Gimmie a one-knob pedal with maybe one toggle switch, and I’m usually pretty happy. No exception here, as we’re going to take a look at a small company (they don’t even have a website yet) with a great name, American Wizard Toneworks, and their flagship pedal, the Hive Fuzz.
As soon as I clicked the bypass switch, my guitar came alive and my amp started yelling at me, in a great way. With only one knob to worry about, I could take my time and figure out all the nuances of a one-knob fuzz, while adding in the secret option once in a while. The only other control here is a lone toggle switch, which, according to the mysterious AWT, goes between a Vintage and a Modern sound. The Vintage side is a little warmer, has a bit more low-end and gives off a bit more of the sludge/doom sound, but in a good Sabbath kind of way. The Modern section is a little brighter, a little louder and a bit higher on the Treble side, but sounds fantastic as well.
When you have only one real dial to shape the overall tone of a pedal, each little increment of turning can result in a new universe of sonic exploration, and that’s exactly what happens here with the Hive Fuzz. Plus, the solo control acts as a volume and gain control, so it’s a 2-in-1 kind of knob. Love what the guys at American Wizard Toneworks are doing, and I really dig the simplicity and sonic prowess of the Hive – here’s hoping they spring for a website and start making more pedals soon for us all to enjoy!
Submitted by Mike B, Website
Demo Rock pedalboard by West Coast Pedalboard
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