A Must-Read for Beginners! Some Great Options for Fuzz

Introduction

To all guitarists across the country—are you stepping on fuzz?
Some of you might be thinking, “What even is fuzz?”
So, let me take this opportunity to share with you the greatness of fuzz.

What Is Fuzz?

Fuzz is a type of distortion effect pedal that actually predates overdrive and distortion. There are various theories about its origin, but it’s widely believed that fuzz was created to replicate the sound of broken or malfunctioning recording equipment. True to those origins, fuzz delivers a powerful sustain that seems to go on forever, along with extremely amplified overtones pushed to their limits.
You might be thinking, “Who would want to use the sound of broken gear?”
But you’ve probably heard fuzz tones without even realizing it, and maybe even been drawn to them.
Here are two famous examples to illustrate that.

How to Use Fuzz #1: Solos

The first type of usage is for single-note solos. With the fuzz pedal’s signature long sustain, you can stretch a single note to its limits, allowing for greater dynamic expression and melodic development. When pushed even further, this extended sustain can cause your guitar and amp to go into natural feedback, creating wild, screaming overtones that sound like the note is flipping inside out.
Classic songs that showcase this technique include: "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix and "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

reference video:

How to Use Fuzz #2: Intros

The second use is to grab the audience’s attention by intentionally using fuzz in the intro. In this context, fuzz acts as a kind of musical “disruptor” by creating sonically broken or unexpected tones. By incorporating sounds the audience isn't used to hearing, you can create a striking and memorable intro.
One specific type of fuzz used for this is the gated fuzz. Unlike traditional fuzz pedals that provide long sustain, gated fuzz pedals cut off the sound abruptly after a short duration, giving a choppy, glitchy character. By deliberately using such unique textures in a song’s opening, you can make a bold impression on listeners.
Famous examples include: "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones and "Breakout Junkie Bluesman" by Suspended 4th.

reference video:

To summarize

As you’ve probably seen, fuzz isn’t just a primitive distortion pedal that makes broken sounds. It’s a captivating tool capable of producing tones that truly draw people in. Whether it's soaring, expressive sustain for solos or glitchy, attention-grabbing sounds for intros, fuzz has a unique charm unlike any other effect.
Why not take the plunge and start your own fuzz journey? With great deals available at places like Sound House, there’s never been a better time to get your hands on one.
To close things, here are two recommended fuzz pedals that are each suited for the two techniques we discussed:
For solos (long sustain & harmonics)
→ Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi – Classic, creamy sustain and rich harmonics.
For intros (gated, broken sounds)
→ ZVEX Fuzz Factory – Highly tweakable with gated fuzz options and wild, unpredictable tones.

1. ELECTRO-HARMONIX / BIG MUFF PI — ¥14,800 (tax included)

First up is the ever-popular Big Muff. This magical pedal delivers insane sustain and volume with just a single stomp. It’s perfect for the solo-style single-note phrases we discussed earlier!
Whether you use it on its own as a lead fuzz or combine it with an overdrive for a permanently-on distortion pedal, the Big Muff is versatile enough for many different applications beyond what I talked about here.

2. ZVEX / Vexter Fuzz Factory — ¥29,800 (tax included)

Second is the Fuzz Factory. With five knobs to master, it covers everything from the gated, sputtering fuzz tones we talked about for intros, to long, open sustain fuzz.
It’s a powerful unit that, with some practice, even lets you manipulate the knobs in real time while playing dramatic tone shifts on the fly.