Muff kind of sounds were got through the Fender though, so I guess it's pretty dependant on what amp you use. With the trim pot completely anti-clockwise, even with the fuzz knob dimed you're not going to get a hell of a lot of fuzz out of it, though I did notice it made the sound a lot more boomy and bass heavy. The overall fuzz increases as you turn the trim pot clockwise, though what you gain in fuzz you lose in low end. Completely clockwise it sounds a lot like the guitar solo from Janis Joplin's "Summertime." Super nasal, kind of a warped squashy sound. The trim pot is key to this pedal's character. I have mine set at about 7 o'clock, and combined with the Les Paul I can get some sweet Billy Gibbons (my favourite guitar player) "La Grange" esque sounds. I also dig QOTSA pretty heavily, and I am a huge fan of Adam Nutter of The Music, hence the Les Paul Deluxe. The tone on this pedal kills once you find a couple good settings. "Sweet" is what I would say if I had to use one word to describe it. It is very pleasing to the ears. Even though it's apparently an Arbiter Fuzz Face copy, I wouldn't say I'm getting any Hendrix sounds out of this pedal. Then again, I'm not looking to emulate his sound. He was a great player, but his sound has been done by umpteen million pedal makers and by now is pretty generic. This pedal is VERY quiet when used alone, but there is some noticeable hum when you plug other distortions into it. I usually have a Boss SD-1 running into it to augment the distortion. This pedal is NOT an over the top distortion machine, but with tone like it has, it really doesn't need to be. It does what it is designed to do and it does it well. I prefer using medium to high output pickups with the pedal standing alone. Mini-humbuckers aren't huge in terms of output (fortunately they are in tone), hence the SD-1. It is very likely you're going to get a lot of shitty sounds out of this thing until you find your sound, but I give it a nine because I've found mine and I love it. Be patient and it will pay off.

I've had this pedal about two months and I'm still using the battery it came with. The light still lights and the switch works every time. Haven't gigged with it yet, but I play at least four hours everyday (when I'm not working anyways). I've played the shit out of this pedal in the short time I've had it and it performs beautifully. I've opened the thing up to fiddle around inside, and everything is solid. There's a huge difference in quality when things are built carefully by hand, and in this aspect Fulltone is practically flawless.

Haven't had to deal with the company.

I play and listen to a lot of different things under the huge umbrella of rock music. I love everything from Portishead (which is trip hop, but the guitar on their records is actually the reason I started to get into fuzz pedals). I love blues rock like ZZ Top and early Zeppelin. I love Black Sabbath, QOTSA, Kyuss, The Music, Oasis, tons of different stuff. I tune to either D standard or drop C for the extra low end. The tone of this pedal is amazing for playing the blues, and surprisingly (for me anyways) even slide guitar. It definitely suits drop tunings well. I'm not too fond of single coils, so I only use this pedal with humbuckers. It's a match made in heaven. Single coils just can't get the amount of fuzz I'm after, but a Strat neck pickup with this pedal reminds me of "La Grange." This pedal cleans up really well, so it's worth it to keep the fuzz knob dimed. I'm 18 and I've been playing for four years now. In that time I've owned an Epi SG, three Les Pauls (one Epi and two Gibson), a Fender Mexican Strat, a Gretsch Jet Special, and four different valve and transistor amps. I'm glad Long and McQuade is good about trade-ins; I wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise. As far as pedals go, I've still got a Boss DS-1 and DS-2 leftover from my Nirvana phase, an SD-1, an old DOD Thrashmaster I nicked from my old highschool, the Voodoo Lab Superfuzz, and this. I'm not a huge effects freak in general, but I HATE the sound of valve distortion on the gain channel amps come with (my friends think I'm an alien), so I've been searching for the holy grail of distortion pedals for a couple years. So far the fuzz variety seems to be my favourite. When I bought this, I was actually looking for a Fulltone Soulbender like one of my buddies had. I loved the sound of it, so even though the store didn't have any in stock, I figured I would try something else from Fulltone. Man I'm glad I did. Bit pricey, but so is most other gear in Canada. If it were lost or stolen, I'd be pretty pissed off. Truth be told, I'd probably buy a Soulbender just to try something different, and I probably will anyways. It's not lost or stolen though, and it sounds like god. I'm definitely content to rest on my laurels with this one.

