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The Boss FZ-5 Fuzz is a
fuzz pedal that calls upon a retro sound, yet it's built
as a modern day pedal for the modern guitarist. Through BOSS's
state-of-the-art COSM technology, the FZ-5 recreates vintage
fuzz tones that take you back to the great guitar sounds
of the '60s and '70s. Think along the lines of Jimi Hendrix,
Pete Townshend of The Who, Eric Clapton during the Cream
era, and Keith Richards riffing on "Satisfaction".
Using the MODE knob, you can start with vintage classics
such as the Maestro FZ-1A, Octavia, and Fuzz Face, and then
notch things further into overdrive with the FZ-5's Boost
knob. You recreate classic fuzz thanks to BOSS' proprietary
COSM technology, and the BOOST control lets you dial in a
more aggressive tone to your taste. The FZ-5 is a cool tool
to try to achieve that classic retro fuzz.
Controls on the unit include Pedal On/Off switch, LEVEL
knob, FUZZ knob, and MODE knob. There's a CHECK indicator
(serves also as battery check indicator). And the connectors
are: INPUT jack, OUTPUT jack, AC adaptor jack (DC 9 V).
Boss FZ-5 Fuzz Review
All Boss pedals, including the FZ-5 Fuzz, are very easy
to use and simple to get started. With the MODE knob, the
FZ-5 allows you to dial-in models of three different classic
fuzz-tone effects pedals: the Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face, the
Maestro FZ-1A and the Octivia Fuzz. These give you great
starting points when you're searching for a certain fuzz
sound, or just trying to find inspiration for an original
riff you're working on.
The Fuzz Face setting is probably the most usable of the
three MODEs. The Octavia setting is a bit on the synthetic
sounding side, and Maestro is somewhat hollow and thin,
yet I can imagine where it might be useful on the right
songs. It all depends on what tone you're after, so with
some experimentation you may find uses for any or all of
the MODE settings. Just take your time and play around with
them.
The FUZZ knob definitely adds aggression to the tone, but
use some caution with it. A little can go a long way and
it can get out of hand if you add too much. If so, just dial
it back.
And as always, you can rely on BOSS' road-ready metal construction.
Their pedals are rugged and can take a beating and keep on
rocking. They seem to be built to last many years to come.
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