Wiktor Wise
Electric Wizard, the iconic doom metal band known for their heavy, psychedelic soundscapes, relies on a carefully curated selection of guitar pedals to achieve their signature tone. While the band has experimented with various setups over the years, Jus Oborn, the band’s guitarist and frontman, is known to favor a combination of classic and modern effects. Key pedals in his arsenal include the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff for its thick, fuzzy distortion, the Dunlop Cry Baby wah pedal for expressive filtering, and the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal for its raw, aggressive edge. Additionally, modulation effects like the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone phaser and the MXR Phase 90 contribute to the band’s swirling, otherworldly atmosphere. These pedals, combined with Oborn’s downtuned guitars and vintage amplifiers, create the crushing, doom-laden sound that defines Electric Wizard’s music.
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What You'll Learn
- Fuzz Pedals: Electric Wizard's signature tone relies heavily on fuzz pedals for distortion
- Delay Pedals: They use delay pedals to create a spaced-out, psychedelic atmosphere
- Reverb Pedals: Reverb adds depth and darkness to their doom metal sound
- Wah Pedals: Wah pedals are occasionally used for expressive, sweeping guitar effects
- Overdrive Pedals: Overdrive pedals enhance their riffs with additional grit and sustain
Fuzz Pedals: Electric Wizard's signature tone relies heavily on fuzz pedals for distortion
Electric Wizard, the iconic doom metal band, is renowned for their crushing, otherworldly tone, and at the heart of this signature sound lies a heavy reliance on fuzz pedals. Fuzz pedals are the cornerstone of their distortion, providing the thick, saturated, and almost apocalyptic texture that defines their music. These pedals work by clipping the guitar signal, creating a distorted, buzzy sound that can range from mildly overdriven to completely chaotic. For Electric Wizard, this isn’t just about adding grit—it’s about crafting a sonic landscape that feels both ancient and alien. Their use of fuzz pedals isn’t subtle; it’s deliberate, extreme, and central to their identity.
The band’s guitarist, Jus Oborn, is known to favor specific fuzz pedals to achieve their signature tone. One of the most notable pedals in his arsenal is the Big Muff Pi, a classic fuzz box that has been a staple in stoner and doom metal for decades. The Big Muff’s thick, sustaining fuzz complements the band’s slow, sludgy riffs perfectly, adding a layer of depth and heaviness that lesser pedals can’t match. Its midrange-heavy character also helps cut through the mix, ensuring the guitar remains prominent even amidst the dense bass and drums. Oborn’s use of the Big Muff isn’t just about plugging it in—he often tweaks the controls to maximize sustain and low-end, creating a wall of sound that feels almost tangible.
Another fuzz pedal associated with Electric Wizard’s tone is the Tone Bender MKII, a vintage fuzz unit that adds a gritty, unpredictable edge to their sound. Unlike the Big Muff, the Tone Bender has a more aggressive, spitting character, which Oborn uses to inject a sense of chaos into their music. This pedal’s transistor-based circuit introduces a unique harmonic distortion that can make even the simplest riffs sound menacing. While not as dominant in their setup as the Big Muff, the Tone Bender’s presence is unmistakable in their more raw, unhinged moments.
Electric Wizard also experiments with stacking fuzz pedals to push their tone even further. By chaining multiple fuzz units together, they create a cascading wall of distortion that’s both overwhelming and hypnotic. This technique isn’t for the faint of heart—it requires careful balancing to avoid muddiness—but when done right, it amplifies the band’s signature sound to its logical extreme. Stacking pedals like the Big Muff with a Fuzz Face or another silicon-based fuzz can yield a tone that’s both brutal and mesmerizing, perfectly aligning with their doom-laden aesthetic.
In essence, fuzz pedals aren’t just tools for Electric Wizard—they’re instruments in their own right, integral to the band’s creative process. Their approach to fuzz is a masterclass in how to use distortion not just as an effect, but as a defining element of their music. For anyone looking to replicate their tone, investing in high-quality fuzz pedals and experimenting with their settings is a must. Whether it’s the Big Muff’s sustain, the Tone Bender’s grit, or the sheer madness of stacked fuzzes, these pedals are the key to unlocking Electric Wizard’s signature sound.
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Delay Pedals: They use delay pedals to create a spaced-out, psychedelic atmosphere
Electric Wizard, known for their heavy, doom-laden soundscapes, heavily relies on delay pedals to craft their signature spaced-out, psychedelic atmosphere. Delay pedals are essential in their setup, as they add depth, texture, and a sense of vastness to their guitar tones. By introducing repeating echoes of the original signal, these pedals create a swirling, ethereal effect that perfectly complements the band’s dark and expansive musical style. The use of delay is not just about adding effects but about shaping the overall mood and immersing the listener in a sonic journey.
When Electric Wizard employs delay pedals, they often opt for settings that emphasize long, lush repeats with moderate to high feedback. This creates a cascading, almost infinite trail of sound that blends seamlessly with their distorted riffs and droning chords. The key is to balance the delay with the dry signal, ensuring the effect enhances rather than overwhelms the core guitar tone. By adjusting the delay time, they can achieve anything from subtle, rhythmic echoes to sprawling, ambient washes that fill the sonic space.
Another crucial aspect of their delay pedal usage is the modulation feature, which adds a slight pitch shift or chorus-like effect to the repeats. This modulation introduces a warbling, otherworldly quality that further enhances the psychedelic vibe. It’s this combination of long delays and modulation that gives their music its distinctive, dreamlike quality, making the listener feel as though they’re floating through a haze of sound.
