I'm still calling it the BANF. It sounds Big, BadAss, Bombastic, And Nasty. I like it! Bombastic And Nasty Fuzz! BANF there you go I'm sure you've already picked a name. But I know what I'm calling it! Hahaha
I am Asian-American and once had the honor of meeting Josh many years ago at NAMM in Anaheim, California. He was (to me) a giant in the pedal world. Having never seen him in person, little did I know that he was also (to me) a giant of a man. When I met him, I proudly showed him a nerdy guitar photo of one of my JHS pedals--complete with little Godzilla figures--I took back home before coming to NAMM. After seeing the photo, he smiled, looked at one of his colleagues, pointed at me, and calmly said, "he's one of us," while nodding. So I can imagine him visiting the sometimes cramped shops in Japan and smiling at the shopkeepers as they marveled at the "kyojin" that came into their tiny store for parts to build what would end up being a colossal-sounding fuzz pedal. And so, I humbly suggest the name of "Kyojin" (巨人), which means giant or colossus for his creation.
I was an anti-pedal/effects player for decades. I was too broke to buy pedals when I first started, so that turned into me just being an amp-distortion guy. Then, the pandemic happened and I found myself locked in my home, watching RUclips all day. That’s when I found this show. Now, I have 28 pedals & I’m writing the best music of my life. Thanks, Josh! ☮️
I couldn't imagine that. I need pedals to recreate my favorite tones. It helps one get inspired. The 1st amp I bought has a bunch of FX built in so that I could experiment without having to waste money on pedals I didn't like.
If I’m correct, I was in the same alley of vendors pictured in the video, just the other day (there’s a number of those alleys in Akihabara, so I might be wrong). Those alleys are not just one store; there are buildings like that that are just floors and floors of individual vendors with stalls. It’s awesome. I went to one vendor where they sold nothing but vintage tubes for amps and radios, and another that sold amp building kits. I need to learn pedal design so I can take advantage living close to there. Places like that aren’t just for guitarists. If there’s an obsolete piece of tech you own that’s broken down, that could potentially be the only place in the world that has replacement part. I don’t know of any place like it
I literally got obsessed with the idea of building this fuzz after watching this video for like 4 times! Already bought almost all of the required parts, some of them didn't come from Aliexpress yet (enclosure to be specific)! Thanks!)
I was gonna ask this question to jut everyone but saw that you're making this pedal, therefore you must obtain the knowledge I need lol. Josh mentioned he used PNP transistors and doing so requires a battery. Im just wondering if I was to change them out for NPN what else would I need to change. Im guessing I can just swap them as then the ground would be completly wrong. I understand a bit about this and have a vague idea of what every part does but when it comes to how they work tpgether in a circuit I get a bit lost.
It’s the "JHS ICHIMAN“. Ichiman is Japanese and means "10.000“, and according to Google, Tokyo is almost exactly 10.000 kilometers away from Kansas City. Cool to think it took 10.000 (or ichiman) kilometers for Josh to come up with something that was a combination of his entire life experience growing up in the US and the Japanese creations of guitar pedals he was so influenced by. He basically had to travel ichiman kilometers to make it happen. That was all that was needed. 😊
I would call it “巡礼” which is pronounced “Junrei” which translates to “The Pilgrimage”. Great episode. What a fun trip! Can’t wait for more from Japan!
Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会) Fuzz. Translates to "one time, one meeting" in Japanese it means being present at all times because every moment is unique even if it is something routine. It's related to tea ceremonies where you're paying attention to everything. I really liked how you really paid attention and listened to the unique characteristics of each component so it made me think of this.
This thing should be called “Josh Dreams of Fuzz”. The focus on the how of building it and the journey (plus being in Japan) reminds me so much of Jiro Dreams of Sushi and it’s such a great demonstration of the craft of pedal making. Well done!
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Fuzz?" ... Something bladerunner-esque... or philip k dick... but not "mood organ" :) ... though I think the #1 comment guy nailed it.
Fuzzilla. Destroyer of tones! Seriously fun sounding pedal, LOVE that clean up. Josh was like a Jedi building a lightsaber in that shop. I am one with the Fuzz. The fuzz is with me.
Kizuna Fuzz - “Kizuna” is a Japanese word signifies bonds and connections between people. It is fitting given the people who helped you along this journey, provided the space to build the pedal, and goes back to the common mantra that “Companies don’t build pedals. People do.”
What a nasty little beasty. I love him! I’d call it The Enso. The Enso is a circle painted in one brush stroke, making each one unique, as you can see all the imperfections from the brush as it loses paint. This can be seen as a reflection of the imperfections and uniqueness of our lives. I think this reflects this pedal well. It’s a one off, oozing with beautiful imperfections. 🌴🙏🏼🌴
The name should be Kamifazu. You mentioned in the video at one point that if it worked it would be an "act of god", and that's pretty much what Kami means, and fazu is fuzz in Japanese. Seems fitting to me.
Wabi-Sabi Fuzz(侘寂) In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) - is the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature. It is prevalent in many forms of Japanese art.
Great video guys! I love that that Nick and Addison were able to go on the trip with Josh. Great to see you guys all jamming together again. Name for the fuzz: 手から Te Kara Fuzz which means “From the hand”. Because the fuzz is controlled and played by the hand / dynamics and volume control and was built “from the hand”.
Hello! I've been making my own pedals for a little over a month now, so this video really excites me. The name I submit is "The Agenabe Fuzz" or just "Agenabe"( 揚げ鍋) (I like how few Japanese characters this name has so it can easily fit on the outside of the enclosure) Which literally just translates to deep fryer. Fingers cross you like the name enough for me to get one of these bad boys, but i'll absolutely be building the circuit soon anyways!
