Switchblade

One circuit. Four transistor combinations. A whole lot of fuzz.

The new BigRockFX Hybrid Fuzz takes the legendary two-transistor Fuzz Face design and gives you the ability to completely change its character at the flick of a switch.

At its heart is a traditional Fuzz Face-style circuit, but instead of being locked into either germanium or silicon, two mini switches allow you to select the transistor type for each gain stage independently.

Run it all germanium for warm, smooth, organic fuzz and classic guitar-volume cleanup.

Switch to all silicon for more gain, sustain, attack and aggression.

Or mix the two for the best of both worlds — combining the softer, more organic character of germanium with the clarity and punch of silicon.

That gives you four different transistor configurations to explore, each with its own character.

The external BIAS control takes things even further. Dial it in for smooth, balanced sustain, or push it into rougher, gated and spluttering territory. It's also particularly useful when using germanium transistors, whose operating characteristics can shift with temperature.

BUILT THE OLD WAY

Like every BigRockFX pedal, this isn't built on a production line.

Each Hybrid Fuzz is hand-built and hand-wired, one pedal at a time, using a traditional turret board construction. Carefully selected components, including NOS and vintage-spec parts, are chosen for each build, while the transistors are individually tested and selected to work properly within the circuit.

No surface-mount boards.
No mass production.
No factory assembly line.

Just a classic circuit, quality components and a lot of hands-on work.

CONTROLS

VOLUME — Sets the overall output level.

FUZZ — Controls the amount of gain and saturation.

BIAS — Adjusts the operating point of the circuit, from smooth and sustaining to raw, gated and spluttering fuzz.

MINI SWITCH 1 — Selects Germanium or Silicon for the first transistor stage.

MINI SWITCH 2 — Selects Germanium or Silicon for the second transistor stage.

With both switches, you can explore:

• Germanium + Germanium — Warm, smooth and organic.
• Silicon + Silicon — Brighter, more aggressive and sustaining.
• Germanium + Silicon — Vintage character with extra punch and clarity.
• Silicon + Germanium — A different hybrid response with its own feel and texture.

A classic fuzz circuit — but with considerably more to explore.

Built by hand. One pedal at a time.