Any EHX Graphic Fuzz users (or anyone with a good demo of the pedal)?

[KevinFinn]

The Peter Stroud one features an already "way too dirty for me to really hear the pedal" amp. I want to hear it against a clean amp. By the time he switches to a Strat and a clean amp, he's mostly not using drive anymore. Gah!

[falconerpdx]

I bought the 80's big box model, a year ago. I use a strat stereo'ed through a SMMwH to an Egnater Rebel and a Yamaha G100. I really like this pedal but it is really not a fuzz. It is more like a graphic EQ combined with a mild distortion. The dynamic feature is nice allowing you to create more or less distortion based upon your pick attack. The sustain feature howls for years.
Anyway, it's good for recording allowing you to doubletrack your guitar and give you distinctly different textures to compliment each other by adjusting the EQ, distortion, sustain and dynamic settings. It is also useful in a live setup to find the right frequencies when playing with a full band to fill out your niche and not step on your bandmates'. You can also just use it as an EQ. It has a vintage sound like early Jefferson Airplane when combined with reverb. I use it for sounds similar to Bauhaus, The Chameleons, Wire etc. I've kicked my tubescreamer off the board for this.

[KevinFinn]

Thanks.

The lack of interest in this pedal is pretty hilarious, considering that so much of what we go back and forth about with these 'magic little boxes' boils down the EQ - how our ears perceive frequencies. It's no wonder certain pedals are popular with people who play certain styles, certain amps or certain guitars. It's the frequency.

Enter a pedal with a more fully-realized (and less selective) eq matched to a simple drive circuit... and no one cares.

[Ro S]

I have one of these. Mine is from c. 2000. It in the large housing (now discontinued?).

I like it.

It's not an OTT fuzz. I'd describe it as a fuzzy overdrive come conservative fuzz. I usually have the fuzz on full. The EQ gives loads of tonal flexibility and prompted me to get seperate EQ pedals. I usally combine the Graphic Fuzz with other gain pedals and fuzzes.

Thie Graphic Fuzz doesn't get enough attention or praise imo.

I can send you links of tracks I've recorded using it - let me know.

[Ro S]

link sent as requested.

[AXXA]

I had it for a while. Great tone shaping abilities, but definitely not a true fuzz. Sounds good for what it is, but I was disappointed because I bought it hoping it would be an actual fuzz. I traded it for a fuzz factory. Very different, but also very fuzzy.

[KevinFinn]

What would you guys compare the level of gain to? You say it's not a fuzz, would you call it a distortion or an overdrive?

[AXXA]

I would say it can go between OD and distortion. It does have some fuzzy qualities to it though. The only way I could get a real 'fuzzy' sound was to scoop the EQ pretty hard, which I don't like doing. Honestly, I'm not sure what to compare it to, but it is definitely versatile, and not bad, as long as you aren't expecting a big muff or a fuzz face.

[SonicVI]

I used to have an original one from the early 80's and it reminded me kinda of a Distortion + with an EQ. It's not a bad pedal but really nothing amazing either. I actually liked it with bass more.

[giantrobotswinbig]

I played one extensively for an afternoon at my local music store.

I decided that I'd rather invest in an MXR 10-band Grapihc EQ and use it in conjunction with the dirt pedals I already have. The MXR is cheaper (especially with Guitar Center price-matching), smaller, and has 4 more frequency bands than the EHX. However, it does require an 18-volt power supply.

[wundergussy]

I had one, and was very underwhelmed. The above post about how it's "hilarious" this pedal doesn't get much love is explained simply: the pedal doesn't sound great. It is huge, needs a wall wart, and has nothing special about it. You're way better off with a true fuzz and a Fromel Shape.

[espechemode]

The Graphic Fuzz sounds great to my ears, (but that's just my opinion which I don't spout off as arrogant gospel). More specifically the big box version. I had one of the newer ones and it doesn't sound as good (pretty much the case with every EHX XO pedal I've tried). It's a good medium gain distortion with a lot of clarity.

If you're looking for a pedal that sounds like a fuzz with a graphic EQ the Akai G-Drive fits the bill. Hard to find, but it definitely sounded more like a fuzz than the EHX.

[Ro S]

Originally Posted by KevinFinn

What would you guys compare the level of gain to? You say it's not a fuzz, would you call it a distortion or an overdrive?

I would invariably have the gain up full, but thw range goes from fuzzy overdrive to low gain, conservative fuzz. However, if you put a distortion pedal or high gain overdrive in front of it, the extra gain really brings the fuzz qualities out of it much more and can make it much more a proper fuzz. I sometimes put a Boss HM2 in front of it - woah! (Mine is the big box reissue btw)

[wundergussy]

Originally Posted by espechemode

(but that's just my opinion which I don't spout off as arrogant gospel)

Wait... isn't that what the internet is for?

[docpain]

I dunno how i get myself into postin replies ...but i was looking to do a "MOD" on this box (EHarmo Grafic Fuzz) . To be honest I had read prior that it was the same as the old one ..( !#%#^& LIARS!!!) and THAT is hilarious..it doesnt have near the quality of process/board hardware it had 25 years ago and it ends up proving it in the final sound. Used to I used it and a Tom Scholtz but stuck with the Harmo-Fuzz till it blew up. I missed it ever since. The new one doesnt have near the Band/Freq response regardless of what they claim it does. The "Fuzz" lacks the "real" envelope sound that it once had. Bottom line You just cant compare it to what it was anymore than you can America itself --- it sux!---
I regret blowing 150$ compared to the frikn 25$ I had bought the old one in a garage sale for [albeit fate do have a way of catching up with us I guess.).
All that dribble said I believe what im/me is perceiving when peepl talk about is maybe different then what I've preferred over the years and there just is no simulation for it --- Good/Solid/Biased Tubes that are overdriven and good EQ behind either good single coils or dense/fat/overwound humbuckers..
Nothin will ever match it as far as good Rock n Roll that wont shred yer ears off like hearing some of the tin-can garbage thats out there now.
(yep...im at least 50 yrs. old...hahaha).
Peace!