Dirty Boy Pedals [Archive]

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 01:08 AM

Has anyone tried them, one seems too be a 12 position click switch germanium booster/fuzz and the other (Afro Fuzz) is an insanely thick, distorted 6 position click germanium/silicon hybrid. They sound awesome and I'd really like to pick up the Afro Fuzz but at $375USD that ain't cheap. They are built by Blues Saraceno's father, Alex, he also built the Dirty Boy Amplifiers for Blues. If anyone has tried them, or heard them in person, I'd love to hear what you think and if they're worth the cash.

-TJK

Lonely Raven

01-06-2005, 01:26 AM

I LOVE the clips on the web page, but the price turned me
of right away.

I'm curious if anyone ownes any of these.

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 01:29 AM

I know, the rhythm tone for the 2nd clip of the Afro Fuzz is just killing me, I'm tempted to jump the gun and buy it soley for that tone, but it'd be nice to know if it can do more. I've talked to Alex and he says the 6 position switch makes a HUGE difference in sounds and that the clips just don't show it very well.

-TJK

exodus

01-06-2005, 01:46 AM

I just found those clips today and really liked the germanium boy pedal. i forgot how much it cost, but it sounded great. any users?

basscracker

01-06-2005, 02:52 AM

nice looking pedals,are those prices list?

Lonely Raven

01-06-2005, 08:01 AM

He sells them directly, so there is none of that ListPrice BS.

Just his (expensive) selling price.

If they were sub $200, I'd be all over them.

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by Lonely Raven
He sells them directly, so there is none of that ListPrice BS.

Just his (expensive) selling price.

If they were sub $200, I'd be all over them.

Same price from PedalGeek as well, so even in mass amounts there isn't a discount, my guess is, he is JUST starting out, and using some really highend stuff, the germanium transistors are out of 40 year old italian keyboards, plus, LA studio musicians are using them (which automatically adds more cost to just about everything). There are some reviews on HC and they are rather shinning, they all comment on how utterly noiseless the pedal is, which is rare for germanium and even more rare for a fuzz. Plus with all the options, hopefully it'd kick some of your other pedals off the board so you could sell some and make up for the cost. I'm thinking I might bite the bullet and pick up an Afro Fuzz.

-TJK

P.S For the reviews on HC look up Blues Saraceno

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 03:09 PM

Bump!

ES330

01-06-2005, 04:01 PM

I heard a production version of the Germanium Boy that never actually made it into production for it didn't sound anywhere near as good as the hand made one.

Even then it just absolutely ROCKED !!!!

These pedals have tons of gain and really push the front end of your amp. The 12 position tone/eq knob is far more versatile than anyone would think.

I heard it on a Groove Tubes Soul-o 45 and it turned that amp from an ultra clean amp into a rockin distortion box by the way it hit the front end of the amp.

Again, these are high gain pedals. Wondering if you could actually blow up the front end of your amp with these pedals ??

cuz/karl

01-06-2005, 04:39 PM

I thought the GERM BOY sounded pretty cool ,but only like the 2cnd clip of the AFROBOY .I thought the rest sounded like crap. Although it's hard to judge from a clip.I'd have a hard time justifing that price tag for any pedal.

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by cuz/karl
I thought the GERM BOY sounded pretty cool ,but only like the 2cnd clip of the AFROBOY .I thought the rest sounded like crap. Although it's hard to judge from a clip.I'd have a hard time justifing that price tag for any pedal.

I completely agree, it is hard to justify, and the germ boy sounds good, but I have my TMB for germ boosting and stuff. That 2nd clip of the Afro Fuzz is the tone for fuzz I've been hearing in my head my whole life, I really wanna go for it... but I dunno.

-TJK

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by Al Z
I heard a production version of the Germanium Boy that never actually made it into production for it didn't sound anywhere near as good as the hand made one.

Even then it just absolutely ROCKED !!!!

These pedals have tons of gain and really push the front end of your amp. The 12 position tone/eq knob is far more versatile than anyone would think.

I heard it on a Groove Tubes Soul-o 45 and it turned that amp from an ultra clean amp into a rockin distortion box by the way it hit the front end of the amp.

Again, these are high gain pedals. Wondering if you could actually blow up the front end of your amp with these pedals ??

