SUPERFUZZ pt.2: Guyatone PS-030 Fuzz Distortion

Guyatone PS-030  Fuzz Distortion



While the Guyatone PS-030 and Guyatone TZ2 share a common lineage and have certain qualities in common, there are significant differences too. The PS-030 - thanks mainly to its 'Filter' control - has many more tonal possibilities and uses.

There are three external controls*:
  • 'Depth' (gain)
  • 'Level'
  • 'Filter'

While the 'Depth'/gain and 'Level' controls are commonplace and require no explanation, the 'Filter' isn't as simple I first assumed: it isn't just a tone control and it doesn't really work exactly as expected. With the 'Filter' control fully clockwise, you have the base tone with the filter fully open. As you turn the 'Filter' control down, the treble frequencies initially start to roll off slightly, and there is a drop in volume (easily rectified with the 'Level' control - there's plenty of output on tap)... turning the 'Filter' down further reveals that the it is NOT merely a hi-cut filter, but it appears to shift the emphasis of your tone, restricting the frequency range and thereby thinning the sound and bringing out more of the gated fuzz quality - it also has a side effect of reducing overall gain/fuzz.

The PS-030 doesn't have masses of gain available, but then 'high gain' back in the early/mid 80s wasn't the same as it is now, so it's understandable that the relatively recent Guyatone TZ2 is more gainy... likewise the low end; while I don't think the PS-030 cuts any bass, it doesn't boom like the TZ2.


The Guyatone PS-030 is an authentically retro, vintage-sounding effect, with a wide range of tones waiting to be found inside.

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* There is a trimpot located on the circuit board (as was found in some Superfuzz models) to adjust the upper octave. I found that turning it down reduced the amount of upper octave - but not entirely eradicating it, while turning it up only seemed to increase the gated-ness of the fuzz: in the end, I chose to leave it at the factory-set position.



* * * Notes about the video * * *

Gear used:
  • Guitar - Epiphone Casino
  • Recording set-up - Award-Session JD10 as a preamp (DI'd) through a Palmer PDI-09. Recorded to Cubase on PC (via a MOTU audio interface) with no additional processing.