EarthQuaker Devices Gary Fuzz/ Overdrive

Gary delivers a wide spectrum of overdrive and fuzz tones. Its overdrive channel is built around an op-amp circuit – at lower gain settings, it acts as a full-range boost, while turning up the Gain knob (labeled 'Go') produces a natural, punchy overdrive perfect for heavier styles. But as Lee Kiernan's signature pedal, Gary naturally has something special up its sleeve: an impulse-modulated, gated square-wave fuzz with exceptionally high output. What does that mean in practice? The fuzz behaves much like a synthesizer in its frequency response. With the 'Yes!' control turned down, it delivers a classic fuzz tone. As the 'Yes!' control is increased, the sound becomes more aggressive and unpredictable. By adjusting the sensitivity of the square wave fuzz's envelope, the pulse width is narrowed for a sharper, more nasal tone that gradually fades away as the knob is turned further. The envelope is highly dependent on the level of the incoming signal, which can be affected by any gain pedals in front of Gary, pickup strength, source instrument, etc.

EarthQuaker Devices was founded in 2004 by the musician Jamie Stillman, who had previously gathered years of experience in the world of music and sounds as the manager of a record label for metal, punk, and shoegaze bands. Today, his innovative pedal designs are among the most in-demand and desirable devices in the boutique segment, attracting interest from a huge community of musicians. Stillman is now in charge of a sizeable team of developers and technicians, who are continuously working from their base in Akron, Ohio to expand their catalogue of hand-made effects pedals. EarthQuaker Devices are used by renowned artists like Paul Simon, Coldplay, Tom Bukovac, Idles, and The Black Keys.