I'm still waiting to recieve it by mail...I also have a normal rat pedal but I can't use it well because with my '78 Telecaster I got problems with tones and if I try a distortion like rat without close all my guitar tones, the amplifier starts to whistle without control.

I know that this version of the pedal is a half way between a classic fuzz and a Rat distortion...I will tell you my test in a few days ;-)

Bernh

I'm not hip to this pedal.  I do have an old ProCo Rat (which is a great pedal, by the way) that I have had for twenty years or so.  How does the Dirty Rat differ from to regular Rat?

No, tell me about it.

Hey James,

The original run of Maestros (the 3 volt and 3 transistor FZ-1) was from 62-65 where Gibson made roughly about 5000 of them. They didn't sell as Gibson had anticipated until Keef recorded 'satisfaction' with one after which they became highly sought after by guitarists and studios of the time so they then released the updated FZ-1A which runs on a 1.5V power supply and has different transistors (3 x 2N2613 or 2N2614). They made roughly in the region of 35,000 of these. The FZ-1 is therefore harder to find but recognisable by it's lower serial number and 2 x pencil battery holder. Prices for the occasional ones that come up on ebay would be in the region of $650-$1000. FZ-1A boxes (which very many of the garage punk/psyche kids would have used from '65-'68 ish) come up reasonably frequently on ebay and would usually cost around $350-$600 depending on condition. Problem is that so many of these originals have been butchered to 'improve' them as short sustain became a problem for the newer generation of blues rock wailers. As long as they have their original transistors that still function they can be restored to their original glory but if the trannies have been replaced you're in trouble! Originals are a gamble for sure, and even perfectly functioning ones can sound quite different as consistency was not easily acheivable in those days. The early noughties reissues were apparently pretty good but they actually sell for in the region of $170-$250!

A modern day, accurate (original NOS transistors) clone of an FZ-1A that will be both reliable and sound pretty much bang on would be the Creepyfingers 'fuzznugget' which I believe would be in the region of $250, and Jerms builds a frighteningly accurate FZ-1 clone for about $350 or thereabouts (if he agrees to make one!) Of the various clones I have using non-spec transistors I would recommend the Ghost Effects FZ-1 clone which costs approx £120 - it captures the 'feel' of a maestro really well. But for the cheapest cheerfullest yet pretty decent FZ-1A clone then the North Effects Primitive. Only £75 which is honestly as cheap as you'll ever get to come reasonably close to an original.

As far as other fuzzes go to try to acheive the Maestro sound, I suppose something that has a voltage starve, bias or gating type of control will help get in the ballpark of that short sustain grindy buzz, which could be helped along if you can drastically cut bass frequencies. You'd be struggling with a fuzz factory as it often gets too synthy sounding on the gated settings, and most other fuzzes based around other classic circuits (perhaps with the exception of the MkI tonebender...) just aren't really going to get you into the right territory. The MI audio 'neofuzz' has a bias knob that helps get close to the right sort of feel and I'm sure that with a bit of tweaking you may be able to get a rough approximation with many other modern designs (Basic Audio does some pretty cool sounding buzzy fuzzes at a very reasonable price, unfortunately I don't have any of his boxes).

Costs a lot of money to sound this cheap!

How easy are these coveted FZ1 pedals to find?  I know the reissues have been discontinued and the originals are out of my price range.  What currently available pedal gets you close to the Maestro FZ1 or FZ1A?

waveclipper said:

A lot of the Sonics sound was acheived by pushing the amps and red-lining the mixing desk I believe. That Outsiders track (and most of the fuzz sounds on the BFTG series) is almost certainly a Gibson Maestro Fuzz-Tone (probably an FZ-1A), judging both by the sound and the year ('66). The Seeds used a Maestro fuzz-tone. The Mosrite fuzzrite is a really fantastic fuzz but is more along the lines of Dave Allan and the Arrows, the Ventures and of course Iron Butterfly. The Ashbass clone is a pretty good and great value clone but I reckon the Mahoney fuzzrite clone, Jerms, DAM stuff is better, although it will cost more. The Boss FZ-5 maestro patch is to an original maestro as a mobile phone photograph of a Van Gogh is to the original painting, imo. It will give you a flavour of the maestro and the way it changes your approach to playing but has some ugly background digital artefacts, gates absolutely and abrubtly (unlike an original) and has no depth of character to the sound - a 2D rendering of a sculpture perhaps?! As far as FZ-1/FZ-1A clones go, the best I have heard use the original transistors and that would really be Jerms or Creepyfingers. Ghost effects makes a very good FZ-1 clone using non-original transistors and is consequently much cheaper. A Big Muff was really a late 60s/early 70s fuzz after Hendrix convinced the guitarists of the world that they needed loads of wailing sustain and I don't personally feel it will get you anywhere close to the tones you are describing. The best resource regarding the early fuzzboxes that I have found would be the DAM forum, frightening amount of knowledge held within those pages!

Conclusion? Maestro Fuzz-Tone FZ-1A or FZ-1. Good luck with your quest anyways!

