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Edge of Breakup
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Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

OC45

Expresso FX returns to the channel with another custom Dual Ge/Si Fuzz & Ge Boost build — this time in the chameleon color enclosure, with a completely different transistor set and a genuinely special result. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Expresso FX Custom Dual Ge/Si Fuzz & Ge Boost (Chameleon) takes center stage — featuring the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Righteous Sound Pickups Opal Road Set and Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Vincent 2x12" with Scumback H75-PVC 65W speakers and Benson Tall Bird+ Reverb and Tremolo Unit via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.

Reach out to Sof on Instagram DM for current inventory: https://www.instagram.com/expressofx/ Learn about the Dual Ge/Si Fuzz & Boost: https://expressofx.com/product/custom-dual-ge-si-fuzz-ge-boost-gorva-chameleon/

This is Sof's custom three-circuit pedal combining a Fuzz Face/Tone Bender hybrid fuzz with switchable germanium and silicon middle transistor, and a Rangemaster-style germanium treble boost — all in one enclosure with independent footswitches. Every transistor hand-selected NOS, zero compromise on components.

Ge Fuzz side (00:00): Three transistors — AC125 germanium in Q1, CV7347 silicon in Q2, AC125 germanium in Q3. The AC125 is a warm, full-frequency NPN germanium device from the early 1960s with smooth cleanup response and excellent harmonic complexity. The CV7347 is the military specification Mullard silicon device — grittier, more aggressive, with more upper-mid bite. Placing a silicon transistor in the middle position of a three-transistor circuit produces a hybrid character that sits between a pure germanium Fuzz Face and a pure silicon Tone Bender MKI — the warmth of the outer AC125s with the aggression of the CV7347 in the critical middle gain stage. Explored across the full opening section.

Si Fuzz side (10:05): The switch positions are compared directly — the Si Fuzz voice gives the CV7347's silicon character more prominence in the mix. Explored from 10:05 to 12:59 against the Ge Fuzz for direct comparison.

Ge Boost side (12:59): OC45 germanium transistor — the Mullard OC45, used in the earliest Dallas Rangemaster units. Authentic treble boost character with the warmth and harmonic complexity of the original circuit. Explored slamming the Benson Vincent into breakup territory.

Benson Tall Bird+ Harmonic Tremolo explored from 17:36. Fuzz stacked into Ge Boost from 19:19.

🎛️ Expresso FX: https://www.instagram.com/expressofx/ 🎸 Righteous Sound Pickups: https://www.righteoussoundpickups.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Expresso FX Buzzabout Fuzz

Expresso FX returns to the channel with the Buzzabout — Sof's faithful reproduction of the Colorsound Buzzaround circuit. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Expresso FX Buzzabout takes center stage — featuring the BilT Guitars DK Ultra S.S. Zaftig with Lollar La Prima Mini-Humbuckers and Emerson Custom Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Vincent 2x12" with Scumback H75-PVC 65W speakers and Benson Tall Bird+ Reverb and Tremolo Unit via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 06:56.

Reach out to Sof on Instagram DM for current inventory: https://www.instagram.com/expressofx/
Learn about the Buzzabout: https://expressofx.com/product/buzzaround/

Also on the channel: Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI, Ge Fuzz, Octave Fuzz, Ge Boost, and MK1.V.

The Colorsound Buzzaround is a lesser-known British fuzz circuit from the late 1960s — related to the Tone Bender family but with its own distinct architecture and character. Strong, loud fuzz tones with great sustain and relatively low background noise compared to other circuits of the era. Sof's Buzzabout is a faithful reproduction using the highest quality NOS components throughout.

Transistors: Newmarket CV7007 and Mullard OC42 germanium, hand-selected. NOS Sylvania germanium diode. NOS Mullard Mustard C296 polyester capacitors. NOS Philips electrolytic capacitors. NOS Allen Bradley carbon composition resistors. Premium Cliff UK jacks. 22 AWG solid core silver-plated copper wire with Teflon insulation. Lead-free silver-based solder. True bypass. Genuine Hammond aluminium enclosure, powder-coated. 3 years warranty.

Three controls: Fuzz, Volume, Tone. The all-knobs-cranked territory is explored from 02:31, with volume knob cleanup from 04:01 — the Buzzaround's interaction with the guitar volume control producing its own specific character distinct from the Fuzz Face or Tone Bender circuits covered in previous Expresso FX demos on the channel.

🎛️ Expresso FX: https://expressofx.com/product/buzzaround/
🎸 BilT Guitars: https://biltguitars.com
🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Cunningham Amps MK1.6 Fuzz (TI 2N404 Ge) & Custom 35 2x12" Tube Amplifier

Cunningham Amps returns to the channel — this time with the MK1.6 Fuzz alongside the Custom 35, and Jules Leyhe is back for a fourth collaborative session. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Cunningham Amps MK1.6 Fuzz and Custom 35 2x12" take center stage — Sean on the Giordano Guitars Tributo Korina Special with Sunbear '58 Reserve SB-PAF Humbuckers, and Jules Leyhe on the 1967 Gibson ES-335. Effectrode Tube Vibe and Echo Fix EF-X3 Tape Delay via Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander throughout.

Get a Cunningham Amps Custom 35: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz/product-page/custom-35 Cunningham Amps NOS transistor fuzzes: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz/effect-pedals Follow Jules Leyhe: https://www.instagram.com/julesleyhe/ Jules Leyhe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@julesleyhe Jules Leyhe's Derek Trucks Slide Course: https://julien-leyhe-s-school.teachable.com/p/derek-trucks-style-slide-guitar-curve

In Tim Cunningham's own words:

"The Custom 35 is an all tube guitar amplifier available in both head and combo configurations. Two channels are foot switchable for running independently, in parallel or cascaded modes providing a diverse tonal palette ranging from crystalline cleans to high gain tube saturation.

