~ Snow White Fuzz R and D Review thread ~

[Teahead]

Oh yeah, I got my favourite results at 18v with the fuzz and tone controls wide open. Increased voltage certainly helped to open the pedal up and enhance the differences and advantages it already exhibits over a standard fuzz face type pedal.

[scottcw]

Oh yeah, I got my favourite results at 18v with the fuzz and tone controls wide open. Increased voltage certainly helped to open the pedal up and enhance the differences and advantages it already exhibits over a standard fuzz face type pedal.

Is the SWF Bjorn's take on a Fuzz Face type?

[Teahead]

Is the SWF Bjorn's take on a Fuzz Face type?

Probably, make that almost certainly, not. Knowing Bjorn I would imagine it not to relate to a fuzz face at all in terms of circuitry. He had said it was designed to satisfy a need he himself had for a particular kind of fuzz sound, I'd say he needed something crunchy, articulate and somehow delicate and he got it too.

As a player of pedals, I can only relate something like the SWF to other fuzzes I've used and heard and the fuzz face came to mind when playing the SWF. In that respect it is input sensitive, much like a good fuzz face should be. There's also the fact that it has one sound with a tone control, so doesn't shift shape and change like the CAF and PPF would do at various points on the dial.

[Realfi]

First off, I have to say that hearing the crisp and rather delicate crunch of the Snow White Fuzz underfoot I immediately thought it to have a very apt name. Merely a whisper of change in playing touch translates to the gain and the pedal responds in a rather valve like fashion, which is rather unusual for a fuzz. SWF also has this dynamic, thickening quality to it which is something I've never heard from a fuzz and rather reminiscent of the HBOD from memory.

getting hard to wait!

[Donner]

... well you could say its the closest to a Fuzz Face hes come - what it IS is a vintage voiced dynamic fuzz with LED and normal ac tap - the more signal it gets the more dynamic range it has to dance within....
Humbuckers more fun than Singles - not unlike the HB

But it has this light nastiness that gives it more character and cuts thru better than the soft round fuzzes ..

Oh also this is the rare BJF that acts according to where its placed - it sounds different first than later ... ( the nastiness is rounded off if its not first )

as usual tasty and useful...

[Realfi]

Knock on my door this morning...get out of bed bleary eyed.

"Who's this idiot knocking on my door before 7am!!!"

Turns out it is a courier..."hang on wait, could it be? yes, it is-Snow White Fuzz delivery!"

(Mood quickly changes).

Thanks to Donner and Teahead for organising to get this one to me. I'll look forward to spending some time getting to know it.

[Donner]

Fuzz On Realfi !!!! let us know ...

[Realfi]

Well. So far I've spent a couple of hours at home with the Snow White Fuzz, my GVCG Lollar loaded Tele and my Swart AST.

With the Tele straight into the SWF into the AST with a bit of guitar tone roll-off and complimentary dark echo from the Replica I can get pseudo EJ sort of tones. Used drier and with a more upfront EQ I can get traditional smoothish fuzz tones with a hint of aggression too but so controllable. It's kinda like it has all the sweet stuff that a fuzz gives you on the top end that a distortion doesn't, but with the controlled low-end of a distortion and the cohesion of a good OD.

It is also so easy to dial in compared to say the '69 I used to have yet doesn't really lose that much in versatility except some of the rawer textures. It is very dynamic indeed transitioning from dirtier or cleaner shades of fuzz > overdrive rather than glitchy raspy tones along the way. The SWF really doesn't sound bad anywhere in the gain range or anywhere in the tone range-sweet spots all over the place!

BTW. With the Fuzz set low it is an AMAZING overdrive. The OD tones of the SWF got me thinking....Bjorn does this one owe it's lineage to any current/past BJF overdrive? If not, I actually think it would be amazing to create an overdrive based on this circuit/tone that offered a gain range from below "off" on the SWF to about 1/3 to 1/2 gain if that makes any sense? Maybe this sound is already covered by BJF pedals I'm not familiar with.

I look foward to hearing this one in a band setting through the London or AC30 cranked up a bit.

[Teahead]

Really glad it made it there safely! Not to mention that you're enjoying it so much already. I have to say, I didn't really "get" the SWF, until I put it through the AC30 at stage volumes. You're in for a treat there mate!

[Realfi]

Really glad it made it there safely! Not to mention that you're enjoying it so much already. I have to say, I didn't really "get" the SWF, until I put it through the AC30 at stage volumes. You're in for a treat there mate!

Thanks Teahead...yes it's a well travelled little box now isn't it!

I should mention that I did actually have my AST clipping a bit-not far off small club volume actually. Don't think the neighbours would have enjoyed the experience quite as much as me.

I really am looking forward to hearing the pedal in the band mix though.