Blue Face

Name: Blue Face
Price: 20 USD
Author: Audiority

by Audiority · Distortion · Silicon Fuzz Face model

Not rated yet

Blue Face is an analog modeled simulation of a late-60s silicon (BC108) Dunlop Fuzz Face pedal.

It has volume and fuzz controls plus a noise gate and mix, for $29.

Best for: Guitars, Bass, Keys & Synths. Genres: Rock & Indie.

Keywords: fuzz, 60s, electric guitar, bass, vintage, analog-sounding, utility, hardware emulation, keys, built-in mix knob, simple, classic, mixing, resizable UI, single-band, transistor.

What it does

Blue Face is Audiority's "analog modeled simulation" of a late-1960s Dunlop Fuzz Face with BC108 silicon transistors. Audiority says it modified the original circuit "to get more bite even at minimum settings", so it is an interpretation rather than a strict copy.

Pedal controls: Volume and Fuzz, as on the original two-knob pedal.
Modified circuit: tweaked by Audiority for extra bite even at low Fuzz settings.
Gain staging: pre and post gain, so you can set how hard the input hits the fuzz and match the output level.
Mix control: blend fuzz with the clean signal to keep the instrument's own character.
Utilities: a noise gate and a resizable interface.

The current version is 1.3 (November 2023). A demo is available; in demo mode the plugin outputs 3 seconds of silence every minute.

Source: Audiority product page

When to use it

Blue Face is a single, simple silicon fuzz for classic 1960s and 1970s rock tones, the pedal type Jimi Hendrix made famous. That is the opposite of the rated distortions, such as Saturn 2, Rift and CrushStation, which offer many distortion types and creative routing. Within Audiority's range, Blue Face leaves the thicker, more sustaining Big Muff sound to Big Goat, and the HM-2 to Heavy Pedal. With just two pedal knobs plus utilities, it is quick to set up in front of an amp sim. The mix control helps it keep a guitar's character instead of burying it.

Best for: vintage fuzz on guitar in front of an amp sim, and on bass and organ.
Genres: rock, blues, psychedelic and garage music.
Look elsewhere if: you want a thicker, sustaining fuzz (Big Goat), many distortion flavours in one plugin (Saturn 2 or Rift), or extra mods and options beyond the two classic knobs.
Tip: try it on bass as well as guitar.

What producers say

Liked by guitarists for a fuzz that keeps the instrument's character; the main reservation is how basic it is.

Scuffham Amps forum users pairing it with the S-Gear amp sim said it lets a Strat "shine through", unlike a rival fuzz they found too coloured.
Audiophiles.co listed it among the best fuzz plugins, praising the simple two-knob design and authentic vintage tone.
Criticisms: the same article noted it lacks the mods found on other virtual pedals.

Where to buy

Plugin Boutique: $20
Audiority: $29

Tutorials and reviews

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