Tim Champion Fuzzar-o

This beautiful handmade orange unit measuring 4and1/2inches x 3and1/2 inches in size with a "led" light you can see from the moon is a mysterious and unique "fuzztone" type stomp unit that runs on a single 9V (or wall)that may be the only unit out there today that does what it does. And what does it do? It honks and squawks like a Canadian goose (in a beautifully "rounded" way)and makes the most subtle and (probably) sublime "soft" fuzz type sound you're likely to hear now-a-days. I want to be quick in adding that by using the word "soft" in describing this pedal is not to infer that it offers "soft-clipping" as say, an "overdrive" stomp or a "distortion" unit on a lower-than-max setting. This baby is in and of itself. It's fuzz but like a "rainy night on the river" kinda thang. Sweet man. Chocolate.... Cosmopolitan-like more than Atom bomb wipeout..... You get all of that with the turn of two knobs!

As above, this thing is impossible to use incorrectly. Allow yourself to slip on down into Tweakland for a minute or two and the fun never stops (and comes easy). Plus the fun is never interfered with. If you can turn two dealies with your finger or big toe, you are officially on your way. And yes, you can "go over the top" by cranking both knobs to 5PM but the true sugar is in rolling the knobs around below the clouds. This thing is so sweet on lower settings....

The unit is lightweight but sturdy. You can grind down onto in with impunity. As with all other units I get, I tried to break this thing. It's still here. And Tim's got some super sticky feet on the bottom of the unit so it ain't goin' anywhere, even if you stomp down on it from an angle in the heat of battle. Stick On!!!

The Man is at the other end of the phone! If he ain't there for a mo' that's cuz he's takin' the time to answer your email. And I don't think that cat (Tim Champion, if you don't know by now), ever takes a day off. This guy has emailed me on sunday night at 22:00. He's a nutcase! And he's up for anything. He put a Hissyfoot in a Dunlop Fuzzface shell for me no pro.... You want germ? You want silicon? He's there... The Fuzzaro (and others) are HIS designs and he has YOUR best interest in mind. So enjoy being in control of your own sound...

Now that I've got it, there's no way I'll go Fuzzaro-less. It's a unique unit that does a great job of giving character to YOU. It doesn't detract from you or blur your own characteristic signal that makes you, YOU. This is one of those pedals that actually allows you to have a say in your sound. Rare. Good. A "fuzz" that lays low and lets those notes come through clear but cool: fuzzed but not blurred. squawky like a Canadian goose on a fine winter's day but not distant and vague. Unless you're into Blow-up-the-Universe-Metal, this unit will find a place to roost on your stompboard. I'm supposed to say something bad about this pedal by the way, so I'll say, why wasn't it around in 1979 when I was starting out? It would have saved me a lot of cool cash trying to find this cool sound. You answer that one, Tim!

I don't think there's a bad sound in here. The "attack" control operates as a filter more than a standard gain or tone control. The fuzz level is pretty much dialed in at maximum all the time and the "level" provides a healthy boost from unity gain.

Even running it into a two-pronged amp (I know, BAD idea to leave it that way) with single coils, the pedal was dead silent in bypass and had a very low noise floor when I wasn't actually playing.

I would use it without a backup: it's solidly constructed. The board looks well soldered and I trust a Hammond enclosure any time.

I went to Tim's studio and met with him in person to make sure this was a good option for me. I cannot think of a better way to stand behind your product than that.

I play shoegazey, droney, psychedelic music.
I use a Classic Player Jaguar with AVRI pickups, a Rickenbacker 330 and an Epiphone Casino into a Magnatone Diana. For other dirt, I use a Red Llama clone and a ZVex Box of Rock. This pedal just pushed the Big Muff off the board. It's got the ability to clean up with the volume knob on my guitar and retain note definition in open-figure chords at high gain settings. It is pretty near the perfect fuzz for what I play.

