Zvex Custom Fuzz Probe Pedal
Zvex Custom Shop Fuzz Probe Pedal
The
Fuzz Probe is a kind of cross
between a theremin and a fuzz factory. There is a 3 5/8"
copper plate mounted on a chunk of 3/8" clear acrylic that passes
over the top of the pedal housing, angles down to sharp turn, and
goes back to the pedal. Under the whole mess is a 3 5/8" by 7" sheet
of aluminum that provides shielding from annoying ground effects and
wires under the stage. It also serves to protect the knobs from being
knocked off if you drop it on them... and it makes a nice toe chopper
if you are barefoot, so (legal disclaimer:)
What
does this pedal do? How does one
get it to do something interesting? Already, it should be apparent
that this is the most dangerous pedal I have every made. Ow! The
copper antenna projects a field of RF energy that is affected by your
foot (or other appendage), altering the circuit that generates it, an
in so doing, increasing the brightness of that LED on the top of the pedal
and also controlling the STABILITY (STAB) knob on the back. I could
have made it just control that LED, I mean, that's enough for some
people, but nooo, I went and connected it to the stability knob too.
This lets you select your favorite squealy fuzz factory setting (doesn't
the band love that?) and then mess around with the STAB knob with
your foot and create little melodies and interference modulations with
your guitar (doesn't the band love that even more?). Well now. That's
a fine question. Let's say you set the knobs (face them straight on
to do this) to vol=9 o'clock, gate=7 o'clock, comp=10 o'clock, drive=noon,
and stab=7 o'clock. By the way, to get the widest range for the
probe control, be sure to leave the stab knob on 7 o'clock. THE PROBE
ADJUSTS THE STAB KNOB FROM WHEREVER IT IS SET, UPWARDS TOWARD THE MOST
CLOCKWISE POSITION AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE ANTENNA. It you set the
stab knob more clockwise, say, to select a favorite pitch to start from,
the probe will let you raise that pitch up to the top as you get closer.
If you put the stab knob at the top, at 5 o'clock, all the way up,
the probe will do NOTHING. That's cause it is made to adjust that knob
from WHEREVER IT IS SET to the TOP, and if it is already at the top,
then no adjustment takes place. Get it? No? Well, just set the STAB
somewhere lower than all the way up, preferably all the way down, and
don't bug Zvex about it.