What a fun episode, I would love more in that genre. Build challenges between Josh and others would be fun too. For the fuzz name I suggest : GIGANTOR FUZZ. (It's a 60's mech themed manga/anime)
Name: Mt. FuzzGe Explanation: built in Japan near Mt. Fuji. Josh “Mounted” all of the components himself. It’s a fuzz made with Germanium, hence FuzzGe Very, very cool fuzz! If I win I vow to not resell it on reverb. In fact, I’ll use it on my next album! :)
This journey reminded me so much of Yoshi Ikegami and his reverence for the pre-compact Roland-Boss effectors. I feel that a name that harkens that era both of Roland and effects in general fits, as well as serves as a tribute to his semi-recent retirement. To that end, it's defintely the Chummy Tanuki (狸 - which has an obsolete translation referring to a cat, reminding me of the Funny Cat).
Akifuzz Electric Sakura . This name combines "Akihabara," the famous district of Tokyo known for electronics and geek culture, with "Fuzz" for the sound effect, and "Electric Sakura" to evoke the fusion of modern electronics and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Br Franck
Name: Hikeshi That’s the name of Japanese firefighters from the Edo Period who essentially had the job of preventing fires from spreading by destroying buildings surrounding the fires. They were loved as local working class heroes and also feared for being loud and coarse. That last part really fits I think.
« Caijin fuzz ». A Kaijin is a strange japanese monster who can take any shape, as versatile as this fuzz. Of course, CA(ijin) is for the Capacitor which is unique. I love you Josh, you really make the guitar world exciting like nobody can.
Umami Fuzz - because it adds that indescribable something to your tone that you never knew you can’t live without. BTW - loved this. More of these off-the-cuff builds with the team playing around with parts from markets, old pawn shop electronics and such - that would be ace. Also Joshua reading the rules made me LOL in public transport. ‘Oh! You caught me reading…’. Very good.
I'd call it Made in Japan. Simple, true and very retro. Used to see it everywhere, that phrase. Nice tribute for this pedal and for their contribution to electronics, and guitars, and fuzz.
Awesome video and killing tone!!Next time you could try to come to Osaka and look for building parts in NIHONBASHI, which is the local version of Akihabara. I'd be glad to be your guide here!! As for the pedal name , I'd choose "シオヤ秘伝"(Shioya Hiden: Shioya secret) as a homage to the シオヤ無線(Shioya wireless) store that appears in the video a couple of times and that closed down at the end of August this year, where the SECRET was hidden, without which this pedal wouldn't be possible. I am big fan of JHS pedals and have 11(including an Astro Mess Fuzz) of them distributed among 3 pedalboards and still have the Double Barrel waiting to get back sometime soon.
Great episode! Thanks Josh and everyone in the team for making this! How about calling it "Big In Japan"? As a massive Tom Waits fan, that song popped up to my head straight away as I was watching this. A strange and quirky song with a lot of grit! Check it out if you don't know it. The title also fits the footage of you walking around the small corridors (Tall in Japan would be more accurate but it might not be as catchy?). Anyway, thanks again! P
Awesome episode! I would call it the “Kanagawa Fuzz” after the famous Japanese art piece the ‘Great wave of Kanagawa’. It’s been used and reused in art designs so many times, just like the topology of this fuzz circuit.
The block print is of the sea off of Kanagawa-ken (神奈川県), a prefecture facing the open Pacific, not Kanazawa-shi (金沢市), which is a coastal city on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu well away from Mount Fuji.
The "R-10 Microfuzz" ~ Sharp developed the R-10, Japan's first microwave oven in 1961. The following year, "1962", Sharp became the first company to mass produce microwave ovens. The first fuzz pedal was the Maestro "FZ-1" Fuzz-Tone, which was introduced in "1962". To glue this all together, this Fuzz pedal, or should I recommend the "R-10 MicroFuzz" resembles the first mass produced microwave oven! From the shape, knobs and color, all the way down to some serious cooking inside both products. The R-10 spins off FZ-1 which has a tasty touch. Micro describing the small compact structure of the pedal and gives a hat tilt to the oven. Lastly we have fuzz, which describes what the pedal is designed for, AND the sound I would imagine this 1962 microwave oven would/should sound like. I am unsure of anything that would fit this pedal better. Great video! Keep up the great content!
Name - "Wabi-Sabi Fuzz" . It's an ancient and deeply held philosophy closely tied to Japanese culture. Wabi-Sabi sees the beauty in imperfection, appreciates simplicity, and accepts that change is inevitable. This fuzz is ever changing and unpredictable in it's tone. Works for me. :)
My suggestion for a name: "Rising Sun" (since it's from Japanese parts and it's namewise kinda similar to "Morning Glory") Awesome build and awesome sound!
'The Fuzzbox of A-ON'. Because anyone who ends up owning this and does not have it as their Always-On pedal does not deserve it! I guess the fact you can change the tone from the guitar so dramatically also works with it being Always-On. Would also work in D&D - "I take out The Fuzzbox of A-ON to melt the face of the Demon of Guitoamp!"
Been looking forward to this for ten months or so! Josh building a fuzz in Japan with the old masters is like me jamming with Homme and Shields in Abbey Road only I'm terrible at jamming but Josh is gonna ace that fuzz .....
I don't know how to ask this question without sounding like I've gone off the deep end. There's a particular sound that you get with some drive pedals that sounds to me a little bit like dissonance, a little bit like gargling, and a little bit like yodeling. It's as if there are some frequencies that are fighting each other and they flip back and forth randomly. You get it a little at 16:47. What I like about this type of drive is that it's not at all muffled or unclear. You can hear every overtone separately instead of them blending into a single mushy sound. My first question is: what is that called? My second question is: how do you get it without also getting any sort of muffled or muddy sound with it? I don't really play with a lot of gain. I'm really after a clean tone with a tiny bit of hair when you play a chord for example. And then you get that yodeling sound.Oh and I'd probably call it the Snarling Chicken, Burp Cauldron, or the PoPo (another word for the police, or the FUZZ, get it ? Ha!) Or Fupefrojatri (FUzz PEdal FROm JApan TRIp).
I'd call it Ohsh'ii. It's means "Oh Sh*t, that's delicious, my soul is happy, fulfilled and cleansed." It's an homage to when you experience deliciousness.
I would call the pedal Fuzzkushima as it can create great chaos and disaster. Great video as always, please post more content from Japan if you have it.
JHS 'E-Town Fuzz' I feel like the name of the device HAS to give homage to the historic Akihabara Electric Town, which has spawned it and so many of Japan's great music electronics.