Just remembered - North Effects based in London does a pretty decent FZ-1A clone (he calls a 'Primitive') for only about £70 or so. It has no fancy paint job, just a good sounding box using non original trannies but powered by a single pencil battery just like the originals. He's a great guy to deal with (I'm not affiliated) and it destroys the Boss facsimilie of a maestro...

A lot of the Sonics sound was acheived by pushing the amps and red-lining the mixing desk I believe. That Outsiders track (and most of the fuzz sounds on the BFTG series) is almost certainly a Gibson Maestro Fuzz-Tone (probably an FZ-1A), judging both by the sound and the year ('66). The Seeds used a Maestro fuzz-tone. The Mosrite fuzzrite is a really fantastic fuzz but is more along the lines of Dave Allan and the Arrows, the Ventures and of course Iron Butterfly. The Ashbass clone is a pretty good and great value clone but I reckon the Mahoney fuzzrite clone, Jerms, DAM stuff is better, although it will cost more. The Boss FZ-5 maestro patch is to an original maestro as a mobile phone photograph of a Van Gogh is to the original painting, imo. It will give you a flavour of the maestro and the way it changes your approach to playing but has some ugly background digital artefacts, gates absolutely and abrubtly (unlike an original) and has no depth of character to the sound - a 2D rendering of a sculpture perhaps?! As far as FZ-1/FZ-1A clones go, the best I have heard use the original transistors and that would really be Jerms or Creepyfingers. Ghost effects makes a very good FZ-1 clone using non-original transistors and is consequently much cheaper. A Big Muff was really a late 60s/early 70s fuzz after Hendrix convinced the guitarists of the world that they needed loads of wailing sustain and I don't personally feel it will get you anywhere close to the tones you are describing. The best resource regarding the early fuzzboxes that I have found would be the DAM forum, frightening amount of knowledge held within those pages!

Conclusion? Maestro Fuzz-Tone FZ-1A or FZ-1. Good luck with your quest anyways!

devil dogs- once around the block

not sure why. I don't have a specific song to listen to on Monday morning, but that was one I wanted to hear recently on a Monday morning, and it worked well.

"Down To You" - Real Kids. Wish I had a copy in High School.

Nice!

Trace Hull said:

If it's raining - Rainy Monday by The Rifles

 

 

I'm the same way, now.  Music in the morning just sounds painful.... for me anyway
 
John Battles said:

....I don't usually listen to music in the morning , anymore , got out of the habit. When I was in High School , I had a little Radio Shack tape player , so I could play music while taking a shower , and not electrocute myself.....My favorite song to start the day was "Strange Boutique" by The Monochrome Set , which I had on a tape of DJ George Gimarc's show. I did'nt know who it was by , and the chorus is not in the title . It took 31 years for me to find a copy. It's still more "Garage" than much of what passes for Garage , today.

Afte rthat , pretty much anything by The RAMONES WOULD BE MY DAY STARTER.

http://youtu.be/qju3FEcKTrw

This is the monday morning song.

It's About Time - The Alarm Clocks!!!

I'm currently digging the Diamond Rugs, Cheap Time (Wallpaper Music) & Fidlar (Don't Try...EP).  I had never heard of them and they opened for The Hives.  I really liked it!  Very bouncy.  Following in the tradition of old L.A. punk.

At this moment I really like listening to Death Letters. Two young guys, guitar and drums, and they rock! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXXhcqlt-6Q But ask me again tomorrow...

Nice pick!! Chaz
Mike Gallows said:

Not sure if it's been mentioned but I would go with THE MONKS "Black Monk Time"

Not sure if it's been mentioned but I would go with THE MONKS "Black Monk Time"

Cool Beltones tune, sounds like a punk version of the Pogues in that song. Chaz
Jason Feldmann said:

Everyone should know, love, appreciate and emmulate the Beltones. Their On Deaf Ears EP collects all their early 7 inches onto a CD. Only 20 minutes. But 20 minutes is all you need to have your life turned upside down!!  I love this goddamn band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eS3mtb...

Whoa - the cover alone looks amazingly badass, almost have to buy it just based on that! I found some clips on amazon, sound pretty damn Hawt!
Thanks for sharing Kopper

Chaz



kopper said:

Here's one you probably don't have, but is an amazing live recording from a Minneapolis band who was around in the late '70s playing wild & raucous garage trash when no one else was! It's insanely good...

http://www.bompstore.com/servlet/Detail?no=11972

this http://www.lamf.biz/nomads-solna-lp---gatefold-sleeve--download-code-white-vinyl-278-p.asp

The Cramps: File Under Sacred Music Early Singles 1978–1981

MFC Chicken. This album is insanely catchy.

When I made the original post last year, I said my radio shows were not archived. 

Well, now a few of them are, on Mixcloud. I've got a grand total  three up at the moment, but they all are doozies.

You can find them all at http://www.mixcloud.com/steveterrell

Bookmark that page. I'll be adding more when the spirit says "Upload."

