The haze 67 really shined when you cleaned up with the volume knob while going into the dirty amp. That being said Idk if it was worth a 1200 difference! You are a professional musician though and i trust that it was worth it to you. Great video btw
Cool video and you got great tones from both pedals. Honestly I prefer Germanium for the reason you mentioned about the very beautiful clean up tone. I would be curious to hear you compare the Haze to another Germanium one. Even a Dunlop Mini (I have and like). It would be useful to hear that distinction. I bought a Smiley this week and jury's out for me right now on whether to keep or sell...
I would definitely love to do more comparisons with it! I’m hoping to get a few different models from a few different builders to do a video just like that. Probably more boutique stuff, but some of it more affordable!
I'm very sad to say, my ears prefer the Isle of Tone Haze. I bought the Smiley when it was introduced. I also own, kingTone Mini Fuzz V2, with Si & Ge switch... That said, I'm not switching. As you mentioned in the preface to the comparison... The $🤑. Good on YOU, to go for it and take it on. Thank you for the share, video, research & trading up time costs, any malcontent isn't appreciating!
they both sound great in different ways. the silicon is a bit more agressive and germanium a bit smoother. i bought a dunlop germanium fuzz face a while ago and it sounds almost exactly like the haze 67 does in this video but it only tuns on batteries and has no led so for most people the jhs is probably the better option in that price range.
@@RiggsTaylor yeah the mini is way more practical but i've really come to like the big fuzz face. and you don't really need the led because you definetly notice when it's on.
I still use my 2006, Dunlop JHF1 BC108 Jimi full size Fuzz Face. When the minis came out, I was stoked, because they were marketed as the same circuit. They aren’t. The BC108 Silicon Tranny in those, has the nicest and glassiest, guitar volume knob roll off, cleanup tone, of any Fuzz Face I’ve yet to play. I’ve owned the Analogman NKT275 White and red dot germanium Fuzz Faces. Bought them new, but as the used prices climbed, I eventually couldn’t justify keeping them, when they weren’t any better than the Dunlop. The Dunlop can be not as fat, or warm, when guitar volume is cranked, for players who really want that warm germanium sound, but a low price, low gain OD after it, fixes that. I ran a Dirty Little Secret, a MojoMojo, a VFE Pale Horse, and even a Black Forest OD after it, and they all can get that warmth, that some need. The Haze sounds great, but it just sounds mine pedals I’ve had, that I eventually sold, because I could get the same tones out of more affordable, and well built pedals. I’ve been using the Sitek Fuzzy Fuzz for a couple years now, because it is Germanium, but not a vintage transistor. They aren’t even $200, but it’s versatile, cleans up well, and has a texture knob, to get as fat as the Haze sounds through TH-cam, while also being able to get a more focused Fuzz tone, with less woolliness. It can also go anywhere in the chain, without an issue. Buffers don’t affect it. This is because of how the input impedance is setup, from what a builder told me, which usually doesn’t work with a Fuzz Face, because it likes to get the impedance of the guitar, first, to get the widest range of tones, and cleanup. This one doesn’t have that issue. I also recommend the V1 Wampler Velvet Fuzz, for a pedal that can sound like a Fuzz Face, while also having the ability to be more like a Rat type distortion, that cleans up with the volume knob, or a Muff like Fuzz, fat and hairy, or thin and focused. It’s not a turn the Fuzz all the way up pedal, but it’s a hell of a pedal. I got a JAM Rattler, when the Wampler went out, after years. It likely just needs a soldering job, but it’s been in my pedals to work on, since the Rattler does what I was using it for. I’m a weirdo about Fuzz Faces and Uni Vibes, often having two of each, with a Uni Vibe at the beginning of my chain, and one after Fuzz and any OD or Distortion.
@@RiggsTaylor used, 80 bucks. jhs is always reasonable with their prices. i can't complain. but that's the top end. i'm pretty sure josh isn't selling me any fairy dust.
@@mikeblue385 yeah, JHS is solid all around. The Haze 67 is killer, but boutique isn’t for everyone! Kind of like vintage gear- it’s great, but not always “worth” the price tag.