Thats awesome that the positions have that much variance, thats what Alex was telling me, that the clips don't do the versatility of the units any justice at all. I'm positive you could probably blow you amp with a lot of pedals that have that much boost if you keep the output pumpin' too much. Do you know anything about the production models now, did they go back to making them handmade, or find a new build manufacturer?

-TJK

ES330

01-06-2005, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by TaronKeim
Do you know anything about the production models now, did they go back to making them handmade, or find a new build manufacturer?

Alex wasn't happy with the production models.....so NO production models at all.

However, Seymour Duncan has some arrangement where they will be coming out with their own production models with a 'similar' but 'not exact' unit. I believe also less tone positions.

I don't even think Alex knows what it will sound like.

That's all I know.

TaronKeim

01-06-2005, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by Al Z
Alex wasn't happy with the production models.....so NO production models at all.

However, Seymour Duncan has some arrangement where they will be coming out with their own production models with a 'similar' but 'not exact' unit. I believe also less tone positions.

I don't even think Alex knows what it will sound like.

That's all I know.

Thats awesome, thanks Al Z... I think if they are handmade then and they sounded that much better... I'm gonna bite the bullet at the end of the month:dude

-TJK

meterman

01-07-2005, 11:18 AM

Hmmm, why would anybody want to demo a $375 pedal through a $99 guitar and $150 amp? I think alot of what I'm hearing with the fuzz clips is the speaker hanging on for dear life....I would like to hear them through a rig that would actually represent what someone might gig with...I don't know, they sound good but not great to me. There are alot of good germ boosts out there for less $$, and as for fuzz I think you could get those big bottom, high gain tones from a Fuzz Factory or a good Big Muff clone like the MJM Foxey or Frantone Sweet. Just my $.02 of course

ToneDog

01-07-2005, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by meterman
Hmmm, why would anybody want to demo a $375 pedal through a $99 guitar and $150 amp? I think alot of what I'm hearing with the fuzz clips is the speaker hanging on for dear life....I would like to hear them through a rig that would actually represent what someone might gig with...I don't know, they sound good but not great to me. There are alot of good germ boosts out there for less $$, and as for fuzz I think you could get those big bottom, high gain tones from a Fuzz Factory or a good Big Muff clone like the MJM Foxey or Frantone Sweet. Just my $.02 of course
+1.

I couldn't agree more, Paul.

CHyde

01-07-2005, 01:24 PM

Link anyone? Where can I check them out?

TaronKeim

01-07-2005, 04:10 PM

Originally posted by CHyde
Link anyone? Where can I check them out?

Go to PedalGeek (http://www.pedalgeek.com) and look on the left hand side of your screen, scroll down and under the D section there should be Dirty Boy, and there are clips for each pedal at the bottom of the page.

-TJK

gururyan

01-07-2005, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by CHyde
Link anyone? Where can I check them out?

Here is the official site:
Blues Saraceno (http://www.bluessaraceno.com/germanium.html)

BHilty

01-07-2005, 04:28 PM

I just got the germanium boy.
I always wanted one of the dirty boy amps, but they aint avail.
So for me, this was the next best thing.
I didnt think there was a ton of gain in it, but it was good just the same for a boost.
Ive only played it once, again....I just got the thing.
The position switch does make HUGE differences in the sound.
I understand for lead, they work best with single coils and non master volume amps (per alex)
Yep they are pricey. Im still chewin on it. So far I only played it with a humbucker gtr (pv USA wolfgang).
The freq switch goes from massive bass overtones to super thin tele. Would be good for a person that uses lots of diff. amps........like Blues Saraceno I guess eh?

I need to spend more time with it.
I keep having to show up for work and it poses a time crunch ;)

TaronKeim

01-07-2005, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by BHilty
I just got the germanium boy.
I always wanted one of the dirty boy amps, but they aint avail.
So for me, this was the next best thing.
I didnt think there was a ton of gain in it, but it was good just the same for a boost.
Ive only played it once, again....I just got the thing.
The position switch does make HUGE differences in the sound.
I understand for lead, they work best with single coils and non master volume amps (per alex)
Yep they are pricey. Im still chewin on it. So far I only played it with a humbucker gtr (pv USA wolfgang).
The freq switch goes from massive bass overtones to super thin tele. Would be good for a person that uses lots of diff. amps........like Blues Saraceno I guess eh?

