Stereoscope Fuzz IV Review

[Rubyguitaist]

I know there are a million dirt boxes out there and the opinions on them are about as subjective as they can be. But I wanted to share my thoughts on this cool pedal from Scott Hodgson and his Stereoscope brand from Montreal Canada. This is a GREAT boutique hand-made fuzz pedal that you can get for less than $100.00 including shipping.

Very simple to use. Anyone with experience with fuzz pedals will know exactly how to get the sound they want. Three knobs: Level - Adjusts the gain of the effect. Plenty of extra oomph here if needed. Worth mentioning, there is also an internal gain adjustment if needed. Mine was shipped to me set at maximum gain and I doubt I will adjust it. But this is still a nice feature to have. Tone - Adjusts the amount of high end that passes through the circuit. Attack - Adjusts the amount of fuzz but also the decay and ultimately the sustain of the effect.

I tested this unit with my Reverend Slingshot Custom (3 P-90s, very good for this kind of test because I can toggle between single coils and by setting it to the "two" and "four" position I get the effect of a humbucker) run through my Kustom WAV 212 (130W Solid State) set on the Clean channel with a touch of reverb. This pedal sounds AMAZING. The controls are very flexible and offer a nice variety of tones. As stated earlier, the Level setting is pretty straightforward. The Tone control is VERY wide ranging. Turning it clockwise reduces the amount of treble (I would call it "sear") and will go from mosquito-like sizzle to smooth, synthy and sweet. It does not however add any additional low end to the signal, but the filtering gives that impression. The Attack control is where this pedal really shines. Maxed out, the Fuzz IV will TRULY give you "sustain for days". I was amazed. Even with the Attack set at about 3 o'clock you still get tons of sustain and I should also note that it is only when this setting is dimed that you get any noise from this pedal. It is remarkably quiet with humbuckers. Single coils will definately add some noise. However what you gain is an amazing tone that gradually sweeps into some of the coolest feedback with complex harmonics and after playing with if for a while you can learn how to control it into doing some very bizarre and trippy things. In single coil mode it will start to modulate and crackle a bit, but in HB mode it just sings. I can easily get these sounds with the volume on my amp set at bedroom levels so I'm sure it can deliver even more at gig volumes. I should point out that the only other fuzz pedal I have in my arsenal is the controversial Sustain Punch Creamy Dreamer, of which many have said is simply a Big Muff Clone. I happen to like mine and will continue to use it for that one "GIGANTIC" tone that sets it apart, but all in all the Stereoscope Fuzz IV completely blows it away in terms of verstatility and coolness. And at less than $100 US it is a GREAT VALUE!

Seems to be very well built. This is a rather unique and funky looking pedal. A square-ish steel box with access screws on opposing sides. It's got that hand made look to it, with a sprayed on dark grey hammered metal look paint job with decals cut out laid pasted onto the unit before the final clear coat (the same look I've seen on the Pharaoh brand pedals). The controls are small black Bakelite knobs that give it a very retro look. Adding to that are what I can only say are the LARGEST rubber feet (off-white) I have ever seen on a stomp box! they look more like something that would go on the bottom of an amp. A weird look, but cool nontheless. I didn't buy this for it's looks, but it's quirky and unusual and step above the "unpainted Hammond box with scribbles from a Sharpie" look. But it does not have a mass produced look either. The inside is very well put together with clean soldered heavy gauge hard wires and a nice plastic battery compartment that you simply push the battery into with no flimsy "snap on" connector. Nice quality switch and jacks as well. True bypass switching so it will go on my pedalboard for sure. I would not worry about it but would bring my other fuzz as a back-up.

Scott is a great guy. Very professional and prompt in his email responses. He accepts paypal but you will have to email him for an invoice. There is no shopping cart on his website. He sent me the invoice, I apid for the item and he shipped it out the next day and sent me an email with a tracking number. It took about a week for the pedal to be shipped to me here in Connecticut from Montreal. A simple and hassle-free buying experience with no drama. That's all you can ask. His customer service is first rate!

I play experimental and psychedelic rock and dreampop styles of music in my band Blood Ruby. I've been playing for over 20 years and have about two dozens pedals that I use in variation, everything from vintage to mass produced to boutique. I own about 10 guitars and 3 basses and have a complete recording studio in my home. I can't say enough about what a great pedal and what a great BARGAIN these are. I can't think of anything else I wish it had or did. Just a great, cool, affordible pedal that will give you all the fuzz you can handle. It is really fun to play through this thing and it inspires. Goos stuff! Get one before he raises his prices!!!

One more comment... As is often the case, the sound samples on the website do not do this pedal justice.

http://www.stereoscope.ca/fuzz.shtml

[viedub]

im from montreal and never heard of this before...
oh yeah, sell me youre creamy dreamer ??

[philadrone]

I agree with most of the things Rubyguitaist said.
I bought a Fuzz IV last month, fast shipping to ny. I have a SolaSound Tonebender reissue, the Fuzz IV is a different sounding fuzz but it is just as quiet and has as good sound quallity for half the price.
The sound files on the website do suck, they don't do it any justice.

[moogrock79]

ive got one of these coming to me...i cant wait!! anybody else tried it?