Isle Of Fuzz pedals are a joke. $20 worth of components in a $10 enclosure, possibly $100 worth of premium construction time, plus an added idiot tax of $1000.
When is the last time you priced out components for a fuzz? Have you looked at the price of NOS germanium transistors recently? Even with your (incorrect) assumptions about cost, most any product brought to market has to sell for 4x cost of production - consumer products (electronics) are even higher. All that to say, I’ve played a lot of fuzzes, and when I got the Haze67 I sold about 6 others that didn’t compare 🤷🏻♂️
@@RiggsTaylor germanium transistors aren't too bad if you know where to look or you stockpiled them for years like Isle of fuzz must have done. They certainly don't cost enough to charge what they charge. Fair play to them though, they know there are suckers who'll pay for an exclusivity trip
Did you ever check how much those premium Mundorf caps cost? Do you have any idea what real deal NOS Mullard and Newmarket transistors cost? Did you know that only 20% of the transistors can be used due to high standard selection and the rest is waste? Do you know how many hours (hourly wage) you need to match a transistor pair by ear in different tempratures and tune the circuit to perfection? There is no such thing as cheap trim pots or matching by values with an Atlas. Do you know how much it is to creat and paint high quality custom laquers by a master painter? Do you know how much a vinyl template is and that you can use it only for ca 70 hand made prints by a master printer? Did you know that even the box is hand made by the oldest traditional paper manufacturer in Austria? The joke is that you have absolutely no idea what you‘re talking about. Cheers
The haze 67 really shined when you cleaned up with the volume knob while going into the dirty amp. That being said Idk if it was worth a 1200 difference! You are a professional musician though and i trust that it was worth it to you. Great video btw
Thanks for the kind words! Yeah, the Haze 67 does something special. I love it!
Nice! Honestly, they both sound really great, but there is an obvious smoothness with the Haze 67.
Agreed! I really love what the Haze does. It is very dynamic and warmer, but both are great!
Cool video and you got great tones from both pedals. Honestly I prefer Germanium for the reason you mentioned about the very beautiful clean up tone. I would be curious to hear you compare the Haze to another Germanium one. Even a Dunlop Mini (I have and like). It would be useful to hear that distinction. I bought a Smiley this week and jury's out for me right now on whether to keep or sell...
I would definitely love to do more comparisons with it! I’m hoping to get a few different models from a few different builders to do a video just like that. Probably more boutique stuff, but some of it more affordable!
I'm very sad to say, my ears prefer the Isle of Tone Haze. I bought the Smiley when it was introduced. I also own, kingTone Mini Fuzz V2, with Si & Ge switch... That said, I'm not switching. As you mentioned in the preface to the comparison... The $🤑. Good on YOU, to go for it and take it on. Thank you for the share, video, research & trading up time costs, any malcontent isn't appreciating!
Thanks man! I’ve always wanted to try out the Kingtone miniFuzz- especially the new version!
Man the Hazy is unreal! If i was a pro i'd have one
They’re so good man - worth saving for!
Very cool & helpful video; awesome job🎉
they both sound great in different ways. the silicon is a bit more agressive and germanium a bit smoother. i bought a dunlop germanium fuzz face a while ago and it sounds almost exactly like the haze 67 does in this video but it only tuns on batteries and has no led so for most people the jhs is probably the better option in that price range.
Those are cool! I know they make the new “mini” version that has LED’s and can run on a 9v power supply as well.
@@RiggsTaylor yeah the mini is way more practical but i've really come to like the big fuzz face. and you don't really need the led because you definetly notice when it's on.
I still use my 2006, Dunlop JHF1 BC108 Jimi full size Fuzz Face. When the minis came out, I was stoked, because they were marketed as the same circuit. They aren’t. The BC108 Silicon Tranny in those, has the nicest and glassiest, guitar volume knob roll off, cleanup tone, of any Fuzz Face I’ve yet to play.
