So with thanks and a tip of the hat to GregAE, hieronymous and others who helped me in my quest for some fuzz…while I wait for the MF-107 to become reality I couldn’t take all this new NAMM gear talk lately and went out and picked up a Z.Vex Effects Fuzz Factory last night and have to say I’m very impressed. This little box is insane and fits so nicely in the space behind the Voyager when the panel is tilted up.
I put together a little sample as I was messing with the unit. Basically this “tune” is a drum loop and two tracks of Voyager. The first repeating “bass” part is Yammerer through the Fuzz Factory with the settings 11-3-7-12-7. The “lead” part is Yowsa Bass with the settings 11-3-7-3-7. I also have the right output of the Voyager looping back into the audio input and tweaked the patches ever so slightly in that regard to add a little more warmth. I “played” the touch pad with the lead and added a slight delay to the very end so it wouldn’t just cut off. I also added a slight amount of compression to the entire mix using the Mastering Chain effect rack in Ableton Live.
If you listen to those patches as they are in the Voyager and then listen to them through the Fuzz Factory it will (may) amaze you. I’m very pleased with it and to be clear, the settings I have used are VERY tame - this thing can go ape! Here is the link to the unit with a demo video.
If you are a pedal enthusiast, pick up a copy of ‘Guitar Effects Pedals - The Practical Handbook’. This book shows and describes nearly every guitar stompbox ever made, and has an interview section in the back of the book where the author talks to various pedal manufacturers, including Zachary Vex.
Like MoogerFooger pedals, Z.Vex pedals aren’t simply ‘me too’ copies of existing pedal designs. They’re meant to allow you to explore the extreme of sonic potential. The Fuzz Factory was the first Z.Vex pedal, and has been around for about ten years. Not a lot of music stores seem to carry them, so it’s hard to find a place to get a demo. Glad to hear you found one and are very happy with it. Congrats!
z. vex makes some good, quality stuff. Definitely more targetted at guitarist, though. I’ve always wanted to get a Woolly Mammoth. Bet that would sound badass in the Voyager’s filter loop!
Yea - I think hieronymous uses a Wooly Mammoth. The place I went had one and I considered getting it but it was like $129 more than the Fuzz Factory so I decided to go with it instead. The FF is said to be trebley and I would agree. I would like to hear the Wooly Mammoth though too - anyone out there incredibly rich and want to give it a shot?
I also use a ZVEX Fuzz Factory at times. It is alright. Honestly, I feel it is a bit tame. For more extreme types of fuzz, I use a Troubled Variance Noise Swash. The Metasonix TM-1 will kill a FF as well. But the small size and battery power of the ZVex makes it a kool little box the fits almost anywhere.
Looks like some of the effects (in the catalog) are built out of electrical boxes. Crazy. I like the samples though - some great grit and dirt coming out of those things.
That is, infact, my effect. It is the world’s first OmegaWave. Over the last 4 years, I have become quite good friends with Tom Pollock. In fact he just called me on Thursday, and we talked for about 90 minutes.
The OmegaWave is a monster of an effect. It has 4 hoove controls!!! (look close, on each corner is hoove) My Noise Swash has “almost” a matching paint job. The OmegaWave is a true stereo Alpha-Wave. 2 completely seperate circuits. (not even sharing a power supply!) Fot those in search of the ULTIMATE stereo noise box, something like the OmegaWave is super unique and scary sounding.
Unfortantalty, Troubled Variance is not producing the OmegaWave at this time for ordering. Mine has a clone. Tom made one for me, and one for him. (built at the exact same time) His has stomp switches, I opted for the table-top flip switches. (as seen in the pic) The color scheme is actually credited to my loving sister who has an art degree. The OmegaWave is a true labor of love. I believe VERY few poeple in the world even somewhat realize what actually went into getting that picture on Troubled Variance’s site.
Tom, if you happen to read this, I just want to wish you the best of luck in everything, and I’m sure we’ll talk soon. Keep on making NOISE!!! Peace.
