Zvex Fuzz Factory User Manual

TYPE: Hand Painted Series [HP] | MODEL: FUZZ FACTORY™

Congratulations! You’re the proud owner of a hand painted Z.Vex Eects Fuzz Factory!™

OVERVIEW

This is a ve-knob fuzz using two new old-stock sixties
germanium transistors. The circuit is not modeled after any
classic fuzz design, but should have been around when
Leary was still lucid. Although the ve knobs are named
for the parameters over which they seem to have the most
control, please don’t hold me to it. They are controls for vari­ous operating levels and biases, and basically shape you a
personalized fuzz.

THE CONTROLS

VOLUME:

COMPRESS:

Output level.

GATE:

Squelches noise after end of sustain. Turn to right to elimi­nate squeals, hiss and buzz, stopping just as they disappear,
or use to tune in exact feedback pitch, if you’re that kind.
Turning to left opens gate.

Adds attack characteristic when turned to left, which gets
softer to right, and suddenly pinches tone when all the way
right. Also use to tune in fat feedback fuzz, if you’re that kind.
Lower the Stability and see what happens to this control.

ARTINESS

All Z. Vex pedals are hand painted and hand assembled,
and each is unique. They are produced in small batches by
umm, elves.

EXAMPLE SETTINGS

(These use “o’clock” notation — not spinal tap 1 to 11)

Hi compression fuzz:
Vol 10:00 | Gate 3:00 | Comp 9:00 | Drive 5:00 | Stab 5:00

Velcro fuzz:
Vol 10:00 | Gate 7:00 | Comp 5:00 | Drive 5:00 | Stab 2:00

Cleanish hi octave intermodulation:
Vol 10:00 | Gate 2-3:00 | Comp 7:00 | Drive 7:00 | Stab 5:00

Smooth fuzz:
Vol 10:00 | Gate 7:00 | Comp 3:00 | Drive 5:00 | Stab 5:00
(lower Stab is more mellow)

Radio fuzz:
Vol 10:00 | Gate 7:00 | Comp 10:00 | Drive 12:00 | Stab:
Lower from fully clockwise while playing open ‘A’ with left hand.
Stop at most interesting tone.

DRIVE:

Increases distortion when used as a “normal” fuzzm and
adjusts feedback pitch and tonal thickness, if you’re that
kind. This control becomes meaningless when Compress is
all the way right.

Use all the way right. Do not adjust this control below 2:00,

STAB:

unless you like your fuzz soft and squishy. Use to control
feedback pitch.

WARNING

Many ‘incorrect’ settings on this pedal squeal. This may
annoy the faint-hearted. If you use the example settings,
you won’t get hurt. I don’t want to see anyone hurt. Unless
you’re that kind. Don’t forget to memorize or write down
your favorite settings.

GREENNESS

Yes, folks, like all Z.Vex pedals, it’s as low current as pos­sible, extending battery life so long... I have never changed
the battery in the prototype (3 years). ‘On’ current is less
than 3 mA... compare to the Tube Screamer (of course an

entirely dierent animal) at almost 40 mA.

WARRANTY & SERVICE

Your hand painted Fuzz Factory™ has a lifetime warranty.
Please visit http://zvex.com/website/repairs.html for any
repair questions or more information.

Enjoy!

P.O. Box 16078 | Minneapolis, MN 55416

www.zvex.com | [e-mail] | [e-mail]

Last Updated: August 2014