E.W.S. FD-1 Fuzzy Drive Review
Sep 13, 2009 fuzz pedal
Posted by
freddy1955
E.W.S. (Engineering Work Store) is known in their native Japan for guitar repairs and pedal modifications. San Fernando, California based Prosound Communications owns E.W.S., as well as Xotic pedals. The FD-1 Fuzzy Drive is E.W.S.’ first OEM pedal.
The FD-1 comes in a basic white cardboard box with some black stenciling. Inside the box is the FD-1 pedal, a wad of tissue paper, and a warranty card.
I paid $169.00 CAD for the E.W.S. FD-1, which was less than the local price of a Fulltone ‘70 Fuzz, and much less than the local price of a Keeley Fuzz.
The FD-1 comes with a one year non-transferrable warranty. There is no registration card and E.W.S.’ website does not currently provide for online registration.
The E.W.S. FD-1 is housed in a clear coated brushed aluminum case. It is a small form factor type case, the size of a Keeley, or MXR Phase 90 pedal. The case markings include some black graphics and white lettering. The controls are labeled Vol; Gain; Tone and there is a red LED to indicate On/Off status.
The serial number is handwritten on the bottom of the pedal and then covered with a clear sticker. Mine has a bubble under it and I hope it doesn’t fall off at some point and expose the handwritten serial number. The serial number is also handwritten on the outside of the cardboard box the FD-1 comes in, which is something I haven’t seen before.
Looking inside the FD-1, a battery is already provided and installed. Fuzz pedals, including the FD-1, typically have long battery life, so shipping the FD-1 with a battery is a good choice. There is no battery compartment per se, you have to remove the four screws on the bottom of the pedal and remove the bottom plate to change the battery. The power jack uses a positive ring tip adapter, so Boss compatible power supplies will *not* power this pedal.
The wiring inside the FD-1 is very tidy and I was pleased to see the jacks and stomp switch are not soldered directly onto the circuit board. The double-pull double-throw stomp switch is wired for true bypass when switched off.
Many current production fuzz pedals feature discreet germanium or silicon transistors. E.W.S. proudly uses two operational amplifiers on two chips for reliable, stable operation of the FD-1’s electronic circuit.
I tested the FD-1 with both solid state (Vox) and hybrid (Little Lanilei) amplifiers. In general, I recommend you turn down the gain on your amp to get the most out of the FD-1 Fuzzy Drive.
The controls on the FD-1 have a smooth solid feel, are easy to understand, and have substantial electronic range. The ‘Vol’ control allows the user to adjust the volume level when the FD-1 is turned on. I find that it works very transparently, adjusting the ’Vol’ does not affect the fuzz or drive of the pedal, just the volume level. Adjusting the Gain control increases the amount of fuzz distortion. At twelve o’ clock, the Gain control adds a some bite to your electric guitar’s sound. At the 3 o’ clock position, the FD-1 delivers juicy, warm overdriven fuzz sounds to your lead breaks.
The Tone control affects tone and drive. At twelve o’ clock you can feel the detent position for this control. At the 2 o’ clock position, the FD-1 has strong drive and sustain. I was able to get some Jimi Hendrix’ style amplifier feedback when both Tone and Gain were turned up to 2 o’ clock. I found that leaving the Tone control at 11 o’ clock position and the Gain position at 2 o’ clock brought a nice warm, cutting fuzz to my classic rock solos. I was able to get a great ZZ Top ‘Pearl Necklace’ guitar solo sound, and a terrific vintage fuzz sound playing the Yardbirds’ Heart Full of Soul. At lower settings, the FD-1 added a nice cutting drive to all of my guitar playing.
The E.W.S. FD-1 Fuzzy Drive does not sound exactly like a vintage fuzz, but at the higher settings it does produce nice warbly oscillations that feel so good. I have played vintage fuzz pedals and sure they produce fuzz, but not more volume. Combining drive and fuzz in a pedal is a pretty useful idea!
After a bit of experimentation and the right guitar volume the FD-1 has a sensitive response to picking attack. Digging in produces strong fuzzy drive sounds, while a lighter touch produces more subtle drive and fuzz. Sweet!
In a live setting, the E.W.S. FD-1 Fuzzy Drive cuts through the mix nicely, although some of the higher Gain settings can get washed out without some added volume.
I use this pedal for lead solos, although you could certainly have an FD-1 on all the time just to help you stand out a bit more.
Pros:
- Rich fuzz and drive tones
- Useable sounds that cut through the mix
- Long battery life
- Small footprint
Cons:
- Not Boss PSA-120 compatible
- No manual
- No registration
- Risk: new manufacturer, new product
Overall:
This is a well made, cool sounding compact pedal that cuts through the mix and has long battery life. Check out this pedal!
A review by Premier Guitar can be viewed here.
You can read more about fuzz pedals and fuzz pedal history here.