I’ve owned the Analogman NKT275 White and red dot germanium Fuzz Faces. Bought them new, but as the used prices climbed, I eventually couldn’t justify keeping them, when they weren’t any better than the Dunlop. The Dunlop can be not as fat, or warm, when guitar volume is cranked, for players who really want that warm germanium sound, but a low price, low gain OD after it, fixes that. I ran a Dirty Little Secret, a MojoMojo, a VFE Pale Horse, and even a Black Forest OD after it, and they all can get that warmth, that some need.
The Haze sounds great, but it just sounds mine pedals I’ve had, that I eventually sold, because I could get the same tones out of more affordable, and well built pedals.
I’ve been using the Sitek Fuzzy Fuzz for a couple years now, because it is Germanium, but not a vintage transistor. They aren’t even $200, but it’s versatile, cleans up well, and has a texture knob, to get as fat as the Haze sounds through TH-cam, while also being able to get a more focused Fuzz tone, with less woolliness. It can also go anywhere in the chain, without an issue. Buffers don’t affect it. This is because of how the input impedance is setup, from what a builder told me, which usually doesn’t work with a Fuzz Face, because it likes to get the impedance of the guitar, first, to get the widest range of tones, and cleanup. This one doesn’t have that issue.
I also recommend the V1 Wampler Velvet Fuzz, for a pedal that can sound like a Fuzz Face, while also having the ability to be more like a Rat type distortion, that cleans up with the volume knob, or a Muff like Fuzz, fat and hairy, or thin and focused. It’s not a turn the Fuzz all the way up pedal, but it’s a hell of a pedal. I got a JAM Rattler, when the Wampler went out, after years. It likely just needs a soldering job, but it’s been in my pedals to work on, since the Rattler does what I was using it for.
I’m a weirdo about Fuzz Faces and Uni Vibes, often having two of each, with a Uni Vibe at the beginning of my chain, and one after Fuzz and any OD or Distortion.
The smiley sounds great, but the Haze67 is out of this world
Totally agree. It’s next level!
I would go with mxr)
MXR makes great pedals!
neither sounds significantly better than my dunlop. what a waste of money.
Last I checked, a new fuzz face is about the same price as the Smiley, so I don’t think it’s a “waste” by any means.
@@RiggsTaylor used, 80 bucks. jhs is always reasonable with their prices. i can't complain. but that's the top end. i'm pretty sure josh isn't selling me any fairy dust.
@@mikeblue385 yeah, JHS is solid all around. The Haze 67 is killer, but boutique isn’t for everyone! Kind of like vintage gear- it’s great, but not always “worth” the price tag.
Isle Of Fuzz pedals are a joke. $20 worth of components in a $10 enclosure, possibly $100 worth of premium construction time, plus an added idiot tax of $1000.
When is the last time you priced out components for a fuzz? Have you looked at the price of NOS germanium transistors recently? Even with your (incorrect) assumptions about cost, most any product brought to market has to sell for 4x cost of production - consumer products (electronics) are even higher.
All that to say, I’ve played a lot of fuzzes, and when I got the Haze67 I sold about 6 others that didn’t compare 🤷🏻♂️
@@RiggsTaylor germanium transistors aren't too bad if you know where to look or you stockpiled them for years like Isle of fuzz must have done. They certainly don't cost enough to charge what they charge. Fair play to them though, they know there are suckers who'll pay for an exclusivity trip
Did you ever check how much those premium Mundorf caps cost? Do you have any idea what real deal NOS Mullard and Newmarket transistors cost? Did you know that only 20% of the transistors can be used due to high standard selection and the rest is waste? Do you know how many hours (hourly wage) you need to match a transistor pair by ear in different tempratures and tune the circuit to perfection? There is no such thing as cheap trim pots or matching by values with an Atlas. Do you know how much it is to creat and paint high quality custom laquers by a master painter? Do you know how much a vinyl template is and that you can use it only for ca 70 hand made prints by a master printer? Did you know that even the box is hand made by the oldest traditional paper manufacturer in Austria? The joke is that you have absolutely no idea what you‘re talking about. Cheers