Channel 1 — Bite — Tweed style: big juicy cleans through to 'dimed on 12' overdrive. Channel 2 — Body — British style: classic Plexi tones for crunchy rhythm and singing leads.

In parallel mode, Channel 2 blends on top of Channel 1 — similar to jumpering channels on a dual channel amp. In cascade mode, Channel 2 borrows an additional gain stage from Channel 1 for modern high gain tones. Cathode biased output stage — fitted with EL34s as standard, try 6L6 or KT66 for a unique tonal signature. Tube driven spring reverb standard."

The Cunningham Amps Custom 35 is loaded with Scumback H75-PVC and S75-PVC 12" speakers, 8 ohm, 25W each.

The Cunningham Amps MK1.6 Fuzz sits at the intersection of the MK1.5 Tone Bender and Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face — Tim's hand-crafted take on the classic mid-1960s two-transistor fuzz circuit, built one pedal at a time with NOS transistors individually voiced and matched per build. This unit features Texas Instruments 2N404 germanium transistors — NOS, hand-selected. The three-way Gain Mode switch is the key creative control: Low (bright, boost-style fuzz with strong volume knob cleanup response — explored from 06:52 and 09:45), Med (progressively more fuzz and low end), High (full saturated fuzz, fat and juicy). Attack and Level controls cover the full range from clean boost through face-melting fuzz. Each build comes with a custom carry bag, signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.

🔊 Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz 🎸 Giordano Guitars: https://www.instagram.com/giordanoguitars/ 🎸 Sunbear Pickups: https://www.sunbearpickups.com

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

The Best NOS Fuzz Face?! | R2R Electric GeFace Deluxe

R2R Electric returns to the channel with the GeFace Deluxe — Chris Vincent's NOS AC107 germanium Fuzz Face, and one of the finest Fuzz Face-circuit builds available anywhere. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the R2R Electric GeFace Deluxe Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Giordano Guitars '60s S-Model with Emerson Custom Blender Wiring, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The KingTone Vibe 1968 joins from 05:45.

Get on the R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com/
Follow R2R Electric: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp
R2R Electric on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@r2relectric

Chris Vincent (@djlavalamp) builds every R2R Electric pedal in Los Angeles using exclusively NOS and vintage components — hand-selected, tested, measured, and matched. Every build is unique in its specific component selection but verified for tonal consistency. Get on the mailing list — drops go extremely quickly.

The GeFace Deluxe is Chris's faithful Fuzz Face-circuit build using AC107 germanium transistors — the Mullard/Philips AC107 being one of the finest NOS germanium transistors available for a Fuzz Face circuit, known for their sweet top end, complex harmonic character, and warm, glassy volume knob cleanup response. NOS passive components throughout: Allen-Bradley and Piher carbon comp resistors, vintage CTS potentiometers, vintage capacitors. Hand-wired point-to-point.

The Giordano Guitars '60s S-Model is the Italian family's Stratocaster-style instrument — fitted with the Emerson Custom Blender wiring, which adds a continuous neck pickup blender knob to the standard tone control position, enabling parallel neck+bridge and neck+bridge+middle combinations unavailable on standard 5-way Strat wiring. These blended positions are explored from 04:59.

As with all R2R vintage fuzz builds: place first in signal chain before any buffered bypass pedals.

🎛️ R2R Electric: https://www.r2relectric.com
🎸 Giordano Guitars: https://www.instagram.com/_giordanoguitars_/
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 11

The Best NOS Tone Bender MKI?! | Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI

Expresso FX makes its channel debut with the Fuzz Bender MKI — Sof's immaculate reproduction of the original three-transistor Tone Bender MKI circuit. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI takes center stage — featuring the Wide Sky Guitars P125C Cutaway with Curtis Novak P90s and Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds, into the Cunningham Amps Custom 35 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.

Reach out to Sof on Instagram DM for current inventory — he works in batches and drops small quantities at a time: https://www.instagram.com/expressofx/
Learn about the Fuzz Bender MKI: https://expressofx.com/product/fuzz-bender-mk-i/

Expresso FX is Sof, building in the UK with zero compromise on components. The Fuzz Bender MKI is his recreation of the earliest three-transistor-based fuzz circuit from the Bender family — the 1965 Sola Sound Tone Bender MKI, the circuit that predates the Fuzz Face derivations and produces the distinctive nasty, spitting, cutting, midrange-forward character that defined the earliest British fuzz tones. In Sof's own words: "an immaculate reproduction of a classic pedal, but with a few tweaks for performance and reliability improvements."

Transistors: Newmarket CV7007 in Q1, Mullard OC82D in Q2, and Mullard OC42 in Q3 — all hand-selected NOS. NOS Mullard Mustard C296 polyester capacitors. Philips electrolytic capacitors. NOS Allen Bradley carbon composition resistors. Premium Cliff UK jacks. 22 AWG solid core silver-plated copper wire with Teflon insulation. Lead-free silver-based solder. True bypass. Genuine Hammond aluminium enclosure, powder-coated. 3 years warranty.

Three controls: Level, Filter, and Attack. The Filter knob is the key addition over the original MKI two-knob layout — it controls the low-end content feeding the fuzz stage, explored from 03:03 for tightening and shaping the circuit's bottom end. The Attack knob is explored across its full range from 03:21. Lower Amp gain with the MKI level reduced produces a ragged, more open-top end character explored from 05:24.