I need to spend more time with it.
I keep having to show up for work and it poses a time crunch ;)

Thats awesome, I'd like to hear more once you really get to dig into it, maybe pop'er open and take a look at the insides, cause according to Alex, the majority of your money is going towards the handwiring and all the electonics goodies inside. I'm interested in the Afro Fuzz but want to hear just as much about this one. The dirty boy amps did sound like fun didn't they:dude Damn... another great product lost.

-TJK

Lonely Raven

01-07-2005, 06:59 PM

Cool Hilty. I'd love to hear more thoughts on the pedal!

I'm in the area, so if you ever want to try the pedal on
a vintage Magnatone, Gretsch, or Super Reverb, I'd be happy
to have you over for a few hours!

BHilty

01-08-2005, 09:23 AM

TJK & Raven,

The first thing I did when I received the pedal was to open it up an take a look while allowing the unit to warm to room temp and "un-condensate" as it was on my cold porch a while in its box.

The wiring sure looks all hand made to me and there is a ton of it in there. The 12 position switch is covered with an elaborate stack of parts all nicely wired into it. There is one germanium in there and it looks to be the silver piece in the middle of the pedal, I couldnt see a mfgr. on it though. (im a gtr. player not an electrician :)

Another nice thing about the pedal is the led light, it is red and is super bright, which is nice. The box is sturdy and all metal. The chicken head knobs have good action/solid feel. Also, the foot switch feels substantial when you click it.

I was able to borrow a MK11 ProAnalog stompbox from a pal at work. I plan to compare the two pedals side by side using a G&L Will Ray model Telecaster. Since I want to hear it through a variety of different styled amps, I'll use my Johnson JM150 combo.

I'll post more after I get a chance to noodle with em both.

I may have to visit with Raven after work calms down a bit, always good to know more players in the area!

Hilty

TaronKeim

01-08-2005, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by BHilty
TJK & Raven,

The first thing I did when I received the pedal was to open it up an take a look while allowing the unit to warm to room temp and "un-condensate" as it was on my cold porch a while in its box.

The wiring sure looks all hand made to me and there is a ton of it in there. The 12 position switch is covered with an elaborate stack of parts all nicely wired into it. There is one germanium in there and it looks to be the silver piece in the middle of the pedal, I couldnt see a mfgr. on it though. (im a gtr. player not an electrician :)

Another nice thing about the pedal is the led light, it is red and is super bright, which is nice. The box is sturdy and all metal. The chicken head knobs have good action/solid feel. Also, the foot switch feels substantial when you click it.

I was able to borrow a MK11 ProAnalog stompbox from a pal at work. I plan to compare the two pedals side by side using a G&L Will Ray model Telecaster. Since I want to hear it through a variety of different styled amps, I'll use my Johnson JM150 combo.

I'll post more after I get a chance to noodle with em both.

I may have to visit with Raven after work calms down a bit, always good to know more players in the area!

Hilty

Thanks a lot Hilty, I appriciate that update, Alex said the wiring and the electronics are really an amazing part of the pedal, that germanium transistor is from 60's italian keyboards, have no idea what brand though. Good to hear that its nice inside, can't wait till you try it out:D Wish I lived close to Raven, brotha has good taste, but I'm WAY WAY WAY up in the great white north. Thanks again Hilty

-TJK

Lonely Raven

01-08-2005, 01:02 PM

Thanks TJK!

I've moved some of these amps on to afford my Peters amp, but
here is a panoramic of my living room:

http://jagdpanther.com/~lraven/RoomPhoto.jpg

TaronKeim

01-08-2005, 02:09 PM

...you have equally great taste in women!:D

Very nice, did you move any of those Silver Faces on... thats a really nice collection, they look in great condition too:dude

-TJK

P.S My Medusa and Moon Phaser are here, just gotta wait till monday to pick them up:cool:

Lonely Raven

01-08-2005, 02:20 PM

I've sold off all my Champs because I build my own now
(see the nakid one in the middle, I'm still trying to figure out
how to cover her up).

I sold off the '64 Princeton (non-reverb) and the Boogie Mark IIB
to put the down payment on the Peters.

I still have both Super Reverbs, Princeton Reverb, Magnatone,
Gretsch (buried in the photo), and my hand built Champ.
I've also picked up an Avatar 2X12, and I've built a 1X12 and
as soon as it warms up a bit, I'm building a Mesa Boogie sized
2X12 that I intend to cover in the same blue material to match
my Peters amp.

