Last month, we were privileged to review and demo the B-312 Freakshow Fuzz, a Silicon-based fuzz effect from our friends at Big Joe Stomp Box Company. Today, we’re going to check out its counterpart, the B-313, which is a Germanium version of the pedal. With this one being a bit warmer, without quite as much gain and bite, both pedals offer distinctly fuzzy flavors and sounds for any fuzz enthusiast to enjoy.
The B-313 Germanium Freakshow Fuzz features the same control parameters as the Silicon version, but with some slight differences in the circuitry. Tone, Fuzz and Output control adorn the top row of the parameters, offering up just what you need to get an excellent base fuzz sound with ease. Also present are external Bias and Trim controls, offering flexibility with symmetry, gain structure, and clipping. There’s even a selectable input impedance Buffer circuit, offering a brighter sound, but also helping to remove high-end roll off and oscillation that can occur when the Fuzz is not placed first in the signal chain.
Where the Silicon model of the Freakshow Fuzz features a more modern, brighter sound, the Germanium unit is highly responsive, fat sounding, and harmonically-rich, and features two 60’s NOS matched transistors. You can easily nail all of the vintage-style fuzzed out fun you’ve been searching for, with rich, fat and creamy fuzz tones for days. Add in the Temp control (not available on the Silicon version), which allows the user to re-adjust the germanium transistors depending on varying temperature conditions, so that the transistors are reacting as they should, and you’ve got one complete and tasty fuzz.
Built like a tank, as all Big Joe pedals are, there’s no chance of this thing getting broken by even the heaviest of stompers, and will be a reliable asset to your pedalboard for years to come. Cheers once more to the Big Joe Stomp Box crew for two killer pedals, both with similar layouts but each with their own personal flavor and fury. Check out their website for an extensive lineup of effects to check out, and don’t forget to watch our demo of the B-313 Germanium Freakshow Fuzz below!
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