Introduced in 1966, the Arbiter Fuzz Face was a cheap, crude fuzz box that would become famous and produce some of rock music's most recognizable sounds. At the time, "fuzz" was not a new convention—artists had explored distorted, sustained, horn-like sounds since the early '50s. In the mid-'60s, the most popular fuzz unit was the Maestro Fuzz-Tone, and the Fuzz Face was designed to be a low-budget alternative. The design used as few parts as possible: just two transistors, three capacitors, two potentiometers, and a double-pole/double-throw true-bypass switch. When Jimi Hendrix used one to record "Purple Haze," the Fuzz Face sound became a part of rock and roll history.
The original Fuzz Face units used germanium NKT 275 transistors, which many players came to love for their fat, full sound. Nevertheless, as soon as cheaper silicon transistors were available, Arbiter quickly switched over to keep their costs low. But to access that original Fuzz Face sound, only real germanium transistors will do.
In the early '90s, Jim Dunlop purchased the rights to the original Fuzz Face schematic and design, and the early reissues they produced are perhaps the most authentic recreation ever built. Like the originals, the original Dunlop JHF2 is outfitted with genuine NKT 275 transistors. Because of that, it unlocks the unmistakable Fuzz Face sound.
This mid-'90s Dunlop JHF2 Fuzz Face Reissue is in excellent condition with minimal signs of wear and use. In addition to NKT 275 transistors under the hood, it features the sought-after smiley "Dallas-Arbiter England" badge.