I just uploaded the first half of the Sound World show where I interviewed Wheeler Dixon and Michael Downey of Figures of Light.

There's also one from May with my pal Scott Gullett co-hosting.

And there's my Santa Fe Opry from January, when I celebrated New Mexico's 100th birthday

Amazing turnaround on the volumes.  Amazing it is up to Volume 8. What can I say more than "thanks" to Kopper for the conception, organisation, orchestration, etc., and thanks to all the bands who make their music available.  

Playlist for 6/25/12

Harbor Freeway Blues/Feelings Are Meant To Be Hurt - Off!

Homework - Screaming Urge

Pogo Pogo - The Registrators

Treasure Hunt - The Electric Vomit

Jezebel - The Hex Tremors

Taped Up - The Spivs

The Kids From Boyle Heights/Sick of You - Loli & the Chones

Intelligence - Partman Parthorse

Thistle Boy - The Real McKenzies

Emergency Cases - The Undertones

Anybody Out There - The Mean Jeans

Try - The Swindlers

All This & More - Dead Boys

Nuke 'Em All - Super Aids

House of Shame - Toe Tag

Rip Off - Sham 69

Neon Lights - Revenge 88

Youth Against Facism - Sonic Youth

Go Mental - The Ramones

More Suicides Please - Thought Criminals

Demolition Boys - Girlschool

Born To Rock n Roll - Columbian Neckties

So Sad, Well? - Western Dark

Upgrade Me - MHz

New Race - Radio Birdman

Stand By Your Man - Wendy O. Williams & Lemmy Kilmister

The Wait - Pierced Arrows

Blast Off - The Birthday Party

Jet Satisfaction - Guitar Wolf

LOCAL SIZZLER: The Road - Rust Belt Demons

Roll The Dice - The Dragons

Hey Ugly - Headache City

The Habit - Motocaster

Black Mold - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Wig Wam Bam - The Sirens

Do The Robot - The Saints

Fat Lip - Rocket From The Crypt

Drambuie - 1313 Mockingbird Lane

Radar Eyes - The Godz

Soul Search - The Repeaters

Ankle Breaker - The Vulcaneers

Shake It - The Groundhogs

This Game Called Girl - The Fuzztones

All Of Your Love - Thee Mighty Caesars

Bo Bo Boogaloo - Kid Congo & the Pink Monkeybirds

Love at a Psychedelic Velocity - The Human Expression

Charge It - The Playboys

The Track - Girl Trouble

I Once Was a Man - The Tundra F***s

The Red Monkey - The Mants

Action Woman - The Litter

Plate In My Head - The Oblivians

Everything Goes - The Cramps

Complicated - Dr. Explosion

Crawdaddy Simone - The Syndicats

Bond Girl - The 5.6.7.8.'s

 

Playlist for 7/2/12

 

Cherry Pop - The Spastics

Just What I Need - Nikki & the Corvettes

Just A Little Sign - Dogbreath

Cretin Hop - The Ramones

I Owe It To The Girls - Jeannie & the Tits

Youngblood In The River - The Hex Dispensers

Okay - The Shoes

Ichiban - New Luck Toy

Life Is Gross - Overnight Lows

I Wanna Be Rich - Cold Cock

Doin' The Banana Split - Young Fresh Fellows

Mis Au Pas - TV Killers

Uh Oh - The Limit

My Machine - The Humpers

New Rose - The Damned

Can't Win Your Heart/SOS/Guys Like That - Midnight Snaxxx

Automatic Boy - Chinese Millionaires

Horizontal Action - Psycho Surgeons

Get Stuffed - Teengenerate

Under My Hood - Gluecifer

Can The Can - Suzi Quatro

Action Satisfaction - New Wave Hookers

Shine On Me - The Chronics

Swampland - The Scientists

Funtime - Iggy Pop

Self Destructo Blues - Turbonegro

LOCAL SIZZLER: High Heel Sneakers - Girls Take Over

City Slang - Sonic's Rendezvous Band

Tell Me That You Love Me - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Nights in Venice - The Saints

20th Century Boy - T.Rex

Gimme Gimme Gimme R&R - The Plungers

Deuces Wild - Link Wray

Hindu Gods of Love - Lipstick Killers

Land of Alohas - Les Chefs

Here Come The Girls - Royal Beat Conspiracy

Mud In Your Eye - The Insomniacs

13 Women - The Renegades

Scum City - Roy Loney & the Phantom Movers

Je New Suis Pas Tres Drogue - The Liminanas

No More Lies - The Gruesomes

Married For The Weekend - Demolition Doll Rods

Clever Way To Crawl - Persian Claws

Screamin' Skull - The Fleshtones

Addicted To Fuzz - The Crusaders

Beat Party - Ritchie & the Squires

Corned Beef & Whiskey - Chum

Hot Generation - The Pandoras

Womp Womp - Freddie & the Heartaches

Get Out of My House - Supercharger

Ready To Ride - Bleed