| FuzzHugger Effects FAQ • Where and how are FuzzHugger pedals built? All FuzzHugger pedals are hand-made by Tom Dalton, start to finish, in the US. Every step, from drilling the metal enclosures, to creating and applying graphics, screening, finishing, PCB population, and wiring, is done in-house. The only process done out-of- house is PCB production (also in the US, then populated in-house)...or when Laura Bennett or another fine artist hand-paints a pedal! So despite being a one-man shop, I do (occasionally) get to work with excellent artists like Laura Bennett, Pat Corrigan, Jeff Fialko, Snakes. • How long do email replies take? I get more emails than I can quickly respond to while getting other things done. So emails are prioritized: Troubleshooting, repair, and important order questions come first: same day, or next. (If I take longer, don't hesitate to resend.) Other inquires come after repairs, building, and order fulfillment. Some are bound to fall between the cracks, or get buried by new emails. Solicitations are typically ignored. Some replies can be short and quick, and some replies need to wait until I have time to sit down and write a long focused message. I enjoy and welcome emails...but it can be hard to keep up with them. • Do you do custom work? Yes. Contact Me to chat. All custom work is on a case-by-case basis. Many custom graphics, finishes, styles, and even circuits are available. Sometimes due to time- constraints, I have to say no. But never hesitate to ask! Also, I'm happy to discuss options with no pressure to buy...we discuss and work out all possible details before you decide whether you want to order the pedal. • Are all FuzzHugger pedals limited run? I've said that a few times. There are a few flagships that I don't plan to discontinue, but there are no guarantees on the rest. Also, I don't currently have a plan to continue FuzzHugger beyond my lifetime, so yes, ALL my pedals are essentially limited run! (It is possible that one day, one or both of my sons will carry on with FuzzHugger.) • Can I tour your workshop / factory? (It's definitely not a factory, but...) Sorry, Wonka-style tours are not available. Safety and time constraints. I'm also a hermit. • Why are FuzzHugger pedals more affordable than many other boutique pedals? Even before I built pedals, I loved the excitement of finding that rare gem of a builder, with cool handmade stuff that was actually affordable. I hope to be that kind of builder. FuzzHugger is a passion, personal challenge, and my lifestyle, more than it is a business. The low price isn't a reflection of value, but a personal drive to hand-build quality pedals at a good price. I cut out every area of waste, I don't work in a fancy (or even decorated) workshop--all my attention all goes into the pedal I'm building for you. • Do you use high quality parts? The highest available, period. • Will you modify my FuzzHugger pedal? In most cases, yes. Contact Me for details. • I have a video demo channel. Will you send me a free pedal in exchange for a video demo? No. (I tried this a few times a decade ago, along with trying video-demo-tourboxes... even some good people would occasionally flake out). Demand is good, I'm not a factory and don't intend to become one. I prefer to function on word-of-mouth from satisfied users. • Warranty. What is FuzzHugger Effects' warranty? Free lifetime parts and labor, free shipping both ways in the first year of ownership. Currently, if I 'm alive, I'm here to keep my pedals working. (Abuse not covered, though I'll still repair for you.) Is it transferrable? Does it apply to used pedals? Free labor on used pedals. Abuse not covered. What is the process for a warranty claim? Contact Me first, and describe the problem. This is important. Sometimes, it really is just a matter of plugging into the wrong jacks, or not reading the manual. You'll never be given a hard time, just some basic checks. Repairs are given top-priority. You wont be kept waiting for your pedal. |
| Technical • How do I power my FuzzHugger pedal? All FuzzHugger pedals use the industry-standard: a 9 volt, negative-tip (center negative) adapter. It's a 2.1mm jack. Yes, you can daisy-chain. • Can I use my FuzzHugger pedal with more than 9 volts? How will it be different? You're always safe to use 12 volts, provided it's a standard negative-tip 2.1mm jack. You'll probably notice increased headroom, for one. Also, pedals with a Starve or Volt control will now start at the new, higher voltage and go down from there, so that's cool (and allows you to run it at 9v or lower even if you're using a 12v adapter. If you want to use 16 volts, please contact me first (I'll let you know, based on the model/year and parts used). You don't want to fry your pedal, so please contact me. • I just got my pedal and I'm not sure it's working right. You're welcome to email me with any questions. Here are a couple simple things to check: · First, make sure you're using a 9 volt, negative-tip adapter. · In from guitar on the right, out to amp on the left. Also, operation guides can be found on each pedal's product page. If you've tried those, shoot me an email! Problems with FuzzHugger pedals are rare, and they are all extensively inspected and tested before shipping...but in the event there's an issue, I will take care of you quickly. Repairs are my highest priority. AB-Synth I have a v1/1.5 (pre-2012) AB-Synth. Can you upgrade it to v2? Even within one version, there are some PCB and parts-mounting differences between some AB-Synths. So sometimes upgrading is possible (and inexpensive), and sometimes, it's more in-depth. So AB-Synth upgrades are handled on a case-by-case basis. Email for details! My AB-Synth (or another FuzzHugger fuzz) picks up radio. I've only gotten this as a concern/complaint 2-3 times (this could be because it's rare, but could also be because it's expected to happen sometimes, or is even welcome by some of you noise guys)...I don't know--I live in the middle of the woods, on top of a mountain. You've probably read before that some radio-frequency interference (RFI), depending on geographical location, is not uncommon for a high gain oscillating fuzz (or even a standard fuzz!). While RFI protection can be added (I can provide instructions, and current AB-Synth PCBs have a built-in space for easily adding it though a relatively simple mod), there are two caveats. First, it might not help in all cases. Second, it tames some of the AB-Synth's sizzle. For a very brief time, I added RFI protection as standard, and users who upgraded all missed the sizzle and asked for instructions on how to remove it. So I stopped adding RFI protection in the AB- Synth. Basically, I recommend you enjoy the AB-Synth's sizzle, and the occasional spirit voices some of you might pick up. Other FuzzHugger fuzzes (excluding the Velcrobot and Phantom Arcade) have built-in RFI protection. Algal Bloom The Starve knob on my Algal Bloom scratches. This is normal. Also, many Algal Blooms out there also have the Starve knob wired so the higher gain settings are on the left. This is normal...I thought of it at the time as a voltage reducer (turn it up to reduce voltage...quirky). I've switched to a different taper on the Starve knob, and wired it so that it goes from low voltage to higher voltage. Either way, you have the same range. |
