Description
The Fish Circuits Exploration #2 is a mids-focused fuzz built around a simple premise: the midrange deserves more attention than it typically gets. Most fuzz circuits — especially the ones that define the stoner rock canon — treat the mids as an afterthought, leaving the guitar to fight for space in a mix dominated by bass and treble. The EXPL #2 takes a different approach.
Fish Circuits stripped a well-known fuzz circuit down to its clipping section, removed the tilt EQ entirely, and rebuilt it with the midrange as the central focus. The result is a fuzz that amplifies mid frequencies twice — once before clipping and once after — giving your guitar a defined, present tone that sits naturally in a band context.
Form Control
The three-position Form switch is the heart of the pedal. Rather than offering granular control over every parameter, it presents three distinct voices, each adjusting gain, pre- and post-clipping mids, and a touch of treble:
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Left: The most familiar of the three — heavier low-end presence with mids pulled back and high frequencies providing definition. Thick, loose, and a bit unpredictable.
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Center: The mids come forward here. A pre-clipping mid boost trims some bass and pushes the guitar into the frequency range where it naturally belongs in a mix. More focused and slightly more aggressive than the left position, but still controlled.
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Right: Full mid boost before and after clipping. The low end thins out, the top end gets assertive, and the pedal becomes demanding of your playing. Best suited for lead work or any situation where cutting through the mix is the priority.
Controls
Level controls output volume. There's enough headroom to push whatever comes after it — amp, buffer, or another pedal — and the pedal can also run at unity gain if that's what the situation calls for.
Specs
Dimensions: 3" x 6" x 2.75"
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Power: 9V DC, negative tip, 2.1mm barrel
Current Draw: Less than 7mA
Made in Canada. Limited run of 100 units.
