Get fuzzy with the new FEA Labs Photon Fuzz pedal, which takes its name from an active component in the circuit that uses infrared light to control the fuzz distortion element. According to the manufacturer, the comprehensive control set (Drive, Bite, Level, and so forth) provides full control over the tone and makes it possible to dial in just about anything, from classic to modern metal fuzz.

The pedal's Drive and Bite controls work in tandem on the guitar or bass signal to define the character of the fuzz tone. Drive sets the overall gain stage for the distorted signal, which is then driven into the Bite stage of the circuit. Likewise, the Bite control sets the activation point where the fuzz distortion engages upon or "bites into" the signal. The Level control adjusts the overall output level of the distorted signal.

Along with those controls, the Photon Fuzz sports 3-band EQ, which is an active two-stage boost / cut design with the mid band circuit separated from the low and high level circuits. This two-stage design prevents the low and high band circuits from interacting with the mid center frequency and its level. The EQ circuit sits in the signal path after the distorted signal and each frequency band can be adjusted to a boost / cut of +/- 15 dB for generous tone shaping capability. A pre-fuzz highpass filter can be set using internal DIP switches, in turn reducing the low frequencies being processed through the fuzz circuit.

The unit's Dry Blend control does what it says it will, and adds dry (unprocessed) signal, blended with the distorted signal. According to FEA Labs, Dry Blend is beneficial when used with a bass guitar to preserve the full and natural low-end tone of the instrument; it can also add tonal diversity to a guitar as well. The dry signal path can also be configured using internal DIP switches to set a lowpass filter so that the higher frequencies and harmonics are removed from the dry tone, FEA Labs says.

The octave distortion (full wave asymmetric rectifier) stage can be engaged using the additional octave footswitch. The octave circuit sits after the fuzz and EQ stages, and the control adjusts the amount of the octave affect to apply to the overall fuzz tone. As with the dry tone, internal DIP switches can be set to apply a lowpass filter, which is a useful way to tame some of the high frequency artifacts that this octave distortion method may generate.

Photon Fuzz features at a glance:

• Small footprint design: 4.5" by 3.5"
• Activation footswitch (stomp switch) with true bypass when the pedal is not active
• Octave footswitch (stomp switch) to activate the octave distortion feature
• Drive, Bite, and Level controls to shape the fuzz tone
• 3-Band active EQ for additional tone shaping
• Dry Blend control with configurable lowpass filter
• Octave distortion control with configurable lowpass filters
• Pre-fuzz highpass filter settings of 55 Hz, 110 Hz, or 220 Hz
• Dry blend lowpass filter settings of full band (off), 160 Hz, or 1,600 Hz
• Octave distortion lowpass filter settings of full band (off), 500 Hz, or 4,000 Hz

The FEA Labs Photon Fuzz is now shipping for the introductory price of $195 (MSRP). For more information, please visit fealabs.com.