So that's what the buzz was around Fuzz! Effectrode Mercury!

My second Fuzz pedal ever, the Effectrode Mercury, a tube-driven germanium-based circuit. This might be the most exciting pedal I've ever played. Set up just like in the picture I get a beautiful, soaring lead tone with my guitar's volume at 5, and a wicked lead tone at 10. Massive bottom end. Thunderous chords practically erupt from my amp.

The pedal's design is fairly adjustable: there are two internal pots that let you bias the second stage of the tube hotter or cooler (depending on what type of Fuzz you're looking for) and set an aver-all Brightness. There's a switch on the back labeled Heat, which, ironically, drops the plate voltage on the second triode to give it more dirt and grit (sounds hotter, for sure.)

I've only tried it in the first position of my chain - it seems Fuzzes like high-impedance inputs - so that might limit where it can go. It won't hurt to try other arrangements, but I'm so impressed with the Mercury so far that I know I'd be more than happy to keep it where it is.

I've avoided posting about my other Effectrode pedals - I don't want to come across as a fan-boi. But as amazing as they all are I felt the Mercury really deserved a shout-out. If you've heard any David Gilmour in the last three years then you've heard one of these.

(And my first Fuzz was a Fulltone '69. It's gone now. I don't feel I gave it the chance it deserved. It sure wasn't bad in any way.) But this Mercury is freakin' Inspiration-in-a-box!