The Little Green "Fazu" that could. Because it could do a lot more than the one knob suggests.(Fazu is Fuzz in Japanese). Fazutōn is also cool it just means Fuzztones in Japanese. I tried my best 🤷♂️ 😊
I think the one fuzz pedal should be called “Frankly Bored iii”. I think this episode is some of what my world wants more of. People doing things just cause they want to. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much for this video! Otherwise I never would have known about this market. When I will go to Japan, I will denfinetly visit it. You made me really excited about this market and the sound of that fuzz is also AMAZING! Keep on, you are great!
I would LOVE to see a series where other pedal designers travel to that same market and come up with their own version based on their own personal taste. And it would be to construct, from scratch, a fuzz, an overdrive, a distortion, a delay, a reverb...one pedal from each category. Then they all get played by a 3rd party that's neutral. I would love to see Brian Wampler do his mad scientist routine in that place!
This vidéo is amazing ! It's really inspiring ! I'm a long time musical instrument inventor and now I started making weird pedals and THIS is the video I needed to see ! So thank you Josh !!!
Name would be Tofuzz Simply because it's in the shape of a tofu, in all seriousness this is one of the best sounding fuzz in my opinion and the journey to achieve it is pretty damn cool, good job guys!
Wow, what a great video. It helps to understand the development process and also to capture the regional aspect of the area and era. I am impressed. The song you wrote is also very catchy. Thanks for sharing this journey.
“Obake- Fuzz” in Japanese Obake means shapeshifter fuzz/transformation from dry low volume to high gain/clipping square wave fest Or “Hitotsume-kozō” one eyed, bald monster child ( one-eye/one knob) Fun video/info and wonderful circuit/pedal creation! Much Love❤
What a nice experience to build a pedal by travelling. I would name it "Soleil Levant", as the country of the rising sun in french, meaning Japan. Cheers to the JHS team !
Blossom Face. As an homage to the cherry blossom season in Japan, but with a second meaning referring to the fuzz tone that continues to "blossom" as the volume increases. Love the content you guys are putting out. Keep up the great work!
I'd call it "Robottoenza" (ロボットエンザ) based on the virus that only affects robots in the Megaman series and makes them go crrrrrrazy. Awesome episode and thanks for the opportunity!
Hello! I am a Peruvian guitarist living in the Caribbean and I love your videos! Here are my 3 options. They are variations of the same idea, the Japanese rice liquor called "Sake" (which is, at the same time, a pun with the English word "sake" = the purpose for doing something). I've had the opportunity to try sake in certain forms and I feel that it is a flavor that can be pleasant and harsh at the same time. I'm no expert, but I think it depends on the temperature at which you drink it. I like that analogy because when you turned it up all the way up there was an "aggressive" fuzz, but when you turned it down a little bit, it was almost an overdrive with a "bright color". I think this could be related to the temperature (volume) at which the sake (fuzz) is served (played) ? :) Here are my suggestions:
1. "for ol' times sake." Related to doing something again like in the good old days. In this case, go back to the origins of the pedals that you mentioned and with the materials from before. 2. "ol' sake." the same description but shortened. 3. "The Sake." Maybe as if to say "the reason." Just a simple and direct version. Finally, I would like to thank you for making me curious enough to save up and buy my first 3 pedals, an overdrive, a Fender marine layer and an RC-1. I did not know the historical and artistic importance of pedals. Your videos about the history of the creation of certain sounds and effects have changed my perception of how the guitar learned, taught and played. I have a bachelor's degree in classical guitar, I am about to finish my master's degree in music education, and I recently entered a second bachelor's degree, this time in jazz guitar. I always recommend your videos to students and colleagues. Thanks for everything! and sorry if I couldn't explain well, I learned English on my own 😅
Great video and idea! I love that you have posted the schematic for builders to experiment with. It may have already been named and given away but I would name it the Obake fuzz, like a shapeshifter because it changes with your guitar volume know
Kanda okan ( 神田王冠）The Crown of Kanda (Akihabara is part of Kanda, a place I visited at least once a week in the last 20 years). My favorite shop was ラジオデパート. I've build all the tonebenders from1 to 3.
Name suggestion: Crazy Cherry. Totally not a band reference, but definitely an homage to the homeland of the aural aesthetic and the way the pedal responds to the guitar with volume changes. Also fits the parody style of naming consistent with JHS and the broader pedal community.
I cannot even begin to explain the hype I felt when you mentioned there's a building in Tokyo filled with electronic parts to buy... I'm going to Tokyo this summer thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have, in fact it's the only effect pedal I have, a JHS 3 series distortion, and I find it to be fuzz like if the switch is on the 'gain' mode and my guitar is on full volume. I really like it and I thank you for building such cool pedals. Have a good day.
I NEED this in my life, and no alternative will do. The name, inspired by your own discussion in the depths of fuzzapan, is: Kami no gō - 神の業 This name will prove it is a true “act of god”, and will enhance the tone tenfold. Thank you.
I know Germanium sounds like 60s moreso. But I have been messing with that Band of Gypsies Mini Fuzz Face and that thing sounds like whatever you need it to. It's incredible. Im hoping this one you make reminds me of it. The max fuzz setting sounds like that "wtf velcro sound" when my volume knob is maxed. And the cleanup blows me away. You made me love Fuzz, Josh. Thanks a lot. Hahaha
That would be a cool name for a pedal though.... The JHS Velco Pedal. Technically that would be a "trademark" but only as an adhesive device, you could used it for a pedal as long as you didn't copy their graphics or logo. Doesn't mean they wouldn't threaten you with lawyers though :)
I allways love the way you document those things and share your knowledge with the world. In this way everyone can endotherme what you enjoy. It can be such an inspiration to watch your videos. I would call it an J-Fuzz. That could have multiple meanings like Japanese Fuzz or Josh Fuzz or the Fuzz that came after the I-Fuzz. Thanks for sharing.
In a blind moment of inspiration, I'd dub this: The Nippon Twister. I'll be making your circuit into a pedal so whether or not you choose it; The Nippon Twister will live!!