This is the second product I've purchased from Champion, the first being his "HISSY FOOT". I found no problem getting very "rounded" tones from my strat, tele, LP and 60's Sear's Silvertone. I ran the trial through a friend's old Magnatone, my Bluesbreaker and Fender Tonemaster.

The Fuzzar-o was a bit noisy when "wound out", everything on 10. This thing cleans up with a breath on the volume knob of your favorite slab of dead wood. I run a Boss tuner-Dunlop Hendrix Wah-Fuzzar-o-Rocktron Tsunami Chorus-ModTone Atomic Phaser-EHX Stereo Electric Mistress-MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay-BBE Sonic Stomp to usually and exclusively a Marshall...and all the pedals play well together. The Fuzzar-o stays on 24/8 and pushes the train down the line.

I've never had a problem with Tim's stuff. I played a gig after receiving the HISSYFOOT and during the show a beer was spilled upon it, I was hot but thank God it was a Beck's and the pedal made it through albeit a tad sticky!!! His stuff looks like it's made to last.

Champion is very easy to getta' hold to, and will work with what ever comes in to mind as far as mods go to his works.

I play mostly classic rock, but sometimes fill in by playing country, metal and blues. I've been playing for 25 + years and the Fuzzar-o can adapt to all the above music genres. Again I can't reiterate how easy this thing cleans up. The only color his pedals come in for me are UT VOLUNTEER orange. Tim's created another beast from the netherworld that no one can tame and barely control!!!

You can't get a bad sound out of this thing.
Two knobs, kind of a no brainer. Attack (Fuzz) & level.
If you need a manual you're probably playing the wrong instrument.

One of the best "Tone Bender" type fuzz boxes I've heard.
Grab a Tele and a small tube amp and you've got Page's tone on the 1st Zeppelin album.
With a little bit of amp gain in front, Townshends "Live at Leeds" solo tone.
Smooth & warm with plenty of bite without being harsh.
I'm using it with:
A '52 reissue Tele, vintage SG Special (P-90's), '79 Les Paul Custom, Vox AC-30, Fender Pro Junior and an Orange Tiny Terror.

Seems to be built like tank.

Tim's a great guy who's totally willing to help you get the tone you're looking for. I played two that sounded a little different, and he offered to tweak mine if I decided later that I liked the other one better.
I'm very happy with the one I've got.

I've been playing for over 25 years & I've played a lot of fuzz pedals, and if you're really trying to dial in that classic Tone Bender sound this is definitely a great choice. I've played a BSM Fuzzbender, Colorsound Tone Bender reissue, a Fulltone Soul Bender and although I think they all sound really good for certain things, this is now my fuzz of choice.
I play my own original music which is definitely heavily influenced by British rock from the '60's & '70's.
I would definitely get another one if some thieving magpie stole mine!

Two knobs - Level and Attack. Set both at 12 o'clock and you are in business. Twiddle as you please, sounds great in any setting.

Based on the Tone Bender pedal used by some guys named Jeff and Jimmy back when, but with less noise and more clarity. Doesn't sound anything like any pedal I've ever heard. It is heavy, but not in a high-gain, metal sort of way. It's big - fill the room, spill into the street big, and run the garbage truck into the ditch sort of big. Responds exceptionally well to pick attack like a great amp (like a Marshall 18 watt for example). So you sound like you, not everybody else. However, it's not trying to be a Marshall stack, or a Boogie, or sound like any other amp for that matter. Very musical, playable, almost soft distortion, but with a forward sound (yes, that is a contradiction). You have to hear it...

It has NOS germanium transistors and is point-to-point wired by hand. Heavy-duty box, switches, knobs, etc.

Have an issue? Call Tim on the phone. His boxes can be tweaked by changing the transistors and resistors, so if there is a particular sound you are looking for, he can probably get you there.

Not great for smooth jazz or bossa nova. Have to say the same for polka. But if you want to rock out, this pedal goes to 11.