Octave fuzz

A fuzz circuit that adds a note an octave above the played pitch, producing a thick, ring-modulated, slightly unstable distortion.

The extra octave is generated by rectifying the signal, which doubles the frequency, and because the circuit works best on the neck pickup and on the upper register the tracking can be erratic in a way players deliberately use. The result is a fat, synthy, slightly out-of-control tone that has been a rock and funk staple since the late sixties. Chords played through it usually turn into mush, so it works best on single notes and power chords.

Example: A lead line that sounds as though the guitar is being doubled an octave up while also being distorted is using octave fuzz.

Octave fuzz

See also