The 69 took a little patience to get the sound I was looking for. Fun to just start tweaking the knobs and see what happens. I didn't get a manual with mine since I bought it used, but it's not too hard to figure out. You need to know what you're looking for...

I'd like to give this a ten just because it's such a versitile unit. The fuzz can be fairly clean to mighty raspy. I like to use effects that enhance the tone of my guitar and amp, and this definitely does! Units that color or disguise my tone get the boot immmediately! Love the way it cleans up with the volume control of the guitar down. Love the way it pushes my other OD/Distortion units. A very useful tool to shape my tone the way I like it!! After a week or two of playing around with this my big muff was e-bayed without hesitation. This is definitely a cut above!
My tone preference runs to a fairly clean state of affairs. My setup runs like this: Gretsch falcon>voxwah847>69>boss od-3>Keeley bd2>Keeley ds1>EH memory man>Fender concert 112 combo or blues jr.

I've only had this a short while, but fulltone makes products that weather well. I have no hesitation about gigging without a backup. I don't anticipate any trouble. A 9 for the germanium thing....

All e-mails were answered quickly and informatively.

Quite possibly the best fuzz box out there. For me anyway. I play mostly contemporary worship, bluesy/jazzy, old school rock type music, and this is a great match. Been playing about 30 years and have owned a lot of guitars, amps, effects, etc. This one shines in it's category. Ubetcha I'd buy it again if it was lost or stolen! It's an integral part of my setup! The more transprent and cleaner, the better.(although you can get it to mimmick the big muff pretty good) You'll hear more of your guitar than the effect, and that makes a winner in my book!

4 big Knops, easy dailing.

Wow, it?s a Fuzz. I like that sound, I can only compare it to the BiG muFF and its not that wooshh mudd sound, its more cleaner, dynamic, and is mega flexible, great for that QOTSA ?no one knows? sound , are you gone go my way, Paperbackwriter,?its all in there.
As I say; its just a Fuzz so its sounds like a Fuzz ;-) Test it.
I play a mix of Hendrix meets Aerosmith, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Metallica, In Flames, Pearl Jam and Alanis Morisette and they cover songs from Bob Marley sound !!??
I use it one Stage, practise at home jamming in the studio and it works everywhere.
I cant get a bad sound of it, so this is difficult to find ?yourown? sound.
I have the feeling in my ears that the sound is changing sometimes a little ( very little ) bit, but still sounds great , maybe of that germanium T. ! I don?t really care?.
My main SET UP:

Gibson Paula, Fender Strat, Esp M II, in a Holier Grail - Digidelay - 69 - Jekyll & Hyde red - Korg Dt 10 tuner for live gigging. In the Studio + Phase 90, Vox v 847, Tremonti Wah, Replica delay , Multichorus.
Marshall Plexi, 4x12 Vintage 30, Mesa Lonestar 2x12 Combo, and a little Hughes and Kettner Edit Blue 60 for Home toilette practising?.sounds all good with.

I use it with a 1 Spot and reverse polarity pin !!! Because Batteries are S***

The only bad think is; that the red led light is not very bright and at ?normal? daylight its hard to see if its on or not. But you will hear it ;-)

If you like Fuzzes test on of these.
Im still standing in my shoes, so this is why it get a 8.

solid metal box, strong switch, and big knops ::::
have it a year and have no problem.

USE THE RIGHT ADAPTER !!!!!!!!!!!

I mailed them two times and they answer serious and quick.
Nice Folks.