🎛️ Expresso FX: https://expressofx.com/product/fuzz-bender-mk-i/
🎸 Wide Sky Guitars: https://www.wideskyguitars.com
🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com
🔊 Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

R2R Electric Supa MKI Fuzz — Feat. Jules Leyhe

R2R Electric returns to the channel — this time with the Supa MKI Fuzz, one of only 12 ever made, and Jules Leyhe is back for another collaborative session. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the R2R Electric Supa MKI Fuzz takes center stage across four guitars — Sean on the Wide Sky Guitars Tawa (Curtis Novak Humbuckers + Emerson Custom Treble Bleeds), and Jules Leyhe on the Grez Guitars Mendocino Junior (Wolfetone Meaner P90 bridge), Prisma Guitars Dillinger Baritone (Lollar Gold Foils), and Kauer Super Chief (Lollar Firebird + Mini-Humbucker). Sean also plays the Kauer Banshee (Lollar Firebird Neck + Middle + Mini-HB Bridge). All into the Cunningham Amps Custom 35 2x12" with Scumback H75-PVC and S75-PVC speakers via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander with Echo Fix EF-X3 in the effects loop.

Join the R2R Electric email list: https://www.r2relectric.com/
Get a Cunningham Amps Custom 35: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz/product-page/custom-35
Follow Jules Leyhe: https://www.instagram.com/julesleyhe/
Jules Leyhe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@julesleyhe
Jules Leyhe's Derek Trucks Slide Course: https://julien-leyhe-s-school.teachable.com/p/derek-trucks-style-slide-guitar-course

The R2R Electric Supa MKI Fuzz is a limited build of just 12 units — Chris Vincent's take on the Marshall Supa Fuzz MKI circuit, the late 1960s amp builder version of the Tone Bender MKI family. NOS 1960s Philips OC75 germanium transistors, hand-selected and matched. Vintage passive components throughout, hand-wired point-to-point. As with all R2R vintage fuzz builds: place first in signal chain before any buffered bypass pedals.

The Wolfetone Meaner P90 in Jules' Grez is a hand-wound Alnico 2 P90 wound to approximately 9K — slightly hotter than vintage output, with midrange raunch and nastiness that defines the Meaner's character. Bright and forward but not harsh, full but not muddy. The Alnico 2 magnets give it the warm, aged character of early P90s.

The Prisma Guitars Dillinger Baritone is Nick Pourfard's LP-style model built in baritone configuration — tuned to B standard. Skateboard hard rock maple top over mahogany back, maple neck, Coney Island Boardwalk Brazilian Walnut fingerboard, Lollar Gold Foils, Mastery Bridge and Tremolo, Emerson Custom wiring kit and Treble Bleeds. Every Prisma skateboard top is a unique 1/1 original deck, making each build unrepeatable. Baritone B standard and Gold Foils into the Supa MKI — explored from 13:33 — is a genuinely unusual and compelling combination.

🎛️ R2R Electric: https://www.r2relectric.com
🔊 Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

R2R Electric Uniform Fuzz

R2R Electric returns to the channel with the Uniform Fuzz — a limited collaboration with LA's Uniform Music, and one originally designed for low-frequency instruments. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the R2R Electric Uniform Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Grez Guitars Mendocino Junior with P90 pickups, into the Benson Amps Monarch via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe and Echo Fix EF-X3 Tape Echo also feature.

Follow R2R Electric: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/ R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com

The Uniform Fuzz is a limited collaboration between Chris Vincent (@djlavalamp) and Uniform Music in Los Angeles. The circuit was originally conceived to work especially well with baritones, Bass VI, and electric bass — instruments that push fuzz circuits into the low frequency range where many vintage fuzz designs thin out, gate unexpectedly, or lose their character. The Uniform Fuzz is voiced to handle that low-end content without those issues, while still delivering the full NOS germanium character that defines every R2R Electric build.

That low-frequency voicing translates musically to guitar as well — demonstrated throughout this demo on the Grez Mendocino Junior's P90 pickups, which have their own natural fullness and body that benefits from a fuzz circuit that doesn't thin out in the low mids. The Bias knob's sweep is explored from 03:30 — at high bias the fuzz opens up and blooms; at lower bias the circuit becomes more gated and compressed. The Level control has substantial range above unity, explored from 01:39 and 04:21 to push the Monarch's front end harder.

All NOS vintage germanium components, hand-wired point-to-point as with every R2R Electric build. Place first in signal chain before any buffered bypass pedals.

Get on the R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com/how-to-order Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/

🎸 Grez Guitars: https://www.grezguitars.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Brothers AM — Chase Bliss x Analog Man

Chase Bliss returns to the channel — and Analog Man makes their first appearance. Together they've made the best thing to ever happen to the King of Tone. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Chase Bliss x Analog Man Brothers AM takes center stage — featuring the BilT Guitars DK Ultra S.S. Zaftig with Lollar La Prima Mini-Humbuckers, into the Cunningham Amps Custom 35 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.

Follow Chase Bliss: https://www.instagram.com/chasebliss/
Follow Analog Man: https://www.instagram.com/analogmike_piera
Buy a Brothers AM: https://www.chasebliss.com/brothers-am

The King of Tone is one of the most coveted overdrive pedals ever built. Analog Man's Mike Piera has been building them entirely by hand with near-unobtainable parts since the early 2000s — the waitlist has run as long as seven years. Five years ago, Chase Bliss founder Joel Korte sent Mike an email asking if he'd like to collaborate. The Brothers AM is the result.

The Brothers AM is not a clone of the King of Tone. It takes the coveted circuit, works closely with Mike Piera on its recreation, adds advanced control, and includes a treble boost circuit inspired by Analog Man's Beano Boost. The modes, hidden settings, and preset options from the KOT are now front-panel accessible controls that can be changed on the fly.

At its core: two identical, independent, multi-mode gain channels. Each channel selectable between Boost, Overdrive, and Distortion. Each has Gain, Volume, and Tone controls, plus a Presence control accessible by holding the footswitch and turning the Tone knob. Use Side 1 into Side 2 for stacking, or run either channel independently.