Just seeing the 2SC prefix on those transistors took me back to my youth. Some kids poured over baseball cards. Me? Product specification sheets and example circuits. I need to dig all those old parts out, fire up the good ol' 20 MHz analog scope and start playing again. This was such an awesome time trip.
So far you have now made me a) into building clones b) into designing my own schematic c) convince my wife why we should get to Japan to visit a certain district I hope you are proud of yourself.... Because you should be. I have zero regrets. Next summer and Japan, here we come. Ps. She learned there is the Hachiko statue which actually sealed the deal.
Wow this video blew my mind. Epic props to you man for creatively following your gut instincts on this build. I suggest the name “Quest” in Japanese which sounds like “Questo”. It was a quest for unique tone, and as its possibilities are seemingly endless, it’s about the journey not the destination. Questo Fuzz is my suggestion.
A delight for fans of Fuzz, Electronics and Japanese culture, thanks for the video Josh, and my idea for a name is: Without Box (箱なし - Hako nashi) since you don't have this and won't have the box! Regards from Brazil
I really liked the video...as all you record. Really fun minutes in a day and learning always something. And most important, giving me the enough energy to take my guitar and experiment with my pedalboard...pedalboard that I have been configuring almost 2 years from scratch...so...thanks for all the instructive videos of your channel. So then, for the name...Dragon's Breath!!! It has that thing like a flame in your face when all volume is up and the feeling of the fire burning slowly with that creeping sound of the barbecue just going off... Thanks!!
Great video! Cant wait for more crazy trips to build pedals! The name should be GENKAI-FUZZ, Genkai means limit or threshold in Japanese, this can refer to both physical and mental limits. This can be associate to the sweetspot you can find between the 9 and 10 in the guitar volume even if you have all the way up (9) on the pedal knob
Josh, I *LOVE* that Japan Fuzz Jam song - does it have a name? Better still is there a full version of it to hear or download somewhere? I want to get my friend who builds pedals to make that circuit from the schematic and then record a full band version of it with lyrics. I'm not kidding - it's everything I love about rock music including Jazzmaster behind bridge strums and bar dips. Is the guitar two steps down, or some kind of open tuning? So many questions 😂
This is actually a really cool thing to experience. I would simply call it the "Electric City Hi-Fuzz". "Electric City" for Akihabara and "Hi-Fuzz" for how it's a fuzz that also is a treble booster.
The first time I attempted building a pedal I tried with a maestro fuzz tone, i got the transistors and all the components except for the case. I think i spent 6 euros in total. I don’t know what happened, but the one of the transistors decided to catch on fire. Every time i try buying that bloody pedal either burn electrically or catch fire. It’s cursed, I even had it checked by a friend who does electronics repairs for a living and my work was good. Now i have a ton of transistors (all germanium) i got for cheap at my local store that told me they haven’t sold one of them in 25 years. Now i bought a bunch of new components and i will try again even though I don’t have the right gain transistors anymore
Hello all. We've picked a winner. We're not taking more suggestions, thanks!
I'm still calling it the BANF. It sounds Big, BadAss, Bombastic, And Nasty. I like it! Bombastic And Nasty Fuzz! BANF there you go I'm sure you've already picked a name. But I know what I'm calling it! Hahaha
@jhspedals Akihabara is a whole neighbourhood. Could you name the shop or building? Would really like to visit next time I'm in Tokyo. Thanks.
Do you guys announce the winner somewhere? I am really curious to know which name gets selected out of so many awesome suggestions!
Any updates?
I am Asian-American and once had the honor of meeting Josh many years ago at NAMM in Anaheim, California. He was (to me) a giant in the pedal world. Having never seen him in person, little did I know that he was also (to me) a giant of a man. When I met him, I proudly showed him a nerdy guitar photo of one of my JHS pedals--complete with little Godzilla figures--I took back home before coming to NAMM. After seeing the photo, he smiled, looked at one of his colleagues, pointed at me, and calmly said, "he's one of us," while nodding. So I can imagine him visiting the sometimes cramped shops in Japan and smiling at the shopkeepers as they marveled at the "kyojin" that came into their tiny store for parts to build what would end up being a colossal-sounding fuzz pedal. And so, I humbly suggest the name of "Kyojin" (巨人), which means giant or colossus for his creation.
Great story and great suggestion! Plus the Japanese characters for it are super aesthetically pleasing. Would look awesome on the pedal.
Thank you, @@ross302ci! It would definitely be cool to have a JHS pedal with both English and Japanese on it, i.e., "Kyojin Fuzz" and "巨人"
You sir, have my vote!
Thank you, @@T.G1G!
That’s beautiful ❤️
I was an anti-pedal/effects player for decades. I was too broke to buy pedals when I first started, so that turned into me just being an amp-distortion guy. Then, the pandemic happened and I found myself locked in my home, watching RUclips all day. That’s when I found this show.
Now, I have 28 pedals & I’m writing the best music of my life.
Thanks, Josh! ☮️
I couldn't imagine that. I need pedals to recreate my favorite tones. It helps one get inspired. The 1st amp I bought has a bunch of FX built in so that I could experiment without having to waste money on pedals I didn't like.
Samesies!
One of us! One of us!
Woah! Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad we could be part of your journey!
@@jhspedals Me too! Thank you so much. I look forward to getting a JHS Klon when it’s released & absolutely love my pulp n peel. ☮️
The fact that a place like this store still exists shows how dedicated the Japanese are to music and the making of all things related to it.
If I’m correct, I was in the same alley of vendors pictured in the video, just the other day (there’s a number of those alleys in Akihabara, so I might be wrong). Those alleys are not just one store; there are buildings like that that are just floors and floors of individual vendors with stalls. It’s awesome. I went to one vendor where they sold nothing but vintage tubes for amps and radios, and another that sold amp building kits. I need to learn pedal design so I can take advantage living close to there. Places like that aren’t just for guitarists. If there’s an obsolete piece of tech you own that’s broken down, that could potentially be the only place in the world that has replacement part. I don’t know of any place like it
And ham radio kit building too
@@Aaron-zh4kj pretty cool. If I were you I’d be taking advantage of that.
