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Batfuzz

Jacques Charbit — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:48:49 +0000

CHAPTER 1 : Who do you think you are ?
You can disagree, but to my point of view METAL was born with Deep Purple LP « Who do we think we are ». Never before –hey, another hit– I have heard such a music description of what was the trend in 1973, gothic. The climax of this beloved fashion was the « Dracula ’73 » movie , featuring a vampire rock group in a not-anymore-swinging London middle class party. Just imagine what can do the « Rat Bat Blue » riff to young teenage ears, more used to wishy-washy middle-of-the-road then joyfully broadcast in every bell-bottoms pants joint.

CHAPTER 2 : From Muff to Zone
Apparently, I was not the only one to love this tone and that could not afford modded Marshall Major stacks. So my fellows pedal builders seized their soldering irons and came up with gems still in use today, with fortitude. The last, but certainly not least, the metal zone , seemed to close the debate with an ultimate ultra-heavy tone that instantly makes you serious matter for the small town girl attending your rehearsal gig.

MGMT Andrew VanWyngarden and his BatFuzz

CHAPTER 3 : Enter Frogman
All this money , what do you think? Thus came the nu metal band , so uniformized they even their mothers had problems sorting them. They try everything to get exposure : make ups–that was not new—, silly names , masks, stupid monikers, ugly +++ haircuts, no hair, dirty shirts, no shirts (some even had ALL this together in one band ! )etc.. everything but TALENT and TONE. And just when you get hints to recognize them , they just disappear without any trace.Then a hot newcomer takes its place, and so on.
Don’t you think it’s time ( PUT THE NAME OF YOUR BAND HERE ) changes this for good ?

CHAPTER 4 : Back in Jacques
This is where I put the fun back into it. Do you remember the joyful hours spent with your new first fuzz pedal ? All the excitement is back , thanks to the wonderful BATFUZZ. We stuffed the pedal with every tone you can expect to become a metal star.
Technically speaking , here is how we made this possible.

DOUBLE HI-GAIN DISTORTION CIRCUIT
– First circuit is modelled on classic ’70s metal distortion modded Marshall amps type. This circuit is only adjustable with the LEVEL and FUZZ knobs.
– Second circuit is an extended ultra high-gain modern distortion , with adjustable low end — WINGS –, mid boost — FANGS– and treble bite — RADAR. This dangerous circuit shares with the ’70s the LEVEL and FUZZ knobs.
-An unique MIX knob let you MIX & MORPH the 2 circuits for an incredible array of tones from past to future metal.

ULTRA PRECISE ACTIVE EQ

All the secrets of a good metal tone lies in precise equalization. This is why the 3 actives controls are fully effective in ALL positions, thus allowing a perfect taylored tone with any guitar/amp couple

Neil Taylor BatFuzz he used in ‘Rock DJ’

CHAPTER 5 : Tinitus
Here are the settings used in the soundclips page :

Ok, maybe she’s in her forties now, but it’s not too late to impress the girl next door.

This preset makes you save $1500 and the drag to tune an extra string.

This preset makes you save $100 and a pedal space on your rack.

This preset makes you save $50 and 2 hours at a romantic restaurant.

Even your best friends won’t recognize you with that ugly haircut, tattooes and piercing–unless you put your glasses back on.

« Ich glotz TV!!! » —Nina Hagen first LP tone

This only because it’s too loud and will destroy your hearing. Nothing to do with « Elisa ».Really.

Yes, this preset is yours .You can write your own settings directly on your computer screen, or carve it with a strong knife.

Here is a video presenting the Batfuzz !

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Fuseblower

Jacques Charbit — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:43:05 +0000

Usually, there is a chinese wall between boutique pedals makers and mass stompbox producers. A constant war featuring superior taylored tone versus bells-and-whistles for lower bucks . But there is no such an ostracism on the guitarist pedal board where point-to-point lives in peace and harmony with machine soldered.
Looking back in History, it is obvious that this boundary is quite fuzzy, if I may say so. Certain industrially manufactured boxes where so well engineered from the start that they have achieved vintage star status and now serve as blueprints for boutique designs. It is worth noting that ,like many artists, this took place after their market life.
I have overloaded my time capacities for personnal hand made pedals, and, while I will always offer my beloved point-to-point handwriten beauties, launching an industrial line of pedals is the only way to solve this problem and touch more stompbox aficionados all around the world: most original Fuse Blower or Mercer owners have become email friends as it seems we share a clear vision of what distortion should be.

1 – Three Fuse Blowers in 1 compact pedal

Further than its distinctive own growl, The FUSE BLOWER II ‘s three distortion engines allow any classic vintage distortion tones as well as modern « shredding » solo sounds. Versatility and personality can at least live in peace in a compact pedal. Each EQ knob is a FUSEBLOWER voiced differently:

This 3 different distortions can be set independently one from each other, thus allowing any tailored combination. Yes, you will spend more time finding your own signature tone but now with the fb2 will eventually let you perform distortion sculpting as an art form as opposed to factory presets. Be unique.

2 – Dynamics and reactivity

A distortion pedal must follow the guitar signal , in order to react to the guitarist playing shades. A simple test is to lower the guitar volume and observe if the distortion amount decrease accordingly. The FUSE BLOWER II excels in preserving the original tone of the guitar pick-ups as well as the sound of the amplifier it is plugged in, unlike many effects which give the same tone on any gear.

3 – Analog technology and noise ratio

Using old time analog technology ,The FUSE BLOWER II insures nevertheless a noise ratio compatible with modern digital recording, giving electric guitar takes the authenticity they badly need.

J.Mascis about the FB2 :
‘Hi Jacques I have been using the fuseblower in front of my early 70’s big muff when I want to punch things into total fuzz.
I have all knobs all the way up and use it while the big muff is also on. It cuts through so I can play solos with maximum fuzz.
Nice work J’

4 – Road test

Before public marketing, the FUSE BLOWER II has been tested on tour by European professional guitarists, already users of JACQUES STOMPBOXES hand-made FUSE BLOWER, under special no-mercy stage abuses. The optimal results allow a 3 year no-questions-asked 10 days replacement warranty .
Stay tuned and thanks again to all of you who have made all this possible.

5 – Audio demo
Here are the settings used in the soundclips page :

Phone BBC to know if they still broadcast live shows featuring rockstars on exotic drugs. Buy your sidemen oversized afro wigs. During the show, never close your mouth and do not open your eyes unless there is danger of physical damage to the audience.For hero status, thumb your low E string and tooth your B string.

Well, it is always useful to get this boogie tone in case too many empty beer bottles are flying by your nose. Maybe your rendition of beautiful Chopin preludes was not what these overweight cowboys had in mind after a hard day at work. Do not be stubborn and start « Sweet home Chicago » right away.

A border-sexed wriggling lippy singer is trying to steal your thunder? No sweat. Dial in this classic tone and hit five strings major power chords boldly. Focus on the drunk groupies waiting in your private jet for better angst.

It is time or never to free all these tapping chops you have been hiding in your closet for years. This wailing sustain gives you the gut to affront the guitar intelligentsia mockery with foolish pride. Anyway,when you are at the restaurant with your favorite guitar hero, choose tofu steak over fatty burgers to maximize your credibility.

Search your friends’ attics for non-working tranny amps and rotten Korean axes in order to perform economic amp bashing . Buy blank score sheets to make believe you are writing a rock opera. Try to find a healthy enough singer to last until he can get casted in a wacky sci-fi TV show. Contract tinitus in the process.

6 – Video demo

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