Earthquaker Devices Terminal Fuzz review

An FY-2-inspired fuzz box

  • £139
  • €170
  • $165
The Terminal Fuzz offers more control than the original FY-2

MusicRadar Verdict

A versatile alternative for anyone yearning for a vintage Shin Ei FY-2.

Pros

  • +

    Nails the buzzy fuzz of the original. Offers more control than the FY-2.

Cons

  • -

    Only one sound.

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Besides the bigger names such as Fuzz Face, Tone Bender and the like, the 60s and 70s saw a variety of fuzz pedals being released, many with quite distinctive sounds.

"Keep turning it up and you'll hear more of the buzzy fuzz that you are buying this for"

One such was the Shin Ei Companion FY-2 fuzz (available under various brand names) closely associated with The Jesus And Mary Chain and Dan Auerbach.

The Terminal Fuzz is based on that pedal but offers more in the way of control, in that you get separate controls for the output level and fuzz plus a voice knob that changes midrange emphasis, and a treble knob to tweak the top end.

At lower levels of the fuzz knob you get practical drive tones that can be shaped with the tone knobs, but keep turning it up and you'll hear more of the buzzy fuzz that you are buying this for - right through to a ripping synth-like Spirit In The Sky tone.

A specialised tool rather than a generic fuzz - it's got one sound but it's a sought- after sound with distinct character.

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.