I literally got obsessed with the idea of building this fuzz after watching this video for like 4 times! Already bought almost all of the required parts, some of them didn't come from Aliexpress yet (enclosure to be specific)! Thanks!)
oh nice!!!l let us know how it goes when you finish!
I was gonna ask this question to jut everyone but saw that you're making this pedal, therefore you must obtain the knowledge I need lol. Josh mentioned he used PNP transistors and doing so requires a battery. Im just wondering if I was to change them out for NPN what else would I need to change. Im guessing I can just swap them as then the ground would be completly wrong. I understand a bit about this and have a vague idea of what every part does but when it comes to how they work tpgether in a circuit I get a bit lost.
Update?
It’s the "JHS ICHIMAN“.
Ichiman is Japanese and means "10.000“, and according to Google, Tokyo is almost exactly 10.000 kilometers away from Kansas City.
Cool to think it took 10.000 (or ichiman) kilometers for Josh to come up with something that was a combination of his entire life experience growing up in the US and the Japanese creations of guitar pedals he was so influenced by.
He basically had to travel ichiman kilometers to make it happen. That was all that was needed. 😊
I'm sure Josh read that like "WHAT THE HECK IS A KILOMETEEEEER??? 🦅🏈 🇺🇸"
that's pretty good tbh, I hope you win :)
@@segueoyuri rightfully so haha, but outside of the US, it's all kilometers, and he flew out of the US to do it! ;-)
I would call it “巡礼” which is pronounced “Junrei” which translates to “The Pilgrimage”.
Great episode. What a fun trip! Can’t wait for more from Japan!
Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会) Fuzz. Translates to "one time, one meeting" in Japanese it means being present at all times because every moment is unique even if it is something routine. It's related to tea ceremonies where you're paying attention to everything. I really liked how you really paid attention and listened to the unique characteristics of each component so it made me think of this.
This thing should be called “Josh Dreams of Fuzz”. The focus on the how of building it and the journey (plus being in Japan) reminds me so much of Jiro Dreams of Sushi and it’s such a great demonstration of the craft of pedal making. Well done!
"Do Androids Dream of Electric Fuzz?" ... Something bladerunner-esque... or philip k dick... but not "mood organ" :) ... though I think the #1 comment guy nailed it.
Fuzzilla. Destroyer of tones! Seriously fun sounding pedal, LOVE that clean up. Josh was like a Jedi building a lightsaber in that shop. I am one with the Fuzz. The fuzz is with me.
I have a feeling you just won.
Damn it, no way I can win now.
@@DeformedDevicesI just saw this video and came to post that same name. I'm a day late, and a fuzz pedal short.
Kizuna Fuzz - “Kizuna” is a Japanese word signifies bonds and connections between people. It is fitting given the people who helped you along this journey, provided the space to build the pedal, and goes back to the common mantra that “Companies don’t build pedals. People do.”
Ha! I recorded an album in Japan in 2019. We called it Kizuna!
Kizuna Music by Popipa playing in my head right now lol
this is it. this should be the name, and you should win it 😊
What a nasty little beasty. I love him!
I’d call it The Enso.
The Enso is a circle painted in one brush stroke, making each one unique, as you can see all the imperfections from the brush as it loses paint.
This can be seen as a reflection of the imperfections and uniqueness of our lives.
I think this reflects this pedal well. It’s a one off, oozing with beautiful imperfections.
🌴🙏🏼🌴
You aced it. Perfect name. Visually too, with the one knob 👌
@@Pepeleshhthank you! That’s so kind. You’re right, the one knob too!
As much as I'd like to throw my hat in the ring to name it, I'd rather just vote for yours. Very well thought out.
@@cactoidpinata thank you so much. i'm genuinely touched. i'm sure someone deserving is going to win.
I think yours will be the winner. Killer name. U perfectly represented the pedal. Great job!
The name should be Kamifazu. You mentioned in the video at one point that if it worked it would be an "act of god", and that's pretty much what Kami means, and fazu is fuzz in Japanese. Seems fitting to me.
There you go. ☝
Wabi-Sabi Fuzz(侘寂)
In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) - is the acceptance of transience and imperfection.
The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature.
It is prevalent in many forms of Japanese art.
Weird, my feedback is gone... Well I made a wabisabi fuzz already more than a year ago 'RuttenFX'. (link is removed as well).
As much as I’d love to win this pedal, there’s gotta be that “one” person out here that just deserves it! Cool story Josh and Co.!!!
Great video guys! I love that that Nick and Addison were able to go on the trip with Josh. Great to see you guys all jamming together again. Name for the fuzz: 手から Te Kara Fuzz which means “From the hand”. Because the fuzz is controlled and played by the hand / dynamics and volume control and was built “from the hand”.
I bike through Osaka every day going to work, and kept my eye open for a JHS sighting while you were here... Maybe next time!
Hello! I've been making my own pedals for a little over a month now, so this video really excites me. The name I submit is "The Agenabe Fuzz" or just "Agenabe"( 揚げ鍋) (I like how few Japanese characters this name has so it can easily fit on the outside of the enclosure) Which literally just translates to deep fryer. Fingers cross you like the name enough for me to get one of these bad boys, but i'll absolutely be building the circuit soon anyways!
I don't have a suggestion as good as this one, so +1 🤷♂️
^^chicken dinner
Stop scrolling, you've found the name of this pedal!
What a fun episode, I would love more in that genre. Build challenges between Josh and others would be fun too. For the fuzz name I suggest : GIGANTOR FUZZ. (It's a 60's mech themed manga/anime)
That was the US name
oooh I'm gonna build it! it's going to be the perfect project for my channel 😁😁 thank you! 😀😀
Name: Mt. FuzzGe
Explanation: built in Japan near Mt. Fuji. Josh “Mounted” all of the components himself. It’s a fuzz made with Germanium, hence FuzzGe
Very, very cool fuzz! If I win I vow to not resell it on reverb. In fact, I’ll use it on my next album!
