Spencer Amps

SPENCER distortion processors

Mystique
OVERDRIVE with FUZZ

An unusually dynamic and responsive overdrive pedal. The "Clarifier" circuit brings forward mid-level detail from the midrange and treble of a guitar signal. This also avoids the muddiness inherent in ordinary distortion circuits, avoiding the need to excessively reshape the tonal balance.

A switch provides an alternate overdrive sound and a fuzz effect also like none before. This is chunky and splatty like a classic nasty low-gain transistor fuzz, even more signal-destroying and yet stable, responsive, with clean-up.

SE-5 $129 ... SE-5X $139 ... more

SubZombie
MIXFUZZ

A simple, fast control arrangement produces a huge array of sounds -- sweet and creamy, or harsh, or brain-sucking ... and in-between. This device provides 3 seperate distortion signals in closely spaced gain increments and double-inverted phase. It is not a traditional fuzz.

MIXFUZZ pedals operate on the principle that two or more different distortion signals can be be added together, but also subtracted from each other, emphasizing their differences ... this one uses distortion-type circuits that preserve much of the original instrument tone, but transforms them dynamically and tonally, selectably in a range from overdrive/distortion to extreme fuzz tones including "swell" effects and synth-like "vocal" inflections.

SE-4 $139 ... SE-4B $149 ... more

Supra CLEAN MIX Distortion
BOOST/OD/DISTORTION (TOTAL CONVERSION MODIFICATION)

Clean mix produces 2 highly different sounds from one guitar, down to a transparent overdrive boost. The wide-range Gain and enhanced Tone controls produce dirt sounds from smooth to metallic. The added CLEAN mix control is completely independent of the existing distortion control knobs. FX-55C2C mod $45 ... complete pedals $65 and up ...more

Supra ZOMBIE Distortion
MIXFUZZ (TOTAL CONVERSION MODIFICATION)

My most basic, economical mixfuzz effect. A single MIX control selects from overdrive, gated or fuzzy-clean overdrive mixing, "Zombie" fuzz effects, to a metal distortion. It is not a traditional fuzz. FX-55C2Z mod $40 ... complete pedals $65 and up ... more

ABOUT

Spencer Amps was created in 2004 by myself, Bill Spencer, as a company name wide enough to include my audio electronic interests, from guitar to hi-fi, but all of which make it louder .. and distort. Since then, I have conducted extensive research into the subject of distortion effects, along with production of a limited number of effects pedals.

My design philosophy for pedals includes a desire for innovation instead of copycat design, and sonically the ability to not overly color the tone unless desired, resulting in devices with excellent tone on the their own, but also that work well in combination with other effects and also overdriven amplifiers.

I am a BSEE (1982) and built my first fuzzbox in 1976. Soon I was working on my own designs, and also began working with vacuum tube circuits in the mid-80s. I have over 28 years experience in the electronics profession, including digital hardware design, patents, and repair.

Contact
Please send all inquiries to this address: . Be sure that the subject line is descriptive and there are no attachments, or else it may be ignored or deleted.

LINKS
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Sound of Music Studios
- Dealer and Partner -

Articles
- (Older:) Blending effects setup
and Pickup Coil Switching -

Personal Pages
- Music, Noise, games -

Mix Muff

TOTAL CONVERSION MODIFICATION of Big Muff Pi

The perfect combination: an all-time classic expanded to a new world of sounds even bigger than its box. Deriving its signals from the original gain stages, both cleaner and fuzzier sounds can be produced, such as clean-fuzz mixes, beautiful overdrives, and nasty zombie tones.

Great idea, right? However it was not popular enough and therefore too laborious a mod to perform. There is some possibility of reviving this project, perhaps even as a DIY mod kit? Or I may replace it in function with an all-original pedal.

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