I can't afford $2500 amps, so I make do and try and learn from
the circuits of the vintage stuff! I hope to build one of Ted
Weber's 18watt clones or JTM-45 or something along those
lines soon, and I'm finishing up a Super Reverb I've built from
scratch soon. It's just too damn cold to work in my little workshop!

Erg, sorry, I didn't mean to derail this thread.

ES330

01-08-2005, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by Lonely Raven
Thanks TJK!

I've moved some of these amps on to afford my Peters amp, but
here is a panoramic of my living room:

Wish my wife would decorate my house like that !!!!

BHilty

01-08-2005, 08:14 PM

Damn, thats some setup living room!
That's why I have the JM150, I don't have that kind of room.
Very cool.

Ok. Had some time to run a few licks through the gear.

Gtr : Will Ray Sig. G/L Tele (3 z-single coil)
Dirty Boy Germ
Pro Analog MKII
Johnson JM150 set on Marshall 1 *typical master volume style

Note: I should have used my pal's Divided by 13 Dyna Ranger
The MKII is a very different pedal, sounds much more like a fuzz. So suffice to say - too different to compare, it is a very nice fuzz pedal though. Would be better to a/b against an Afro Fuzz. So for now, I'll stick to the Dirty Boy as they weren't really apples to apples. It was fun to borrow though!

OK, So I change the strings on the Wolfgang and plug in to fine tune and hit the pedal. Still not what I was looking for, not the sound one the web or in my head. It misses "bite" and snarl. Its gainy but it ain't spittin.

Grab the Will Ray....whoa - here it is. Just like Alex said in his email, the pedal is a beast with single coil lead work.
Very cool indeed, and whereby the frequency setting changes made tones like mud using a humbucker; the same settings run through a single coil tele were much harder to "pick a favorite" from. Lots of cool tones from beefy to nasal. Also, the pedal does have some real gain and it shines through much better with a single coil set up.
Pickup selection changes were equally as fun as I dialed through the frequencies from "hollow" neck p/u to tele thin bridge tones.

Yep, it was expensive alright, but I can see that it will really make for a fun and versatile lead boost. Esp. with the single coils and arent they what need one most :)

It's advertised that it can be used for anything from gtr. to keys to vocals, so who knows what else someone with better imagination than I could milk from it.

Verdict = keeper.

Lonely Raven

01-08-2005, 09:17 PM

Very Cool! Now you will have to stop by some time!

TaronKeim

01-08-2005, 10:18 PM

Awesome!!! thanks so much Hilty, really appriciate the input, I hope the Afro Fuzz likes humbuckers... I'll tell you fellas the minute my Afro Fuzz arrives, I'm ordering one at the end of the month with Alex's Namm batch.

-TJK

C.B. Hebb

01-09-2005, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by BHilty
Damn, thats some setup living room!
That's why I have the JM150, I don't have that kind of room.
Very cool.

Ok. Had some time to run a few licks through the gear.

Gtr : Will Ray Sig. G/L Tele (3 z-single coil)
Dirty Boy Germ
Pro Analog MKII
Johnson JM150 set on Marshall 1 *typical master volume style

Note: I should have used my pal's Divided by 13 Dyna Ranger
The MKII is a very different pedal, sounds much more like a fuzz. So suffice to say - too different to compare, it is a very nice fuzz pedal though. Would be better to a/b against an Afro Fuzz. So for now, I'll stick to the Dirty Boy as they weren't really apples to apples. It was fun to borrow though!

OK, So I change the strings on the Wolfgang and plug in to fine tune and hit the pedal. Still not what I was looking for, not the sound one the web or in my head. It misses "bite" and snarl. Its gainy but it ain't spittin.

Grab the Will Ray....whoa - here it is. Just like Alex said in his email, the pedal is a beast with single coil lead work.
Very cool indeed, and whereby the frequency setting changes made tones like mud using a humbucker; the same settings run through a single coil tele were much harder to "pick a favorite" from. Lots of cool tones from beefy to nasal. Also, the pedal does have some real gain and it shines through much better with a single coil set up.
Pickup selection changes were equally as fun as I dialed through the frequencies from "hollow" neck p/u to tele thin bridge tones.

Yep, it was expensive alright, but I can see that it will really make for a fun and versatile lead boost. Esp. with the single coils and arent they what need one most :)

It's advertised that it can be used for anything from gtr. to keys to vocals, so who knows what else someone with better imagination than I could milk from it.