:)
Genius
This was killer! More Japan footage! More Japan footage! ✌️😃🎸
This journey reminded me so much of Yoshi Ikegami and his reverence for the pre-compact Roland-Boss effectors. I feel that a name that harkens that era both of Roland and effects in general fits, as well as serves as a tribute to his semi-recent retirement. To that end, it's defintely the Chummy Tanuki (狸 - which has an obsolete translation referring to a cat, reminding me of the Funny Cat).
Akifuzz Electric Sakura . This name combines "Akihabara," the famous district of Tokyo known for electronics and geek culture, with "Fuzz" for the sound effect, and "Electric Sakura" to evoke the fusion of modern electronics and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Br Franck
Name: Hikeshi
That’s the name of Japanese firefighters from the Edo Period who essentially had the job of preventing fires from spreading by destroying buildings surrounding the fires. They were loved as local working class heroes and also feared for being loud and coarse. That last part really fits I think.
This is definitely The Tiny Kaiju. A paradox, an enigma, but still undeniably a monster.
You really are living the dream Josh! Congratulations. Hope to keep seeing more inspiring content like this- pedals bring me life
« Caijin fuzz ». A Kaijin is a strange japanese monster who can take any shape, as versatile as this fuzz. Of course, CA(ijin) is for the Capacitor which is unique. I love you Josh, you really make the guitar world exciting like nobody can.
I would call this pedal the “For Fuzz Sake”
What an awesome journey!
Lol brilliant name!
That‘s brilliant. Love the double meaning of Sake here
@@mark-hollis Thanks! I was wondering if someone would catch that lol
awesome!
This is a fantastic video! I like how you encourage us to create and provide the schematic! Thank you!
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Umami Fuzz - because it adds that indescribable something to your tone that you never knew you can’t live without.
BTW - loved this. More of these off-the-cuff builds with the team playing around with parts from markets, old pawn shop electronics and such - that would be ace. Also Joshua reading the rules made me LOL in public transport. ‘Oh! You caught me reading…’. Very good.
I'd call it Made in Japan. Simple, true and very retro. Used to see it everywhere, that phrase.
Nice tribute for this pedal and for their contribution to electronics, and guitars, and fuzz.
I would call it "Miminari", which is Japanese for tinnitus, or ringing of the ears. 🔊
I would call it the 'Hitotsu', which in certain circumstances means 'one' or 'one of' in Japanese.
One-of-one, one-knob pedal, designed in Japan 👌
But it’s got two switches
@@quikstiks4781 good job I was on about the knob then 😮💨
Great vid Josh n team 👏 🎉
It's not a build
It's an experience ❤
What is the best Uni Vibe pedal - ? I bought the MXR Uni Vibe . Eric Clapton Strat and 65 Deluxe Reverb . OCD pedal - Super Cool Sounds .
Awesome video and killing tone!!Next time you could try to come to Osaka and look for building parts in NIHONBASHI, which is the local version of Akihabara. I'd be glad to be your guide here!!
As for the pedal name , I'd choose "シオヤ秘伝"(Shioya Hiden: Shioya secret) as a homage to the シオヤ無線(Shioya wireless) store that appears in the video a couple of times and that closed down at the end of August this year, where the SECRET was hidden, without which this pedal wouldn't be possible.
I am big fan of JHS pedals and have 11(including an Astro Mess Fuzz) of them distributed among 3 pedalboards and still have the Double Barrel waiting to get back sometime soon.
Great episode! Thanks Josh and everyone in the team for making this! How about calling it "Big In Japan"? As a massive Tom Waits fan, that song popped up to my head straight away as I was watching this. A strange and quirky song with a lot of grit! Check it out if you don't know it. The title also fits the footage of you walking around the small corridors (Tall in Japan would be more accurate but it might not be as catchy?). Anyway, thanks again! P
Awesome episode! I would call it the “Kanagawa Fuzz” after the famous Japanese art piece the ‘Great wave of Kanagawa’. It’s been used and reused in art designs so many times, just like the topology of this fuzz circuit.
The block print is of the sea off of Kanagawa-ken (神奈川県), a prefecture facing the open Pacific, not Kanazawa-shi (金沢市), which is a coastal city on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu well away from Mount Fuji.
@@robertlewis5439 I stand corrected. Thank you for the help!
The "R-10 Microfuzz"
~ Sharp developed the R-10, Japan's first microwave oven in 1961. The following year, "1962", Sharp became the first company to mass produce microwave ovens. The first fuzz pedal was the Maestro "FZ-1" Fuzz-Tone, which was introduced in "1962". To glue this all together, this Fuzz pedal, or should I recommend the "R-10 MicroFuzz" resembles the first mass produced microwave oven! From the shape, knobs and color, all the way down to some serious cooking inside both products. The R-10 spins off FZ-1 which has a tasty touch. Micro describing the small compact structure of the pedal and gives a hat tilt to the oven. Lastly we have fuzz, which describes what the pedal is designed for, AND the sound I would imagine this 1962 microwave oven would/should sound like.
I am unsure of anything that would fit this pedal better. Great video! Keep up the great content!
Next time that I'm going to Japan, I will surely visit that building and build a pedal.
this is the right move
Name - "Wabi-Sabi Fuzz" . It's an ancient and deeply held philosophy closely tied to Japanese culture. Wabi-Sabi sees the beauty in imperfection, appreciates simplicity, and accepts that change is inevitable. This fuzz is ever changing and unpredictable in it's tone. Works for me. :)
My suggestion for a name: "Rising Sun" (since it's from Japanese parts and it's namewise kinda similar to "Morning Glory")
Awesome build and awesome sound!
'The Fuzzbox of A-ON'. Because anyone who ends up owning this and does not have it as their Always-On pedal does not deserve it! I guess the fact you can change the tone from the guitar so dramatically also works with it being Always-On. Would also work in D&D - "I take out The Fuzzbox of A-ON to melt the face of the Demon of Guitoamp!"
Been looking forward to this for ten months or so! Josh building a fuzz in Japan with the old masters is like me jamming with Homme and Shields in Abbey Road only I'm terrible at jamming but Josh is gonna ace that fuzz .....