The Treble Booster is the bonus circuit — inspired by Analog Man's Beano Boost, the Rangemaster-inspired treble boost built with a vintage silicon transistor that Joel found to best capture the essential character. Three-way toggle: Yellow (Lite — softer treble boost character), Off, Red (Full — more aggressive). The Treble Booster can be positioned pre-Side 1 to slam it harder, or it can feed directly into Side 2. All the permutations explored throughout the demo from 02:40 onward.

16 dipswitches for high-gain mode per channel, linked Presence, and additional behavior options. 4 internal preset slots. Ships with Chase Bliss favorites including a recreation of Mike Piera's own preferred settings. Full MIDI, CV, and expression pedal control over every parameter.

I own two original King of Tones. They have totally nailed this.

🎛️ Chase Bliss Brothers AM: https://www.chasebliss.com/brothers-am
🎸 BilT Guitars: https://biltguitars.com
🎸 Lollar La Prima: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups
🔊 Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Cunningham Amps Zonk MKI Fuzz & Custom 35 2x12" — Feat. Jules Leyhe

Cunningham Amps returns to the channel — this time with Jules Leyhe back on slide guitar, the Cunningham Zonk MKI fuzz, and the Giordano Guitars Veloce making its collab debut. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Cunningham Amps Custom 35 2x12" and Cunningham Zonk MKI Fuzz take center stage — Jules Leyhe on his Gibson SG in Open E tuning for slide, and Sean on the Giordano Guitars Veloce with Sunbear '62 SB-PAT# Humbuckers. Effectrode Tube Vibe and Echo Fix EF-X3 Tape Delay in the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander effects loop throughout.

Get a Cunningham Amps Custom 35: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz/product-page/custom-35
Cunningham Amps NOS transistor fuzzes: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz/effect-pedals
Follow Jules Leyhe: https://www.instagram.com/julesleyhe/
Jules Leyhe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@julesleyhe
Jules Leyhe's Derek Trucks Slide Course: https://julien-leyhe-s-school.teachable.com/p/derek-trucks-style-slide-guitar-course

In Tim Cunningham's own words:

Channel 1 — Bite — Tweed style: big juicy cleans through to 'dimed on 12' overdrive. Channel 2 — Body — British style: classic Plexi tones for crunchy rhythm and singing leads.

In parallel mode, Channel 2 blends on top of Channel 1 — similar to jumpering channels on a dual channel amp with a huge range of tonal possibilities. In cascade mode, Channel 2 borrows an additional gain stage from Channel 1 for modern high gain tones. Cathode biased output stage — fitted with EL34s as standard, try 6L6 or KT66 for a unique tonal signature. Tube driven spring reverb standard."

The Cunningham Amps Custom 35 is loaded with Scumback H75-PVC and S75-PVC 12" speakers, 8 ohm, 25W each.

The Cunningham Zonk MKI Pedalboard Edition is Tim's dual-fuzz housing both the Hornby Skewes Zonk Machine and Sola Sound Tone Bender MKI circuits — NOS hand-matched germanium transistors, vintage components throughout. The two circuits are compared extensively across both Jules and Sean's sections, with the Zonk's more angular, gnarly mid character contrasted against the MKI's fuller, more blooming character.

The Giordano Guitars Veloce (Serial #001) is the Italian family's new model — all-mahogany body and neck, Malaysian Blackwood fretboard, Sunbear '62 SB-PAT# Humbuckers. The SB-PAT# set references the brief era when Gibson swapped from the PAF decal to the Patent Number decal — construction unchanged, short-length Alnico V magnets, Bridge 7.7K / Neck 6.8K. Bright, spanky, and vocal like the best vintage SG pickups.

🔊 Cunningham Amps: https://www.cunninghamamps.co.nz
🎸 Giordano Guitars: https://www.instagram.com/_giordanoguitars_/
🎸 Sunbear Pickups: https://www.sunbearpickups.com

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R121 & R10 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Electric Machine Fuzz — R2R Electric Zonk Machine

R2R Electric returns to the channel with the Electric Machine — Chris Vincent's NOS Zonk Machine-style fuzz, dialed in to his own exacting tastes. He nailed it. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the R2R Electric Electric Machine Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Josh Williams Guitars Mockingbird with Tone Specific Bloombucker Humbuckers, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 07:45.

Follow R2R Electric: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/ R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com

The Hornby Skewes Zonk Machine is one of the rarest and most sought-after British fuzz circuits of the 1960s — a close relative of the Tone Bender MKI, but with a distinct input capacitor value that rolls off low end before the fuzz stage, producing a more angular, midrange-forward, and characteristically gnarly character. The Zonk was made in extremely limited quantities and commands significant prices when originals surface.

The Electric Machine is Chris's take on the Zonk Machine circuit, built in his Professional format — the same full-size wedge enclosure and construction standard used across the R2R lineup. In Chris's own words: "This guy is spot on to my full size wedge Electric Machine fuzz." Transistors are Texas Instruments, OC75, and OC44 — the same NOS transistor set as the full-size version. Mustard caps throughout. Hand-wired point-to-point with NOS vintage components as with every R2R Electric build.

Two controls: Attack (gain) and Level (output). Low Attack settings with Level pushed well above unity produce a particularly compressed, angular fuzz character explored in depth from 09:40. High Attack into a pushed amp from 04:08. The Level has substantial output range — more than enough to slam the Monarch's front end hard.

As with all R2R vintage fuzz builds: place first in signal chain before any buffered bypass pedals.

