Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

xxxplorer

xxxplorer

Well-known member
I already have a decent Si Fuzz, and I kinda wanted to find a Germanium fuzz, but a lot of the sounds I want seem to be Si. The fuzz I have has a lot of buttons and switches... cool, but for some reason the round simple and basic fuzz face always seems right to me. Silly probably, but I guess it adds mojo for me :chairshot

My biggest worry is I am primarily a humbucker player (until my wife gets me a p-90 gibson sg for fathers day!!!). I don't play strats with singles, I can't ever make em sound righ. Now, I do play lower out put WCR Darkbursts (well, they are low DC... pretty barking though!).

I can't find any clips or video of this fuzz with humbuggies. I read it's the highest gain fuzzface they make with lowest headroom. This both peaks my intrest and makes me shy to try one. I'm relatively new to fuzz. I went on a fuzz quest a couple years ago and bought a GE addrock fuzz and a Si addrock. Kept the Si as it's nastier and sounded the same in hot or cold weather. That GE seriously sounded weird cold and weirder hot. Didn't punch like I wanted either. Guy I sold it to loves it. Different tastes.

I'm wanting to explore the fuzz stuff again, but want to stick with simpler stuff. Fuzz faces seem to be the style I'm after. I like the quirky and simplness.

Sorry for long post and incoherant ramblings lol. :argue:
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

Captain, I would like to join in your quest for a fuzz as your boatswain. I can sweep and build crude weaponry.
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

Lol. I mostly play heavy stuff too and stuff that doesn't use fuzz, but sometimes I want that sound and especially with my more laid back band where I do more shade tones and not chunky stuff lol. I'm def no Eric Johnson. Welcome aboard matey. We shall call our ship 'The Fuzzy Purl'
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

The reason you aren't seeing many EJ FF demos is because they haven't shipped yet.

I have the Jimi and Bonamassa Fuzz Faces, and they sound way different from each other.
The Jimi is silicon and is very gainy, buzzy, and cuts through nicely. The Bonamassa is germanium and lower in gain, with a very warm buttery sound.

These things are pretty expensive, so it sucks that the Bonamassa and EJ are impossible to try without buying. You just have to roll the dice based on youtube clips, and know that they're easy to sell if you don't like it. I really want the EJ, just to have all three, but man.....$200!

Since you can't control the EQ on FF's, you just have to dial them in to a particular amp tone. If you need more highs, use a cleaner amp tone. If you want it warmer, use more gain on the amp. Keep in mind FF's were designed around a loud and clean vintage amp like a plexi.
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

Working a high gain Fuzz Face with buckers can be done but you'll have to work at it to keep it from getting out control.

The biggest thing is that it's MUCH harder to get them to be dynamic in relation to the way you play but it can be done, after all EJ doesn't use a Strat all the time!

Just keep this in mind...it will be easier with PAF output pickups over hot pickups...a Distortion or JB into a high gain Si Fuzz Face might be too much!

As for the JH and JB Fuzz Faces the EJ is the highest and the JB is the lowest, in fact the JB is the lowest gain Fuzz Face I've ever played, the JH is a hair on the low side for an Si version but is still within what would be "normal" for a vintage Si unit...

FWIW, if you want an Si Fuzz Face that works very well with buckers the JH Fuzz Face is great!
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

the guy who invented fire said:
... in fact the JB is the lowest gain Fuzz Face I've ever played, the JH is a hair on the low side for an Si version but is still within what would be "normal" for a vintage Si unit...
Click to expand...

Great info.
What would you consider a Vintage style Si Fuzz face ( or is it Fuzzface?) that would be on 'High' side of gain?
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

MetalManiac said:
Great info.
What would you consider a Vintage style Si Fuzz face ( or is it Fuzzface?) that would be on 'High' side of gain?
Click to expand...

The EJ is very much a vintage style unit but is on the high side of things. Other options include the AnalogMan Si Sunfaces...just tell Mike to make it hot!
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

At the risk of seeming like i work for them (cos im always recommending theo's pedals) here are two pedals that will do the job for you. I recommend this maker, cos ive had a couple of his pedals which are beautifully hand built, and he bends over backwards to help. He even sent me the parts to do the roger mayer/jimi hendrix mods on my NKT275 fuzz face all the way to Australia for free. Small volume manufacturer who is fastidious about the componentry. Every pedal is play tested and hand signed. No frill or fancy paint jobs, just quality inside and out.

A true germ fuzz face that works with humbuckers:
http://www.hartmanpedals.com/#!vintage-germanium-fuzz
original.jpg

Oh yeh, i mainly use humbuckers too. As far as that goes, even tho mine are low output, i think the hendrix mod adds too much gain for the ge pedal. Stock is better, unless you play a vintage style strat, in which case the extra gain is useful. My fuzz doesn't have the level control tho, so that is a bonus for humbucker usage fo sho.

An old fashioned si fuzz face. This one definitely doest need any extra gain!:
http://www.hartmanpedals.com/#!bc108-silicon-fuzz
hmbc108_big.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

Cool thanks guys. My local Guitar Center acutally has an EJ in stock. With the 13% off coupon it makes it a little more managable. I may pick it up today and give it a whirl. If I don't dig it, I can swap it for a JH fuzz. The bonamassa is hard to find now. Would be cool just to have for the collector part, but I like to play with stuff!
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

xxxplorer said:
Cool thanks guys. My local Guitar Center acutally has an EJ in stock. With the 13% off coupon it makes it a little more managable. I may pick it up today and give it a whirl. If I don't dig it, I can swap it for a JH fuzz. The bonamassa is hard to find now. Would be cool just to have for the collector part, but I like to play with stuff!
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan!

If the EJ doesn't work out for you drop me a PM...I need another Fuzz Face like a swift kick to the groin but what the hell right!
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

If you want serious heaviness with humbckers and fuzz and not have to worry about feedback, check out the Death By Audio Fuzz War.
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

With both the JB and EJ Fuzz Faces, you've got to buy quickly if you want one, because they're limited to 2500 units each in 2012. In 2011, the JB FF was limited to 1000.
 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

off topic:

orange and fuzz pedalz worship :)

 
Re: Eric Johnson Fuzz Face with Humbuckers?

Gearjoneser said:
With both the JB and EJ Fuzz Faces, you've got to buy quickly if you want one, because they're limited to 2500 units each in 2012. In 2011, the JB FF was limited to 1000.
Click to expand...

Yeah but they are having issues selling even the limited runs...

Cool? Yes

Wanted by thousands of guitar players? No
 
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