I play 16 years the guitar, It is a inspiration because it does not
sound like a normal ( standart )overdrive / distortion !!!
Its a Fuzz.

Due to the nature of Germanium fuzz pedals, they are not that easy to use. You have to know how to play with it.

The '69 has many options so it can take you a while to get a great sound out of it but the tone is there.

My rig:
Gibson LP/ Strat>>Voodoo Lab Proctavia>>AnalogMan Sunface>> Fulltone '69>>Cry Baby Wah>>FD2 Mosfet>>OCD>>Keeley DS-1 Ultra>>Digitech RP-50>>Dunlop Univibe>>Fulltone ChoralFlange>>Fat Boost>>Option 5 Destination Phase>>Line 6 Echo Park>>Stereo outs to Marshall VS-65R and Soldano reverb-o-sonic.

Not noisy at all, considering it is a germanium gain device (with everything maxed out, my Proctavia, another germanium box, sounds like the radio station from hell....).

After tweaking with the 4 knobs and the internal trimmer, I got a fantastic, full-bodied yet well defined fuuztone, very reminescent of Hendrix. Back off your guitar volume and it really cleans up.

My Sunface has a tad better tone and cleans up better but is not as versatile as the '69, so they are both more or less equivalent.

You can throw this at your enemies, knock them unconscious, pick it up and plug in. Tank.

Great CS, very helpful and attentive.

I play classic rock. 'Nuff said, this pedal is a great match.

The great thing about this fuzz is its versatility and top quality sound. Every Fulltone product I have tried has that same multi-dimensional aspect to its tone. The '69 is in the same vein, full, rounded, musical tone.

the only player in the same league that I can think of is the AnalogMan Sunface NKT275. I have them both in my pedalboard and use them for different kinds of fuzz.

Not easy to get your sound but good sounding at any setting anyway

I'm using a rivera r-55 and a fender standard and it sounds great.

It's a tank

Just buy one, be sure that is what you need.

Contour and bias can make this pedal a little bir confusing but after a while you begin to discover how they work and react with other pedals you can get prettey good tones.

79 ash body, maple neck strat > Dunlop 535q wah > 69 > Fullfone FD2 > Voodoolab micro vibe > TC Electronic SCF chorus > Boss DD20 delay > Marshall JTM 30 2 x 10
Very versatile for a fuzz. It is the best thing about this pedal is that it offers a wide range of tones, from classic fuzz to mild overdrive.
Set up is Volume 3 o'clock, Bias 9 o'clock, contour 1 o'clock, fuzz 4 o'clock. Especially when the FD2 is on, it cleans up really nicely as guitar volume turns down. Now I basically use it on most of the times and use the volume as a main tool.
One problem is that I could not get a nice fuzzy univibe sound from it. First I tried the Microvibe before the fuzz but it was horrible. After I put it after the 69 and FD2 it sounded better but still not best.

Never had a problem so far

Asked for ome explanation and suggested setting for the internal trim pot but I have been sent the soft copy of the manual which I already had. Anyway it was not a big deal but disappointment...

I play hendrix, SRV, eric gales type of blues and rock. The 69 is a nice tool for me

This pedal is one of a kind. It doesn't take very long to get the tone you are looking for. Basically 2 knobs that adjust your tone "Bias" & "Contour", the other 2 are "Volume" & "Fuzz".

"Germanium" transistor...which basically means "good days & bad days". Don't get me wrong Germanium transistors are the 'tube amp' of transistors, warm and full. I compared this one to my brother Fuzz Face reissue and this is a similar tone there, but they are different.

I would probably bring a 70 Fulltone along for the ride if I were giging. Love the hard metal case. Wish I could put the guts it in a Fuzz Face box though :(

Mike is great to deal with. I've emailed him a few times & he has emailed me back within 10minutes or 1 business day.

I would recommend this pedal to anyone that loves that full, bright, warm, nasty, fuzz of back in the day. If it were stolen I would probably consider a 70 Fulltone.