Get on the R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com/how-to-order Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/

🎸 Josh Williams Guitars: https://joshwilliamsguitars.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Browne Carbon X — Dual Bluesbreaker Overdrive

Browne Amplification returns to the channel with the Carbon X — a dual Bluesbreaker overdrive born from a collaboration with David Ryan Harris. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Browne Amplification Carbon X Dual Bluesbreaker Overdrive takes center stage — into the Benson Amps Vincent 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.

In Browne Amplification's words:

"The Carbon X was born from a simple question posed by David Ryan Harris — 'Can this be done?' The answer ('probably?') led to a journey of innovation and experimentation that resulted in the Carbon X. Imagine the fusion of two blue sides, the classic Carbon sound elevated to new heights. Stripping the right side of some of its sheen and headroom, we unleashed its grittier, raw essence and added a touch of sag, letting it unleash its barbaric yawp into the world of tonal richness. To perfect the art of stacking and gaining it up, we introduced a high cut to the left side, taming the top end with surgical precision."

The Carbon X is a dual overdrive housing two distinct variants of Browne Amplification's Bluesbreaker-circuit Carbon overdrive in one enclosure with two independent footswitches.

Right side: the grittier, rawer Carbon voice. Stripped of some headroom and sheen compared to the standard Carbon, with added sag — a looser, more pushed, more organic character. This is the more aggressive of the two sides, explored from 01:47.

Left side: the more refined Carbon voice, with the addition of a 3-way high-cut switch for surgical control over top-end content. The three high-cut positions allow the left side to be voiced from its natural brightness down to a mellowed, more vintage character — essential for controlling harshness when stacking. Explored from 04:49.

Both sides stacked from 08:01 — the architecture intentionally designed for stacking, with the right side's sag and grit feeding the left side's high-cut refinement. Into a pushed Benson Vincent from 09:21. Additional features: soft-switching, adjustable startup state (which side or combination is active when the pedal is first engaged), and an internal switch for use with a looper.

David Ryan Harris has worked with John Mayer, India Arie, and numerous other major artists. His request and collaborative refinement across multiple prototypes shaped the final Carbon X voicing.

🎛️ Browne Amplification Carbon X: https://www.browneamplification.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Thorpy FX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive

ThorpyFX returns to the channel — this time with the Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive, their benchmark low-gain dirt pedal. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive takes center stage — featuring the Kauer Guitars Super Chief with Lollar Firebird Neck and Lollar Mini-Humbucker Bridge, into the Benson Amps Vincent 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 07:21.

Get a ThorpyFX Peacekeeper: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/collections/thorpyfx-pedals Follow ThorpyFX: https://www.instagram.com/thorpyfx/

Adrian Thorpe designed the Peacekeeper with one specific architectural insight that separates it from most low-gain overdrives: the Presence/Mids control sits before the gain stage, not after it. This changes what the control actually does. On a conventional overdrive, an EQ control after the drive stage shapes the tone of the overdriven signal. The Peacekeeper's pre-gain Presence control shapes what frequency content gets driven in the first place — turn it up and the mids get amplified before hitting the gain stage, producing a mid-humped, vocal, Dumble-adjacent character. Turn it down and the mids are scooped before the drive, producing a smoother, glassier, more open gain texture. The character of the overdrive itself changes, not just its tonal balance.

Post-gain, active Treble and Bass controls then shape the overdriven signal — wide-ranging, interactive with each other, and explored in depth from 03:49 and 05:35. The combination of pre-gain Presence shaping and post-gain active Treble/Bass gives the Peacekeeper a genuinely wide tonal range for a low-gain overdrive. Five controls total: Volume, Gain, Presence, Treble, Bass.

Premium components throughout: 1% metal film resistors, Wima and Panasonic capacitors, Burr-Brown op-amp, gold-plated PCB, Neutrik jacks, dust-sealed Alpha potentiometers. Stainless steel laser-etched centre console in Adrian Thorpe's signature enclosure. Top-mounted jacks. Recessed knobs. Built like a tank. 9V DC centre negative.

🎛️ ThorpyFX Peacekeeper: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/collections/thorpyfx-pedals 🎸 Kauer Guitars Super Chief: https://www.kauerguitars.com/instruments/super-chief 🎸 Lollar Firebird + Mini-Humbucker: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Templo Devices Incandescent

Templo Devices makes its channel debut with the Incandescent Fuzz — and the Model 66 Vibrato/Phaser joins the party. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Templo Devices Incandescent Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Grez Guitars Mendocino Junior with P90 pickups, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Templo Devices Model 66 Stereo Smooth Vibrato/Phaser joins from 08:06.

Get an Incandescent Limited Edition: https://templodevices.com/products/incandescent-limited-edition Follow Templo Devices: https://www.instagram.com/templodevices/

Templo Devices builds in Los Angeles — a small operation making unique, genuinely different circuits that don't fit neatly into standard effect categories. The Incandescent is described by the builder as "not quite a tube-amp-in-a-box, not quite a fuzz pedal — its own thing." The architecture backs that up: a MOSFET preamp is blasted into the front end of a CMOS amplifier with a built-in compressor or expander circuit. The result is a fuzz-adjacent dirt pedal that adds dynamics to the distortion rather than compressing them away.

Bias controls the voltage bias of the fuzz stage — at lowest settings it produces almost-clean drive with bite when you dig in, then gets aggressive quickly as it's turned up without sacrificing clarity.

Expand/Contract switch selects between two distinct dynamic voices. Expand: crisper, clearer distortion that swells slightly with pick attack — the opposite of a compressor. Great for cutting through a mix or searing lead tones. Contract: slightly more overdriven with a subtle pick-responsive compression similar to tube amp sag — warmer, more organic breakup with natural squash. Both modes explored thoroughly across the demo, compared directly at 13:43.

Volume has a very large range — unity at most settings is well below noon. Slamming the amp from 05:32 explores what the full output range can do to a Monarch on the edge of breakup.

