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Whether you’re a Muse fan or not, the Supermassive Black Fuzz’s radical approach to shaping the sound, along with alternative footswitched options, make it a pedal that can fulfil a host of requirements.
Pros
+
Compact size.
+
Solid build quality.
+
Peak boost footswitch.
+
Extended tonal range.
Cons
-
Control knob settings can’t be seen very clearly.
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UK guitar-maker Manson Guitar Works has had a long history with Matt Bellamy of Muse, who is now the majority shareholder in the company.
Business matters aside, Matt and the Manson team have worked together over several years to come up with the company’s first pedal, the Supermassive Black Fuzz. Solidly constructed by fellow UK brand ThorpyFX, it certainly has a distinctive look, featuring aluminium knobs that are intricately engraved with custom artwork.
While the lack of a defined line makes it difficult to see at a glance where the controls are set, there’s no mistaking where to put them if you hit a chord and use your ears.
The Magnitude and Gravity knobs set the output level and gain respectively (as you’d find on most dirt pedals), but the tone can be tempered by a filter, brought into the circuit by a toggle switch.
A Warp knob adjusts the filter cut-off frequency after the fuzz circuit and has a range from 350Hz to 5kHz, while the Dimension knob adjusts the Q (bandwidth) of its response, with clockwise movement sharpening and narrowing the peak.
Without the EQ, the vibe of the pedal is full-on thick vintage fuzz from the get-go with the Gravity knob gradually ramping up the intensity. The tonal character here is well balanced across the frequency range with plenty of top-end and perhaps just a hint of midrange scoop.
(Image credit: Future/Phil Barker)
It’s very usable as an everyday richly textured traditional fuzz, feeling responsive under the fingers and cleaning up nicely with your volume knob. Bringing in the EQ is a whole other ball game as the juxtaposition of the Dimension (Q) and Warp knobs unlocks myriad tones, shifting the midrange emphasis until you find your sweet spot, which may be basic fuzz with a certain tonal character like some cocked-wah stridency, or more extreme finely tweaked distortions such as really thinned-out fuzz with a crispy treble edge.
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More variation and onstage flexibility is provided by the Peak footswitch, which adds a boost with a tonal element. With EQ off, it offers a practical level jump and increased presence that would work for solos, but with the EQ on, it delivers a radical tonal shift to any sound that you have dialled in.
Verdict
Verdict: ★★★★½
(Image credit: Future/Phil Barker)
Guitar World verdict: Whether you’re a Muse fan or not, the Supermassive Black Fuzz’s radical approach to shaping the sound, along with alternative footswitched options, make it a pedal that can fulfil a host of requirements.
Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.
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