I really, really, really like fuzz. There are so many different aspects you can throw into a fuzz pedal, and almost none of them sound alike…unless you’re trying to make them sound like another pedal, a classic maybe, then they certainly can. But, for the most part, fuzzes are unique and extraordinary, and can be some of the funnest pedals as well. Today’s fuzz comes to us from Arkansas, and the boys and girls from Taurus Pedals: the Pi Fuzz.
The simplicity of the layout and stunning blue graphics suck you in right away. No fuss, no muss, kick-ass guitar pedal is what you’re getting here. Set the knobs to 12:00 and plug it in! The Sustain on the Pi is incredible, it just soars and keeps on soaring for days. Chords and individual notes ring out forever, becoming a new sonic entity, repeating continuously into an almost self-oscillating pattern when cranked. Big range here as well, from a slight distorted fuzz tone to full-on buzzsawville.
The Tone control is wide-ranging as well, sweeping the frequency chart with reckless abandon. The lower end conjures up Tony Iommi at his Sabbath best, while turning the knob up gets into killer 70’s classic rock territory, as well as punk, grunge and stoner metal to boot. A simple but powerful Volume knob round out the easy setup, blasting your amp’s sound through the airwaves on it’s deadly and destructive sonic pathway. The fun here comes in taking these 3 controls and doing a bunch of mixing and matching with them – I haven’t seen many fuzz pedals that can keep it this interesting on a consistent basis, and have such a vast soundscape of different sonic properties. The Pi really plays well with humbuckers and single-coils, too, making it a great tool for any pedalboard.
The fine folks at Taurus Pedals were kind enough to send this little blue monster over to let me give it a test drive, and I’d like to thank them once again for the opportunity. The Pi is a no-nonsense fuzz pedal, for sure, but with plenty of options, tons of range and sustain that will knock you out. Don’t forget to check out their website and see what other killer gear they’ve got – I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Submitted by Mike B, Website
