SolidGoldFX unveils revamped 76 MKII octave fuzz with new JFET preamp

The 76 MKII is the latest iteration of Canadian effects firm SolidGoldFX’s gritty retro fuzz pedal, with new upgrades including a JFET preamp and octave bypass switch.

The original 76 Fuzz was, like this one, a vintage octave-up fuzz that was heavily inspired by the likes of Ibanez’s early Standard Fuzz, the Univox Super Fuzz and other sounds of that mid-’70s era. As with the 76, the MK II offers much more generous output levels than the vintage units, which often need to be cranked to compete, tonally.

So what’s different? Well, inside the casing, SolidGoldFX says it’s given the components a rethink, bringing in a new JFET preamp (admired for their tube-y response) and four high-gain Toshiba transistors, alongside the silicon diode.

In addition, you can now bypass the octave part of the effect with a new mini-toggle, located in the center of the controls, giving you the option of using it as a standalone fuzz.

Further, subtler, tone-shaping is on offer thanks to the Texture and Color dials, which are essentially mids and brightness controls. The latter was previously a switch, but the addition of a dial control will give players much more nuanced control over their treble tones.

As SolidGoldFX put it: “All of this translates to a surprisingly varied and delicious fuzz feast, with everything from stabby robotic clangs, synthetic soaring leads, absolutely crushing doom chords as well as more warm and enveloping drives just a single stomp away.”

Pete Thorn certainly makes a convincing case for its credentials as a vintage grit box in his demo above. 

Expect to find the 76 MKII retailing around $199. For more information, head to SolidGoldFX.