Verdict = keeper.

Hey man good to hear you like your DB Fuzz! With so many settings it's like the Swiss-Army fuzz! I think you've found the one that fits you.

My Dyna-Ranger sounds okay with humbuckers but it works best with a single coil. And though it sounds interesting, I don't think the MKII does anything for my buckers either...but I love it with the lead pickup on my Tele. I think that's just the nature of the beast.

Are you sure you still want to let me borrow it next week? :)

BHilty

01-09-2005, 03:40 PM

Yep, interesting how when I got some time to try the pedal through more than one guitar how much it came alive.

Chebb,
I'll bring in the DB Germ. Monday for you, along with the MKII.
I should try that tonight with the tele for a while actually.

TJK,
Just send email to Alex and ask him his thoughts about using the DB Afro Fuzz (I love that name) with humbuckers. He answered me in about 3 minutes both times I asked him a question. Plus, he appeared to have the elusive social skills that Hebb and I laugh about so much with some of the boutique builders.

Alright time to go practice, I been bustin my butt all day.

Hmmm, I think I need to run the DB Germ through a set of P-90's..........If single coils sounded that good.....damn, where is my Axis Sport. I'll get back to y'all!

TaronKeim

01-09-2005, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by BHilty
Yep, interesting how when I got some time to try the pedal through more than one guitar how much it came alive.

Chebb,
I'll bring in the DB Germ. Monday for you, along with the MKII.
I should try that tonight with the tele for a while actually.

TJK,
Just send email to Alex and ask him his thoughts about using the DB Afro Fuzz (I love that name) with humbuckers. He answered me in about 3 minutes both times I asked him a question. Plus, he appeared to have the elusive social skills that Hebb and I laugh about so much with some of the boutique builders.

Alright time to go practice, I been bustin my butt all day.

Hmmm, I think I need to run the DB Germ through a set of P-90's..........If single coils sounded that good.....damn, where is my Axis Sport. I'll get back to y'all!

I noticed that as well when I talked with him, he seems like a very nice guy. What did he say about buckers with the Afro Fuzz?

-TJK

P.S... I bet the Germ will sound KILLER with P-90s, fatter, nastier and all round just dirty:dude

TaronKeim

01-10-2005, 08:57 AM

Bumpity

C.B. Hebb

01-10-2005, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by TaronKeim
Bumpity

BHilty passed the Dirty Boy Ge on to me, so I'll be comparing it to my Dyna-Ranger shortly.

ES330

01-10-2005, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by C.B. Hebb
BHilty passed the Dirty Boy Ge on to me, so I'll be comparing it to my Dyna-Ranger shortly.

Cool !!! We'll all be looking forward to your review.

Then you can pass it along to me and I'll compare it to......
I'm sure I can think of something :D

BHilty

01-10-2005, 11:17 AM

Actually,
I never spoke to Alex about using humbuckers with the Afro Fuzz, I only traded emails with him regarding the Dirty Boy Germ. as that was the pedal I bought. He answers fast, I wouldn't hesitate to contact him. After, all they aint cheap and you want to be sure your gear will match up nicely with the fuzz. IF Blues Saraceno uses mostly single coil guitars ( I have no idea ) the fuzz may be created to mate with those p/u's. I'd email him before plunking down the cashola.
BHilty

Shnook

02-03-2005, 04:38 PM

Hey all,

I'm kind of new. Been lurking on and off and I found this thread by doing a little search on the the Saraceno pedals.

I bought a Germanium Boy as soon as I heard about them. I bought mine directly from Alex Saraceno, and I can tell you first hand that it's a SWEET sounding boost pedal. Nice rich lead tones. Very creamy. The pedal matches well with many different combinations of pups/amps. Just tweak for a bit till you find what your looking for. A great pedal for recording, because it has so many different tone variations. If you get bored easily with one sound, like I do, this pedal is a nice little tone box.

As for the Afro Fuzz, Seymour Duncan is offering a new fuzz pedal based off of the AF. It's basically the same pedal for a $99. Blues Saraceno did a demo for them at NAMM.

TaronKeim

02-03-2005, 05:02 PM

What did you think of the Afro Fuzz, didja have an listening/playing time with it? I already have a great boost, but that fuzz sound so solid in the one clip, but the rest sound like crap, and if it is a one trick pony, I don't wanna pay $500CAD for it even though I love that trick...

