Shin-ei Companion FY-2 Fuzz

I recently picked up a pedal I have wanted for awhile now - the Shin-ei Companion FY-2 Fuzz. The FY-2 was sold under a number of brand names, such as Jax, Apollo and Kimbara but was designed by the same company that made the Univox Super-Fuzz.



This fuzz pedal is not for the tone enthusiasts. It manages to create a sound more similar to a construction site than a musical instrument. It can definitely be categorised at the opposite end of the spectrum of the many, many boutique overdrives in the market. The fuzz can be described as a violent splutter rather than a long, sustained overdrive output.

This pedal currently populates the board of Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood and can be heard on bass lines from tracks such as "Exit Music (For A Film)" and "Myxomatosis". The pedal has also been an instrumental sound on The Jesus and Mary Chain's Psychocandy.

These Japanese fuzz pedals were discontinued in the '60s and have become a highly sought after dirt box, in part for its NPN Silicon 2SC536F transistors, and for the passive mid-scoop between the fuzz-generating circuitry and output level control. These features fuse together to give the notorious "chainsaw cutting a beehive" sound.

Here's a quick demo of the FY-2.
Clip Details: Fender Jazzmaster > FY-2 > Line 6 TonePort (1953 Small Tweed model - clean)> Ableton Live 6.
Guitar Settings: Rhythm played with volume knob turned down. Lead with volume knob maxed.
Pedal Settings: Volume set to Max, Fuzz to 2:00.



C.