The Templo Devices Model 66 Stereo Smooth Vibrato/Phaser is the stereo evolution of the beloved Model 33. Analog vibrato using a sinusoidal LFO — no delay involved, pure pitch modulation from ultra-slow warble through ultra-fast pulse. The Phase pot blends in dry signal to crossover from vibrato into phaser territory. Red light jewel pulses to the vibrato speed. 9V DC center negative, stereo I/O with dual XLR output.

🎛️ Templo Devices: https://templodevices.com 🎸 Grez Guitars: https://www.grezguitars.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Horrothia Effects Lutz Fuzz

Horrothia Effects returns to the channel with the Lutz Fuzz — the most feature-packed fuzz pedal Tom Oakes has ever built. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Horrothia Effects Lutz Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Grez Guitars Mendocino Junior with P90 pickups, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander.

Follow Horrothia Effects: https://www.instagram.com/horrothia_effects/ Get a Lutz Fuzz: https://www.horrothia.com/

Also on the channel:

Horrothia Triage Ge: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W88EC9NrCOo&t=4s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvVNIhJvXBU&list=RDKvVNIhJvXBU&start_radio=1&t=2s

Horrothia Berkeley Uni-Vibe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAyNQVsQdSg

At its core the Lutz is a two-transistor fuzz — the simplest, most archetypal circuit in guitar electronics. Tom Oakes' approach on the Lutz is to take that minimal circuit and add every meaningful control variable a fuzz player could want without adding a single feature that doesn't serve the tone.

Two 12-way high-pass filter switches — one pre-fuzz, one post-fuzz — create a 144-way filter matrix. Every combination of input and output filter settings produces a distinct frequency balance feeding and leaving the fuzz stage. Explored from 05:02 with the full range covered.

Two "curly cable simulator" switches on the top edge add the dulling capacitance of a curly cable — to the left simulating a shorter cable, to the right a longer cable, center position off. These subtle tone changes interact with the filter matrix and pickup impedance in musically useful ways.

The Bias knob sets the voltage bias of the fuzz transistors — start at 50% for the most musical range. Lower bias gives broken, spluttering, distressed textures (explored from 06:36 and 13:30). Higher bias gives more gain and sustain.

The Voltage Sag control lowers the voltage and current fed to the circuit — simulating a dying battery. It rolls off top end and adds compression and squash, explored from 07:59 and 12:22 as a creative tone tool rather than just a malfunction simulator.

Three footswitches: Bypass (relay), Buffer (switches a JFET input buffer in/out — boosts gain and sustain when on, explored from 15:10), and Cap Defeat (removes the power capacitor from the circuit, allowing the circuit to self-oscillate at some settings for drone notes and sound design textures — explored from 06:36 and 15:41). Volume control has enormous range — unity at most settings is around 25%.

Sold out within hours. Check the Horrothia website for future batches.

🎛️ Horrothia Effects: https://www.horrothia.com 🎸 Grez Guitars: https://www.grezguitars.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Walrus Audio Voyager MKII

Walrus Audio returns to the channel with the Voyager MKII — the Klon-inspired overdrive that started the company, now massively expanded. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the Walrus Audio Voyager MKII Preamp/Overdrive takes center stage — featuring the Grez Guitars Mendocino Junior with P90 pickups, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 15:42.

Get a Voyager MKII: https://walrusaudio.com Follow Walrus Audio: https://www.instagram.com/walrusaudio/

The original Voyager was Walrus Audio's first pedal in 2011 — a three-knob Klon-style overdrive that found its way onto the boards of Joe Bonamassa, Ed O'Brien, and Nels Cline. The MKII keeps everything that made the original work and adds a five-way clipping mode selector and a footswitchable parametric mid-frequency EQ — features that make the Voyager MKII a fundamentally different tool from the original.

Five clipping modes via rotary switch, explored from 07:32 onward:

Mode 1: Classic 1N34A Germanium Diodes — the original Voyager sound. Most compressed, warm, smooth character. Mode 2: Classic 1N34A Germanium Diodes with bass boost — the same germanium warmth with additional low-end body. Mode 3: Symmetric Silicon Diodes — tighter, more focused, slightly brighter than the germanium modes. Mode 4: Asymmetric Silicon Diodes — open, less compressed, more dynamic response to pick attack. Mode 5: Asymmetric Silicon Diodes with bass boost — the least compressed mode, most open and driven, with added low-end girth.

The footswitchable parametric mid-frequency EQ is the other headline feature. The Freq knob selects the center frequency for boost or cut, ranging from 250Hz to 2kHz. The Mid knob then boosts or cuts that selected frequency by up to ±12dB. Stomping the Mid footswitch engages or bypasses the EQ section independently of the main bypass — explored from 07:32 and at 15:42 with the Tube Vibe. The combination of all five modes with the parametric mid EQ gives a near-infinite range of available sounds from a fundamentally transparent Klon-style foundation.

Six controls: Volume, Tone, Gain, Mid, Freq, Mode. Two footswitches: Bypass and Mid. True bypass. 9V DC 100mA. Designed and assembled in the USA.

🎛️ Walrus Audio Voyager MKII: https://www.walrusaudio.com/products/voyager-preamp-overdrive-mkii 🎸 Grez Guitars: https://www.grezguitars.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

R2R Electric PKIII Fuzz

R2R Electric returns to the channel with a new limited release — the PKIII Fuzz, an homage to a very specific variant of the Tone Bender MKIII. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the R2R Electric PKIII Fuzz takes center stage — featuring the Black Bobbin Chicago Phantone with Lollar JM Pickups and Mastery hardware, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Effectrode Tube Vibe joins from 14:09.

