Solid Gold Sound Labs Formula 76

The Formula 76 is a faithful clone of the Ibanez Standard Fuzz from the 70s. It's a raging, over-the-top fuzz, sort of in the same ball park as the Univox Super Fuzz. The upper octave is more apparent, and I'd say the Formula 76 is a little richer in overtones than the Super Fuzz.

The sucker is super easy to use, and you can get "the death tone" right out of the box. There's 4 tone shaping tools on this box:

1) A fuzz knob that goes from gnarly to raging sonic death.
2) A level knob, to get your volume setting.
3) An on/off foot switch,
4) A foot-switch to go between a bassy mid-scoop setting or a mid-boosted cutting setting. Both tone settings are very usable.

I tend to use Strats through a variety of Fender amps (Blues Jr, Twin, vintage Super Reverbs.) Fender amps can be quite picky with fuzz - you have to watch your treble settings! The Formula 76 sounded great through my Twin - it shines when the amp has some natural breakup. Most fuzzes sound better when the amp is pushing.

The upper octave is very musical - I've owned a few octave fuzzes in the past that sounded too shrill or ratty. The mid-boost setting pronounces the octave more, while the mid-scoop is better suited to power chording and rhythm work.

This would be an ideal pedal for guitarists that dig noise, wall-of-sound molten psychedelia, and the nastier ends of the garage spectrum. I think Michio Kurihara when I fire this puppy up - the guitarist for Ghost, The Stars, and White Heaven. This isn't a blooz-rock box by any means.

Extremely well made, and durable. The construction is super solid.

I haven't dealt with the company (I bought the pedal through a highly-recommended dealer - Axe And You Shall Receive out of Brantford, Ontario.) I have heard good things about Solid Gold Soundlabs, and they appear to be quite accessible via their website.

I've been playing guitar for 22 years. I've played several different styles of indie rock, blues, country, psychedelia, and garage rock. I have a huge affinity for fuzz pedals - I own at least 40 of them, and out of all the fuzz pedals I own with upper octave capabilities, this is definitely a favorite. The tone switch, and the sheer mayhem unleashed by this circuit make it a go-to pedal when I want to make some noise, or unleash my inner psych demons.

Easy to use ,two knobs one for fuzz and one for level. Two foot switches bypass and Tone for mid-scoop. Manual straight forward.

Setup as follows: Mexi-Tele with SD hotrails and Studio Les Paul with SD Custom 5 bridge. Pedal chain starts with a Boss fv-500h>Diamond Compressor>Maxon SD9>Formula 76> Black Russian Big Muff>Boss Dm2>Boss TR2.Amps 15 watt and 40 watt Traynors. This pedal when off is quiet true bypass. When engaged is a buzz bomb so if your looking for classic screwdriver in the speaker this is your machine. This pedal isn't for the subtle at heart it's harsh in a musical way. The tone switch effects the mids in a way that give a pitch that slightly ring modulates in response to your playing.I find this pedal can add fur/barb wire to amp overdrive. It's pretty dense sounding on it's own in the clean channel think Mudhoney Big muff Super fuzz. Greg I believe made this with the Ibanez Standard Fuzz in mind so it leans on the fuuuurrr kinda realm....Sonic Youth as opposed to Eric Johnson.I really dig the Besnard Lakes out of Montreal which I believe is who this pedal was made for in the beginning. The 76 combined with the Big Muff is an absolute must for Wall of Sound types like myself.

Just got it yesterday so early to tell, but appears solid high quality parts and construction.

So far Greg quick to respond interested in feedback of product.

Playing 30 years so I have wide range of tastes. Lately I been playing in a group writing tunes in a alt country / wall of noise style. The Formula 76 is the kind of sound that takes my current setup just that step over the edge. It's fun experimenting with the harmonic range of this unit. So if your a lover of Crazy Horse or Iron Butterfly like myself you'll know what fuzz of yesteryear should sound like....like the Lord himself puking through your amp. It's all personal taste and this pedal is staying!