I miss Addison 😢
Yeah, these other guys suck!
did he leave jhs?
@@JotaJadehe left the show to go into making music. I am not sure if he is with jhs in any official capacity, but he is still local to them
Agreed... But Josh's enthusiasm, and attention to detail keep it interesting, as usual.
you are incorrect.
"Tokyo Facemaster" or "The Nines"
I like "the nines"👍
I don't know how to ask this question without sounding like I've gone off the deep end. There's a particular sound that you get with some drive pedals that sounds to me a little bit like dissonance, a little bit like gargling, and a little bit like yodeling. It's as if there are some frequencies that are fighting each other and they flip back and forth randomly. You get it a little at 16:47. What I like about this type of drive is that it's not at all muffled or unclear. You can hear every overtone separately instead of them blending into a single mushy sound. My first question is: what is that called? My second question is: how do you get it without also getting any sort of muffled or muddy sound with it? I don't really play with a lot of gain. I'm really after a clean tone with a tiny bit of hair when you play a chord for example. And then you get that yodeling sound.Oh and I'd probably call it the Snarling Chicken, Burp Cauldron, or the PoPo (another word for the police, or the FUZZ, get it ? Ha!) Or Fupefrojatri (FUzz PEdal FROm JApan TRIp).
The « Japanoize » seems like a great name for this Japanese Fuzz
I'd call it Ohsh'ii. It's means "Oh Sh*t, that's delicious, my soul is happy, fulfilled and cleansed." It's an homage to when you experience deliciousness.
the Pearl Harbor
I would call the pedal Fuzzkushima as it can create great chaos and disaster. Great video as always, please post more content from Japan if you have it.
Tatakau (戦う) Fuzz !!
Love the sound!
JHS 'E-Town Fuzz'
I feel like the name of the device HAS to give homage to the historic Akihabara Electric Town, which has spawned it and so many of Japan's great music electronics.
Since there are no US regional fuzzes how about The KC Wondertone OverFuzz ?
The Little Green "Fazu" that could. Because it could do a lot more than the one knob suggests.(Fazu is Fuzz in Japanese). Fazutōn is also cool it just means Fuzztones in Japanese. I tried my best 🤷♂️ 😊
I think the one fuzz pedal should be called “Frankly Bored iii”. I think this episode is some of what my world wants more of. People doing things just cause they want to. Thank you for sharing.
“Tone Ninja” Easily jumping back and forth with the slightest of effort.
This was cool, Josh. Love getting a glimpse into the design process.
I love how this fuzz cleans up with the volume knob.
Thank you very much for this video! Otherwise I never would have known about this market. When I will go to Japan, I will denfinetly visit it. You made me really excited about this market and the sound of that fuzz is also AMAZING! Keep on, you are great!
I would LOVE to see a series where other pedal designers travel to that same market and come up with their own version based on their own personal taste. And it would be to construct, from scratch, a fuzz, an overdrive, a distortion, a delay, a reverb...one pedal from each category. Then they all get played by a 3rd party that's neutral. I would love to see Brian Wampler do his mad scientist routine in that place!
Thanks for the schematic!
This vidéo is amazing ! It's really inspiring ! I'm a long time musical instrument inventor and now I started making weird pedals and THIS is the video I needed to see ! So thank you Josh !!!
Name would be Tofuzz
Simply because it's in the shape of a tofu, in all seriousness this is one of the best sounding fuzz in my opinion and the journey to achieve it is pretty damn cool, good job guys!
Wow, what a great video. It helps to understand the development process and also to capture the regional aspect of the area and era. I am impressed. The song you wrote is also very catchy. Thanks for sharing this journey.
“Obake- Fuzz” in Japanese Obake means shapeshifter fuzz/transformation from dry low volume to high gain/clipping square wave fest
Or “Hitotsume-kozō” one eyed, bald monster child ( one-eye/one knob)
Fun video/info and wonderful circuit/pedal creation! Much Love❤
What a nice experience to build a pedal by travelling. I would name it "Soleil Levant", as the country of the rising sun in french, meaning Japan. Cheers to the JHS team !
Title for- Vol 1. Thanks for all your hard work.
Blossom Face. As an homage to the cherry blossom season in Japan, but with a second meaning referring to the fuzz tone that continues to "blossom" as the volume increases.
Love the content you guys are putting out. Keep up the great work!
I'd call it "Robottoenza" (ロボットエンザ) based on the virus that only affects robots in the Megaman series and makes them go crrrrrrazy.
Awesome episode and thanks for the opportunity!
Hello! I am a Peruvian guitarist living in the Caribbean and I love your videos!
Here are my 3 options. They are variations of the same idea, the Japanese rice liquor called "Sake" (which is, at the same time, a pun with the English word "sake" = the purpose for doing something). I've had the opportunity to try sake in certain forms and I feel that it is a flavor that can be pleasant and harsh at the same time. I'm no expert, but I think it depends on the temperature at which you drink it.
I like that analogy because when you turned it up all the way up there was an "aggressive" fuzz, but when you turned it down a little bit, it was almost an overdrive with a "bright color". I think this could be related to the temperature (volume) at which the sake (fuzz) is served (played) ? :)
Here are my suggestions:
1. "for ol' times sake." Related to doing something again like in the good old days. In this case, go back to the origins of the pedals that you mentioned and with the materials from before.
2. "ol' sake." the same description but shortened.
3. "The Sake." Maybe as if to say "the reason." Just a simple and direct version.
Finally, I would like to thank you for making me curious enough to save up and buy my first 3 pedals, an overdrive, a Fender marine layer and an RC-1. I did not know the historical and artistic importance of pedals. Your videos about the history of the creation of certain sounds and effects have changed my perception of how the guitar learned, taught and played.
I have a bachelor's degree in classical guitar, I am about to finish my master's degree in music education, and I recently entered a second bachelor's degree, this time in jazz guitar. I always recommend your videos to students and colleagues.
Thanks for everything! and sorry if I couldn't explain well, I learned English on my own 😅
AB-Fuzz: akihabara basement fuzz!
Great video, love the fact you did it in one sitting and it sounded that good!
Great video and idea! I love that you have posted the schematic for builders to experiment with.