-TJK

Shnook

02-03-2005, 05:41 PM

I haven't played the Afro Fuzz, nor am I much a of a fuzz freak, but I do like several of the fuzz samples on the Saraceno site. The Seymour Duncan fuzz will be nearly the same and at a much better price. Keep checking the Seymour Duncan home page. They're supposed to be showing clips of Blues Saraceno playing thru the SD fuzz pedal pretty soon.

mike@switchback

02-03-2005, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by Shnook
Hey all,

I'm kind of new. Been lurking on and off and I found this thread by doing a little search on the the Saraceno pedals.

I bought a Germanium Boy as soon as I heard about them. I bought mine directly from Alex Saraceno, and I can tell you first hand that it's a SWEET sounding boost pedal. Nice rich lead tones. Very creamy. The pedal matches well with many different combinations of pups/amps. Just tweak for a bit till you find what your looking for. A great pedal for recording, because it has so many different tone variations. If you get bored easily with one sound, like I do, this pedal is a nice little tone box.

As for the Afro Fuzz, Seymour Duncan is offering a new fuzz pedal based off of the AF. It's basically the same pedal for a $99. Blues Saraceno did a demo for them at NAMM.

Hey Shnook - I think you and I have shot the breeze on the subject of Blues before! I was very interested to see these pedals on his site. Curious - what amp are you using with the Germanium Boy? And what guitar/pickups?

Shnook

02-03-2005, 06:42 PM

Hey ratter,

Yep, I remember you. Right now I'm using the Germanium Boy thru a 5150 Combo and a Wiggy. I'm running both amps together thanks to a Whirlwind A/B box. However, I really like the way it sounds with the 5150 Combo, so that's the amp I mainly use it with. I only use the Rhythm channel on that amp, and the GB makes a nice creamy lead boost. I've not really spent alot of time with it and the Wiggy, cause I actually like the 'fuzz-like' More option for leads on the Wiggy. The guitar I'm mainly using is a GMW Custom 'Strat' with a SSL-1 in the neck and a Blues Trembucker in the bridge. Never did get that Albert Lee I'm still GASing for... ;) One of these days...

mike@switchback

02-04-2005, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by Shnook
Hey ratter,

Yep, I remember you. Right now I'm using the Germanium Boy thru a 5150 Combo and a Wiggy. I'm running both amps together thanks to a Whirlwind A/B box. However, I really like the way it sounds with the 5150 Combo, so that's the amp I mainly use it with. I only use the Rhythm channel on that amp, and the GB makes a nice creamy lead boost. I've not really spent alot of time with it and the Wiggy, cause I actually like the 'fuzz-like' More option for leads on the Wiggy. The guitar I'm mainly using is a GMW Custom 'Strat' with a SSL-1 in the neck and a Blues Trembucker in the bridge. Never did get that Albert Lee I'm still GASing for... ;) One of these days...

Awesome. I sold my Albert Lee, so there ya go. Easy come easy go! Where in VA are you? We'll have to jam sometime!

Shnook

02-05-2005, 03:23 AM

Hey Ratter,

I'm in Roanoke. And you? Why'd you sell the Albert Lee? I want one in a bad way....

TEMAS

03-13-2007, 06:52 AM

Bump.

Ditto the comments about clip 2 of the Afro Boy. Anyone actually heard it yet?

Fuzzy Boy sounds pretty cool too.

TaronKeim

03-13-2007, 09:59 AM

The Afro Boy sounded alright, but those tones were due to mic placement and not so much the pedal itself.

The Cannibal Boy on the other hand was an amazingly flexible Tonebender type fuzz with a lot of gain and no floor noise even when the fuzz was maxed.

I've since sold both pedals and currently only use my Foxrox Hot Silicon and am completely happy.

-TJK*

thefunkyone

04-25-2009, 10:13 PM

I picked up a Germanium Boy today in California. Amazing pedal. Very creamy overdrive with a strat.

NeilYoungFan

04-26-2009, 04:32 AM

I've got a Fuzzy Boy on the way and can't wait to get my hands on it. For some reason, I have HUGE expectations for this one. Let's see...

tga3

05-09-2009, 12:58 AM

The Dirty Boy pedals rule. The DAM tone benders and the Dirty Boy pedals (all 9 of them) are the only pedals that sound like old pedals to me. Buth they have more thought out controls and design. Dirty Boy's sound in line with my old Tone Bender's, Buzz-a-round, 1960's Fuzz Faces, Unidrive, etc. They just have that old cool smokey sound. Unreal. Worth every cent and more. I am a huge fan.

jazzmonkey007

06-02-2009, 09:26 PM

I love the Dirty Boys I have the whole collection. And to top it off if you ever spoke or wrote to Alex he's one of the greatest guys. Yes they are expensive, but so is my Ram head and you know what, that one is worth it too, IMO. So listen I play mostly through a Kinglsey (main amp), I've tried those with an RSA 31 and 23 (the 23 through a Two-rock 1x12 cab), I also have a CJ11, a AST and AST Pro. For guitars I have a Trussart Steelcaster Deluxe with TV Jones, a Telecaster Relic '58 Custom Shop, two Duesenbergs a 49er and a Double Cat and a Strat with Bare Knuckles. This is not to tell you my whole list of gear, but more to make a point that on a gig I can go with one amp, a Tele and a Doozy with humbuckers and because of the way he makes the frequency switch on his pedals and the wide range of tone it gives me, it completely solve my problem of changing the settings of the pedal or the amp when changing guitars between songs !!! Pretty cool as far as I'm concerned.

Another one of his pedals like the Cannibal Boy will give you a fat, but I mean a fat fuzz with the tone turned up (like a cut) and a sort of clean boost/fizz with the tone turned down and that's even without touching the freq. knob. The same goes for the Afro fuzz. I use it from a beefy '70's type fuzz with the freq. switch all the way up. And when on the 2nd to last click starting from the bottom it gives me a nasty thin fuzzy boost, in my already clean and creamy kingsley with a Tele or strat it's almost a tone that could remind you of some SRV tone (not the talent, guys the tone...LOL).

So you see, the Fuzzy boy is even more pedal in one, i get like 6 or 7 really amazing tones out of that one, I always get the feeling that when I buy (or bought now that I have all of them) one of his pedals it was like I was buying 2 or 3 pedals and not just one. At least that's how it is for me. Hope this helps.

NewarkWilder

05-07-2010, 01:52 AM

another back from the dead bump...

are these all still being hand made and in production etc? I see they are in stock at pedal geek but the prices are crazy (and i've got a lot of expensive pedals)

they do sound pretty damn great though. just wish I could see some gutshots or something.

also--mojave still has the dirty boy amp on their website... i suppose this is a question better asked directly to them, but anybody know if its actually still being made too? Conflicting info between the websites...

:mob

LowWatt

05-07-2010, 10:07 AM

clc12rock

05-07-2010, 11:19 AM

I have a Ball Buster. It's LOUD. Tough to use when you're trying to keep the volume low, like I do most of the time in my condo. But like many have said in this thread, a lot of tonal options/shaping available.

lenny

05-07-2010, 12:23 PM

I love my Cannibal Boy ...It rawks the FUZZ !
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/flamminhots/DSC05412.jpg

Gut shot
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y172/flamminhots/DSC04735.jpg

drugdetox

05-07-2010, 12:46 PM

Contact Jim at Tradarama for info on these pedals...he's a distributor and he knows his stuff!

http://www.gbase.com/Powered/GearList.aspx?Dealer=ce316c14-0a88-4354-9198-1ab24fecfd3f&PageIndex=1&PageSize=25&DealerId=ce316c14-0a88-4354-9198-1ab24fecfd3f&TF=1&TI0=28&TI1=32&TI2=3&TI3=2&TI4=33&TI5=42&TI6=34&TI7=6&TI8=7&TI9=37&TI10=41&TI11=38&TI12=39&TI13=24&TI14=25&TI15=27&Track=Y&SearchBar=False

action_hack

05-07-2010, 01:14 PM

Isn't the Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz supposed to be a budget priced version of these pedals. They were designed with Blues Scanceno.

LowWatt

05-07-2010, 02:31 PM

Isn't the Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz supposed to be a budget priced version of these pedals. They were designed with Blues Scanceno.

Yep. It's the mass produced version licenced by Alex Saraceno. No NOS transistors, and instead of being one germanium and one silicon, both of the transistors used are silicon

I got an AfroBoy on the cheap and it had the best fuzz tone I've ever heard in my life. The only problem was that even on 10, I couldn't get it to reach unity gain. Pop it on with a band and it just disappeared.