Fish Circuits Model One
A cult indie builder overdrive that deserves more attention than it gets — and the Frank Brothers Ultralight with Lollar El Rayo humbuckers pushing the Benson Monarch over the edge. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Fish Circuits Model One takes center stage — featuring the Frank Brothers Ultralight with Lollar El Rayo Humbuckers and a Lollar Firebird on a Blender Pot, into the Benson Amps Monarch. A full Strat demo covering all modes is coming separately.
The Model One is a natural, amp-like overdrive with three controls and two switches that cover an enormous amount of tonal ground. At lower gain settings it delivers dynamic, amp-like breakup tones that react to the subtleties of your playing. When cranked, you're in saturated fuzzstortion territory with loads of sustain and depth, reminiscent of Orange amps.
The Mode switch is where the character lives — and it's counterintuitive in a useful way. N mode has more volume output but less gain; B mode has more gain but less volume, with saggier, more compressed, almost fuzz-like tones when the Drive is maxed. B mode is the more distorted, clipping-diode engaged mode — compressed and thick. N mode is the open, high-headroom mode — brighter, louder, less compressed, closer to a treble booster character in feel. The two modes are genuinely distinct enough to feel like two different pedals.
The Body switch controls the low-frequency content feeding the drive circuit — three positions: low cut (tighter, more forward), flat, and low boost (biggest and meanest). Combined with the Mode switch and Drive knob, the Model One offers a variety of drive sounds in one compact format, from always-on subtle saturation to full-on raging fuzz territory.
The Frank Brothers Ultralight loaded with Lollar El Rayo Humbuckers and a Lollar Firebird on a Blender Pot is a unique combination — the El Rayo's single-coil-like clarity meets the Firebird's mid-forward bark, blendable on demand. The Benson Monarch on the edge responds beautifully to the Model One's Body and Mode controls.
🎛️ Fish Circuits Model One: https://fishcircuits.com/products/model-one-overdrive
🎸 Lollar El Rayo Humbuckers: https://www.lollarguitars.com
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch: https://www.bensonamps.com/amps/monarch
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🎸 Frank Brothers Ultralight | Lollar El Rayo Humbuckers + Lollar Firebird (Blender Pot)
🎛️ Fish Circuits Model One | Natural Overdrive | N/B Mode | Body Switch | 3-Position Low Freq
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch