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| FuzzHugger.com General / Order FAQ Contact Tom with any additional questions. • When was FuzzHugger established? In 2008, and going steady since then. Thanks to primarily word-of-mouth, FuzzHugger is currently starting Year Thirteen. • Do you have a physical store open to the public? No. The costs involved with operating a physical shop would result in a doubling of my prices. Selling direct allows me to keep prices low. • When will my order ship? Under each Order Now button, there's a note specifying whether the pedal is in stock or wait-listed (with the build time noted). If you ordered an In Stock item, it will ship within 24 hours in most cases. If it's wait-listed, the approximate ship time is noted. A lot of work is dedicated to keeping the wait-times accurate, but are sometimes a week or so longer (and whenever possible, a week shorter). • Is the current covid-19 global pandemic affecting shipping? Other than going to the post office less often, the amount of time in-transit has been varying depending on region (and some countries are quarantining incoming packages). I am still shipping in stock items within about 24 hours. To prevent delays, shipping labels / tracking numbers are often activated immediately after sale, up to 24 hours in advance of the PO receiving the package. • What shipping method do you use? How long does it take? US orders ship with 2-3 day USPS. It can sometimes take longer depending on region, weather, weekends, and holidays. • Will I receive an email update and tracking number when it ships? Yes. If you don't receive an update, just email. • Return Policy 100% satisfaction guaranteed, no hassle returns. Changed your mind? Decided a pedal's not for you? No problem! Return any item within 20 days of purchase for a full refund (minus my shipping costs to send it to you). If you receive a pedal with a defective part (rare), pay no shipping on returns. Returns must be in absolutely new condition. Email first, then ship with trackable USPS Priority (or request a pre-paid label if that'd make things easier for you). If (and only if) the returned item is not in new condition, then either: 1) A 20% fee will be subtracted from your refund (or you can have me send it back). 2) If severe enough, we will refuse the refund and send the item back to you. Neither of those ^ has ever happened in the history of FuzzHugger. Basically, it's this simple: keep it mint. If you do, you can decide whether to keep it! • How long do email replies take? It varies, and replies are priortized. . Some replies can be short and quick, and some replies need to wait until I have time to sit down and write a long focused message. I enjoy and welcome emails...but it can be hard to keep up with them, especially as I'm trying to keep up with a build-list (and getting pedals out on time takes priority over emails). International Orders • Do you ship internationally? Yes. All over the world. In fact, close to half of all pedals I build are shipped outside the US. • How much is international shipping? You can see shipping costs in your cart before checkout. Shipping prices have increased dramatically over the past years. Still, my shipping prices are usually $5-10 LESS than actual shipping costs. But as prices can vary, please contact me if you'd like an individualized quote. • Do you have international dealers? As of 2020, no. • Why don't you have more international dealers? Feel free to tell your favorite shop about FuzzHugger. I don't have an advertising staff or a lot of time to reach out to dealers. So far, I've only ever worked with dealers who've reached out to me first. I like to do it that way, because it shows that they're interested, or that their customers have requested FuzzHugger. If someone's heard of FuzzHugger, it's because of word-of-mouth. It might not be the most profitable advertising method, but I like that the word has spread organically. • Can I track international shipments online? In some cases. USPS seems to have recently abandoned most of their international tracking updates (other than noting when it leaves US and when it is finally delivered), though delivery and shipping times are as dependable as ever. • Shipping is taking longer than estimated. This can happen sometimes, but seems to be rare; I frustratingly can't do anything if your mail courier is slow. Usually, if a shipment is taking longer than estimated, it's because tied up in your country's customs system. It'll eventually make it out. • I'm worried about international shipping / my pedal being lost in the mail. In 12 years and thousands of pedals, I think only two international shipments have ever been lost in the mail. In both cases, I verified it with USPS and insurance, and, more importantly, sent replacements to the customer. If you ordered a pedal, you will get that pedal. Guaranteed. • I'm waiting on a custom (or wait-listed) pedal, so why did other pedals just came in stock? Of course, if you're waiting on a build, that same build won't pop up in stock while you're still waiting. But when other builds are listed, it doesn't mean I've been working on these instead of yours--it takes me time to photograph and list pedals, so most likely, the new stock was in-progress before your build, and I'm just getting around to listing it. • International Returns I do accept International returns, though due to costs involved with International shipping, it may be more economical for you to resell a pedal yourself if you decide it's not for you. That being said, you're welcome to return a pedal. Customers are responsible for return shipping (as is the case with non-defective US returns). We will refund your purchase price (less original shipping cost). Item must be in 100% new condition, so please package carefully and insure. Thanks! |
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