Buzzaround

The fuzz of Robert Fripp and reportedly, sometimes, Jimmy Page, this fuzz sounds surprisingly modern and covers a good bit of sonic territory. Here's the best YouTube video I've found on the vintage pedal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZViQ2H-5s4

The first knob, Sustain, attenuates the signal between the second and third Germanium transistors. Low gain and volume backed off, it doesn't really work due to an inherent gated quality. It's off to uselessly gated and jumps to fuzz territory immediately. Careful balance of guitar volume and sustain can get you a little bit of that backed off Fuzz Face cleanup, but not much and not use-ably.

The Timbre control is a tone control of sorts. It blends between a normal and a tiny output capacitor. The tiny, thin, very Germanium-sounding end of the spectrum is very quiet where the robust, normal-ish end is full and much louder. This is where the Balance control comes in.

Balance attenuates the output signal and truly allows you to balance the Buzzaround's output signal no matter where you are on the Timbre spectrum.

My Buzzaround Build - Note Toggle Switch to Engage LED

I build mine for the true old school experience, with no external power source. I also allow for longer battery life with a switch to disengage the LED for home use. In live situations I engage the LED for that confident feeling that my next clean chord won't be fuzzy or vice versa. Long battery life and modern stage functionality!

Internal Shot of an Early Build

The Buzzaround is my current favorite fuzz for live work if I'm only bringing one. It's great for thin, psychedelic lines and girthsome fuzz or stoner rock riffage. Here's part of a vid of my band covering Red with a Firebird, bridge pickup, untapped through just the Buzzaround into a homebrew 5E5 with a solid state rectifier through a 4x12 cab. Amy's Thunderbird is going through a Bass Muff into a Mesa rig.

This fuzz covers a lot of sonic ground from 60's psych to now heavy rock. The controls are interactive and odd but very useful.