The annals of fuzz pedal history isn’t short on iconic stompboxes, but Rotosound’s legendary germanium fuzz unit from 1967 – a hugely rare design that was championed early on by the likes of Jimmy Page – is a particular standout.
When it was first developed in the late ’60s, the Rotosound Fuzz was made in limited quantities, available exclusively from Rotosound’s London showroom, and never released for general sales.
The original prototypes, produced alongside Sola Sound Tonebenders, were nevertheless a hit, thanks to their meaty fuzz effect. Indeed, Jimmy Page famously used one, and was pictured playing through an OG Rotosound fuzz on several occasions in 1969.
Despite this pedigree and heritage, original Rotosound Fuzz pedals are insanely rare, owing to the fact they were produced in such tiny quantities. However, in order to bring that Page-approved fuzz magic to the masses, the firm has now reissued its coveted germanium pedal.
Based on the same circuit as the original design, the RFB1 Fuzz Reissue offers the same tones that were once used by the Led Zeppelin guitar icon, thanks to its precise combination of modern resistors, capacitors and original germanium transistors.
With a retro-style chassis that delivers a like-for-like emulation of the original unit, the RFB1 comes equipped with a no-nonsense control layout comprising a sole footswitch, and parameters for Volume, Treble and Fuzz.
“This meticulous attention to detail helps the RFB1 deliver the same chewy fuzz tones that made the original popular with legends like Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page,” explains Rotosound.
Every pedal is hand-built in Great Britain. Head over to Rotosound to find out more.
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