It may have already been named and given away but I would name it the Obake fuzz, like a shapeshifter because it changes with your guitar volume know
Kanda okan ( 神田王冠）The Crown of Kanda (Akihabara is part of Kanda, a place I visited at least once a week in the last 20 years). My favorite shop was ラジオデパート. I've build all the tonebenders from1 to 3.
Name suggestion: Crazy Cherry. Totally not a band reference, but definitely an homage to the homeland of the aural aesthetic and the way the pedal responds to the guitar with volume changes.
Also fits the parody style of naming consistent with JHS and the broader pedal community.
This pedal's name is "MOTTO": more, even more, longer or further
もっと
Thank you for sharing the adventure and let us play!
Alex
I cannot even begin to explain the hype I felt when you mentioned there's a building in Tokyo filled with electronic parts to buy... I'm going to Tokyo this summer thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have, in fact it's the only effect pedal I have, a JHS 3 series distortion, and I find it to be fuzz like if the switch is on the 'gain' mode and my guitar is on full volume. I really like it and I thank you for building such cool pedals. Have a good day.
I NEED this in my life, and no alternative will do. The name, inspired by your own discussion in the depths of fuzzapan, is:
Kami no gō - 神の業
This name will prove it is a true “act of god”, and will enhance the tone tenfold. Thank you.
I know Germanium sounds like 60s moreso. But I have been messing with that Band of Gypsies Mini Fuzz Face and that thing sounds like whatever you need it to. It's incredible. Im hoping this one you make reminds me of it. The max fuzz setting sounds like that "wtf velcro sound" when my volume knob is maxed. And the cleanup blows me away. You made me love Fuzz, Josh. Thanks a lot. Hahaha
That would be a cool name for a pedal though.... The JHS Velco Pedal. Technically that would be a "trademark" but only as an adhesive device, you could used it for a pedal as long as you didn't copy their graphics or logo. Doesn't mean they wouldn't threaten you with lawyers though :)
Great episode. Let’s give it up to Nick for his flawless editing of the program, as usual.
Call it the Wuzz.
I allways love the way you document those things and share your knowledge with the world. In this way everyone can endotherme what you enjoy. It can be such an inspiration to watch your videos. I would call it an J-Fuzz. That could have multiple meanings like Japanese Fuzz or Josh Fuzz or the Fuzz that came after the I-Fuzz. Thanks for sharing.
In a blind moment of inspiration, I'd dub this: The Nippon Twister.
I'll be making your circuit into a pedal so whether or not you choose it; The Nippon Twister will live!!
Just seeing the 2SC prefix on those transistors took me back to my youth. Some kids poured over baseball cards. Me? Product specification sheets and example circuits. I need to dig all those old parts out, fire up the good ol' 20 MHz analog scope and start playing again. This was such an awesome time trip.
So far you have now made me
a) into building clones
b) into designing my own schematic
c) convince my wife why we should get to Japan to visit a certain district
I hope you are proud of yourself.... Because you should be. I have zero regrets. Next summer and Japan, here we come.
Ps. She learned there is the Hachiko statue which actually sealed the deal.
YES!
Is that "primary building" the "Akihabara Radio Kaikan"?
This was incredibly inspiring. Thank you
Wow this video blew my mind. Epic props to you man for creatively following your gut instincts on this build. I suggest the name “Quest” in Japanese which sounds like “Questo”. It was a quest for unique tone, and as its possibilities are seemingly endless, it’s about the journey not the destination. Questo Fuzz is my suggestion.
Great story and video, I want that pedal with those exact knobs.
A delight for fans of Fuzz, Electronics and Japanese culture, thanks for the video Josh, and my idea for a name is: Without Box (箱なし - Hako nashi) since you don't have this and won't have the box! Regards from Brazil
The kauku. It means house, from where the components come, and the box is the house where the fuzz (fazu) lives, right?
This might be my favorite JHS video ever. And that's sayin' somethin'.
I really liked the video...as all you record. Really fun minutes in a day and learning always something. And most important, giving me the enough energy to take my guitar and experiment with my pedalboard...pedalboard that I have been configuring almost 2 years from scratch...so...thanks for all the instructive videos of your channel.
So then, for the name...Dragon's Breath!!!
It has that thing like a flame in your face when all volume is up and the feeling of the fire burning slowly with that creeping sound of the barbecue just going off...
Thanks!!
Aw I want you to keep it! I think the schematic is enough for us lol
Great video! Cant wait for more crazy trips to build pedals!
The name should be GENKAI-FUZZ, Genkai means limit or threshold in Japanese, this can refer to both physical and mental limits.
This can be associate to the sweetspot you can find between the 9 and 10 in the guitar volume even if you have all the way up (9) on the pedal knob
Josh, I *LOVE* that Japan Fuzz Jam song - does it have a name? Better still is there a full version of it to hear or download somewhere? I want to get my friend who builds pedals to make that circuit from the schematic and then record a full band version of it with lyrics. I'm not kidding - it's everything I love about rock music including Jazzmaster behind bridge strums and bar dips. Is the guitar two steps down, or some kind of open tuning? So many questions 😂
This is actually a really cool thing to experience. I would simply call it the "Electric City Hi-Fuzz". "Electric City" for Akihabara and "Hi-Fuzz" for how it's a fuzz that also is a treble booster.
The first time I attempted building a pedal I tried with a maestro fuzz tone, i got the transistors and all the components except for the case. I think i spent 6 euros in total. I don’t know what happened, but the one of the transistors decided to catch on fire. Every time i try buying that bloody pedal either burn electrically or catch fire. It’s cursed, I even had it checked by a friend who does electronics repairs for a living and my work was good. Now i have a ton of transistors (all germanium) i got for cheap at my local store that told me they haven’t sold one of them in 25 years. Now i bought a bunch of new components and i will try again even though I don’t have the right gain transistors anymore
“Oni Fuzz”
oni, in Japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance.
The "Perf-fect Nuke Switch Fuzz" Love this channel - Love your passion!!
"Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb^H^H^H^H FUZZ".. sorry, you said "Nuke."