Any dirt pedal that adds in a Mid control to the EQ section is a plus and a winner in my book, and when it’s on a fuzz pedal, that just makes my day. The addition of this control seems to really open up the sonic possibilities immensely, and make for a much broader range of tones to play around with. Add to that some nice clipping options and a warm, fuzzy sound, and I’m in fuzzerated heaven. These words describe today’s pedal perfectly, so let’s check out the Apollo Deluxe Fuzz from Sunset Effects, shall we?
On first plugging into and engaging the Apollo Deluxe, I noticed it was a really warm, rich fuzz sound, and as my test went along, I found that it pretty much stayed that way, even when both the Fuzz and Tone knobs were cranked up high. There’s a nice range in both of these knobs, for sure: the Tone can get nice and low, even a bit sludgy, especially when mixed with the Mid control, and the Fuzz knob has a spectrum that can go from slightly overdriven to a beefy, buzzsaw-type fuzz, but without all the harsh, ear-piercing noise that sometime accompanies fuzz pedals (not that that doesn’t have an awesome place in the world of music, it’s just not the case with the Apollo).
There’s a clipping diode switch up top here as well, which toggles back and forth between Silicon and LED options, creating a well-rounded batch of options for dialing in all the fuzzy glory your amp and ears can handle. Since the Apollo is based on the Green Russian Muff Fuzz, it uses BC549c transistors, which really match up well with the sonic values of the original, and make this pedal an affordable option for that sweet Soviet sound. Mix this with the fatter EQ section and the big range of the Fuzz control, and you’ve got a great-sounding pedal that’s easy to use and fun as hell to experiment with! Sunset Effects is a small-ish company based out of Jacksonville, FL, and are building their pedal line up to bring us all some powerful gear. Make sure you go check out their website and see what other rad pedals are waiting for you!
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