Follow R2R Electric: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/
R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com

Chris Vincent (@djlavalamp) builds every R2R Electric pedal in Los Angeles using exclusively NOS and vintage components — hand-selected, tested, measured, and matched. Every R2R build is unique in its specific component selection but verified for tonal consistency before shipping. Get on the mailing list — drops go extremely quickly.

The PKIII Fuzz is Chris's take on the Tone Bender MKIII, and more specifically it's based on a particular vintage unit that Chris had on loan from @themadcap1. The Tone Bender MKIII was the third iteration of the Sola Sound Tone Bender family, produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s — three transistors, a circuit that bridges the rawness of the MKI with the more refined saturation of the MKII, adding Tone and Gain controls to the two-knob format of earlier Tone Benders.

One important note on the control layout — the PKIII runs counterclockwise on both the Tone and Gain knobs. Turning the Tone knob counterclockwise from noon adds brightness. Turning the Gain knob counterclockwise from noon adds gain. The Volume knob behaves conventionally — clockwise for more output. This is explored throughout the demo, particularly the Tone knob range from super bright (05:45) to darkest possible (07:55).

As with all R2R vintage fuzz builds: place first in signal chain before any buffered bypass pedals. These are true to vintage circuit design and do not work with buffered inputs.

Get on the R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com/how-to-order
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/

🎸 Black Bobbin Chicago: https://blackbobbin.com
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Ohma Ribbon | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Ableton Live 12

Thorpy FX Heavy Water Boost

ThorpyFX returns to the channel — this time with the Heavy Water, a dual boost that starts subtle and ends with your amp absolutely smashed. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the ThorpyFX Heavy Water Dual Boost takes center stage — featuring the Moon Guitars Moon Burn with Lambertones Lamber'Tron pickups, into the Benson Amps Monarch via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander set to the edge of breakup.

Get a ThorpyFX Heavy Water: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/products/heavy-water-double-booster

Follow ThorpyFX: https://www.instagram.com/thorpyfx/

The Heavy Water was born from player demand for the boost side of The Dane to be its own pedal. Adrian Thorpe being Adrian Thorpe, he didn't stop there — he paired it with a second boost featuring germanium diodes, giving the Heavy Water three genuinely distinct voices from two footswitches.

Right side (The Dane Boost): the same high headroom, transparent clean boost from The Dane. At low levels it sweetens and enhances without altering the core tone. Push the Boost knob and it drives the front of the amp progressively harder. The Lows control adds or removes low-end content — useful for fattening up single coils, tightening humbuckers into a drive pedal, or focusing the character of a cranked amp.

Left side (Germanium Boost): the same circuit architecture but with germanium diodes in the clipping stage. The result is a grittier, slightly compressed, more saturated boost character — more aggressive than the clean side, with a chewy warmth that the transparent right side doesn't produce. Higher output than the clean side at equivalent Boost knob settings.

Both sides combined (explored from 08:29): the clean boost runs into the Ge boost, combining the transparent level-lifting of the right side with the germanium grit of the left. Into an amp already at the edge of breakup, both sides stacked produces results that range from heavy saturation to genuinely intense amp-smashing distortion. Each side independently set allows enormous range of stacked character.

Four controls total: Boost and Lows per side. Independent footswitches. Built in Adrian Thorpe's signature custom stainless steel enclosure — bulletproof construction, top-mounted jacks, compact footprint. 9V DC center negative only. No battery.

🎛️ ThorpyFX Heavy Water: https://thorpyfx.com/en-us/products/heavy-water-double-booster
🎸 Moon Guitars: https://www.moon-guitars.com
🎸 Lambertones: https://lambertones.store
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Which R2R Electric Fuzz to Get? Ge Distorter NKT, Ge Distorter, Si Distorter TFK & Si Distorter

Very excited to welcome R2R Electric back to the channel, this time with a look across Chris Vincent's Distorter Fuzz line - - the Ge Distorter NKT (50s/60s Newmarket NKT27U Transistor Fuzz Face), - the Ge Distorter (blend of Germanium Schaller and Fuzz Face), - the Si Distorter TFK (50s/60s Telefunken Silicon Transistors), and - and the Si Distorter (blend of Silicon Schaller and Fuzz Face). Go follow R2R Electric on Instagram and join the R2R Electric email list for new drops of custom made pedals crafted from NOS vintage parts. https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/ https://www.r2relectric.com I thought it would be massively fun to compare the Distorter models from Ge to Ge NKT, Si to Si TFK, Ge to Si, Ge NKT to Ge TFK, and so on... I compared them across full fuzz gain with the guitar volume maxed and the bridge pickup roaring, but also with the volume knob cleaning up with the fuzzes to show the introcacies of how they react to your guitar's controls. I picked up a bufferless switcher from The Gig Rig (Dan from That Pedal Show) so I can seamlessly switch between the different transistor sets. Today I am featuring my Custom Shop Fender Stratocaster Journeyman '60 with Curtis Novak Pickups Strat-V Neck and Middle / Strat-TB Cojones bridge (this is a brand new Curtis Novak Protoype Strat Bridge pickup 🤫), wired up with an Emerson Custom 5-Way Strat Blender Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Monarch and a 2x12" cabinet with 4 mics on it, into a Universal Audio x4 and Ableton Live.

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

Civil Math | Mask Audio Electronics

Delighted to welcome Mask Audio Electronics to the channel with their Civil Math Fuzz! The Civil Math will cover all your russian big muff / civil war big muff needs and then some, with an expanded feature set expertly tuned by Alex of MAE. An added Boost pushes the already plentiful gain even harder, and a switch to control what MAE calls "Blowout" takes "caving in" to a new level... your amp is not ready for this. 🤣

Grab one here: https://maskaudioelectronics.com/products/civil-math

Today I am featuring the Civil Math with my @Kauerguitars Gripen, loaded with @WolfetonePickups Humbuckers, @EmersonCustomUSA Pots, and Emerson Treble Bleed into my @BensonAmps Monarch with 2x12" @CelestionUK G12H speakers, into an array of 4 mics ( @royerlabs R10, Royer R121, @sennheiser E906, @LautenAudio LS-208) into a @UniversalAudio Apollo x4 and @Ableton Live 12.

Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26 Edge of Breakup . 7/26/26

R2R Electric & Waterslide Time-O-Lite Fuzz / Fuzz Face Shootout! / GeFace Deluxe & Ge Distorter NKT

R2R Electric returns with something genuinely one of a kind — a Waterslide Guitars collaboration, a three-way fuzz face shootout, and the most unique pedal enclosure I've ever seen. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.

In this episode the R2R Electric x Waterslide Guitars Time-O-Lite Fuzz takes center stage — alongside the R2R Electric GeFace Deluxe (AC107 Ge) and the R2R Electric Ge Distorter NKT (NKT72U/NKT278) — featuring the Fender Custom Shop 1960 Journeyman Relic Stratocaster with Curtis Novak Strat-V High Wind (Neck + Middle) and Curtis Novak Strat-TB (Bridge), Emerson Custom S5B Blender 5-Way Wiring Kit and Treble Bleed, into the Benson Amps Monarch 2x12" via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander. The Gig Rig bufferless switcher handles seamless pedal switching between the three fuzzes throughout.

Follow R2R Electric: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/ R2R Electric mailing list: https://www.r2relectric.com Follow Waterslide Guitars: https://www.instagram.com/waterslideguitars/ Waterslide Guitars: http://www.waterslideguitars.com

Grab an Emerson Custom Treble Bleed: https://emersoncustom.com/products/2017-treble-bleed-circuit-volume-mod?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG

Emerson Custom Strat 5-Way Blender Kit: https://emersoncustom.com/products/s5b-blender-5-way-strat-prewired-kit?sca_ref=6282128.5O9h8BhMpG

The Time-O-Lite is a collaboration between R2R Electric (Chris Vincent, @djlavalamp) and Waterslide Guitars — a run of 25 units built into genuine vintage darkroom photographic light timer enclosures, the kind used in film developing labs in the 1950s and 1960s. The enclosures are original hardware, sourced and converted into guitar pedals filled with NOS 1950s and 1960s OC44 or AC107 germanium transistors (this video features the OC44 variant). Steampunk aesthetics that are genuinely vintage, not manufactured to look vintage. Each of the 25 units is unique.

The shootout format puts three distinct NOS germanium transistor voicings directly against each other using The Gig Rig's bufferless switching — essential for fuzz face circuits, which are extremely sensitive to any buffered signal preceding them. Three different transistor families, three distinct characters:

Time-O-Lite (OC44 in this video, or the AC107 variant that I will eventually own as well 😉): The OC44 is the transistor used in the original 1966 Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face — full, warm, musical. The AC107 is the transistor Chris Vincent uses in the R2RGeMaster — sweeter top end, slightly more complex harmonic character. Both are NOS 1950s/60s stock.

GeFace Deluxe (AC107): Chris's standard GeFace Deluxe build — AC107 transistors in his faithful Fuzz Face circuit with NOS passive components throughout. Period-correct paper-in-oil and mylar caps, Allen-Bradley and Piher carbon comp resistors, vintage CTS potentiometers.

Ge Distorter NKT (NKT72U/NKT278): Newmarket NKT transistors — the transistor family used in many of the earliest British Fuzz Faces and Tone Benders. The NKT72U and NKT278 have a grittier, more aggressive character than the OC44 or AC107 — more snarl in the upper midrange, less rounded bloom.

The rapid fire comparison section at 14:26 puts all three side by side on identical settings for the most direct transistor character comparison on the channel.

🎛️ R2R Electric: https://www.r2relectric.com 🎸 Curtis Novak Pickups: https://www.curtisnovak.com 🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers

Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.

Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Lauten Audio LS-208 | Royer R10 & R121 | Sennheiser E906 | Ableton Live 12

Edge of Breakup
Video Categories

Fuzz Face & Rangemaster in One! | Expresso FX Dual Ge / Si Fuzz & Ge Boost — AC125 / CV7347 / OC45

Expresso FX Buzzabout Fuzz

Cunningham Amps MK1.6 Fuzz (TI 2N404 Ge) & Custom 35 2x12" Tube Amplifier

The Best NOS Fuzz Face?! | R2R Electric GeFace Deluxe

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

The Best NOS Tone Bender MKI?! | Expresso FX Fuzz Bender MKI

R2R Electric Supa MKI Fuzz — Feat. Jules Leyhe

R2R Electric Uniform Fuzz

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Brothers AM — Chase Bliss x Analog Man

Cunningham Amps Zonk MKI Fuzz & Custom 35 2x12" — Feat. Jules Leyhe

Electric Machine Fuzz — R2R Electric Zonk Machine

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Browne Carbon X — Dual Bluesbreaker Overdrive

Thorpy FX Peacekeeper Low Gain Overdrive

Templo Devices Incandescent

Horrothia Effects Lutz Fuzz

Walrus Audio Voyager MKII

R2R Electric PKIII Fuzz

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Thorpy FX Heavy Water Boost

Which R2R Electric Fuzz to Get? Ge Distorter NKT, Ge Distorter, Si Distorter TFK & Si Distorter

Civil Math | Mask Audio Electronics

R2R Electric & Waterslide Time-O-Lite Fuzz / Fuzz Face Shootout! / GeFace Deluxe & Ge Distorter NKT

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

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Edge of Breakup Video Categories

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

Other R2R Electric videos you might like:

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Edge of Breakup
info@edgeofbreakup.studio