In live performances, Electric Wizard often uses multiple delay pedals in tandem to layer different delay textures. This creates a dense, multi-dimensional soundscape that evolves over time. For example, they might use one delay pedal for short, rhythmic repeats to add groove, while another is set for long, ambient trails to create a backdrop of swirling noise. This layering technique is fundamental to achieving the band’s complex and immersive sound.
To replicate Electric Wizard’s delay-driven atmosphere, guitarists should experiment with analog or digital delay pedals that offer a wide range of controls, including time, feedback, and modulation. Analog delays provide a warmer, more organic sound, while digital delays offer greater clarity and precision. Whichever type is chosen, the goal is to use delay not just as an effect but as a tool to sculpt the overall atmosphere of the music, much like Electric Wizard does to create their haunting, psychedelic doom metal sound.
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Reverb Pedals: Reverb adds depth and darkness to their doom metal sound
Electric Wizard, the iconic doom metal band, is renowned for their crushing, otherworldly soundscapes, and reverb pedals play a pivotal role in achieving their signature tone. Reverb pedals are essential tools for adding depth, darkness, and a sense of vastness to their music, which is crucial for the immersive experience of doom metal. By simulating the acoustic characteristics of different spaces, reverb pedals create an atmosphere that envelops the listener, making the sound feel both expansive and claustrophobic—a hallmark of Electric Wizard’s style.
When considering reverb pedals in the context of Electric Wizard’s sound, it’s important to focus on units that emphasize dark, lush, and ambient textures rather than bright, sparkling reverbs. Pedals like the Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail or the TC Electronic Hall of Fame are popular choices in the doom metal community due to their ability to produce deep, cavernous reverb tails. These pedals often feature modes like "hall" or "plate" that can be tweaked to create a dense, swirling effect, enhancing the heaviness of the guitar riffs and adding a layer of sonic obscurity.
Another reverb pedal that aligns with Electric Wizard’s aesthetic is the Strymon BigSky, a high-end unit known for its versatility and ability to craft intricate, dark ambient textures. While it may be overkill for some, its "shimmer" and "blooms" settings can be dialed back to create a more subdued, doom-friendly reverb that complements the band’s slow, sludgy rhythms. The key is to use reverb subtly yet effectively, ensuring it enhances the overall darkness without overwhelming the mix.
For a more budget-friendly option, the Boss RV-5 or RV-6 reverb pedals offer straightforward controls that can still achieve the desired doom metal ambiance. By rolling back the tone knob and increasing the decay time, guitarists can mimic the haunting, echo-filled sound that Electric Wizard often employs. These pedals are particularly useful for live settings, where consistency and reliability are paramount.
Incorporating reverb pedals into your setup to emulate Electric Wizard’s sound requires experimentation with placement in the signal chain. Placing the reverb after distortion pedals tends to yield a more natural, blended effect, while placing it before distortion can create a more ethereal, washed-out tone. Ultimately, the goal is to use reverb as a tool to enhance the doom metal experience, adding depth and darkness that resonates with the genre’s foreboding atmosphere. By carefully selecting and tweaking reverb pedals, guitarists can capture the essence of Electric Wizard’s sonic landscape.
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Wah Pedals: Wah pedals are occasionally used for expressive, sweeping guitar effects
Wah pedals are a staple in the arsenal of many guitarists seeking to add dynamic, vocal-like expression to their playing, and Electric Wizard is no exception. Known for their doom metal soundscapes, the band occasionally incorporates wah pedals to create sweeping, psychedelic effects that enhance their dark and atmospheric tones. The wah pedal’s ability to filter frequencies in a sweeping motion allows guitarists to mimic the human voice or add a dramatic, undulating quality to riffs and solos. This effect is particularly effective in Electric Wizard’s music, where it can add depth and movement to their otherwise heavy and monolithic sound.
When Electric Wizard uses a wah pedal, it’s often to introduce a sense of fluidity and emotion into specific sections of a song. For instance, during a solo or a transitional passage, the wah pedal can be employed to create a sweeping, crying effect that contrasts with the band’s crushing distortion. This technique is especially impactful in doom metal, where the slow, deliberate pacing allows the wah’s expressive qualities to shine. By carefully manipulating the pedal, the guitarist can shape the sound to match the mood of the song, whether it’s a haunting melody or a moment of intense release.
The choice of wah pedal is crucial for achieving the desired effect, and Electric Wizard likely opts for models that offer a wide range of tonal control. Classic wah pedals like the Cry Baby or Vox Wah are popular choices due to their reliability and versatility. These pedals allow for smooth, consistent sweeps and can be adjusted to emphasize different frequency ranges, making them ideal for crafting the sweeping effects that complement the band’s style. Additionally, the build quality of these pedals ensures they can withstand the rigors of live performances and studio sessions.
Incorporating a wah pedal into Electric Wizard’s setup requires thoughtful placement in the signal chain. Typically, wah pedals are placed early in the chain, before distortion or fuzz pedals, to ensure the sweeping filter effect is applied to a clean or slightly overdriven signal. This positioning allows the wah to interact more naturally with the guitar’s tone, producing a more pronounced and articulate effect. Experimenting with different placements can yield unique results, but this standard configuration is a good starting point for achieving the expressive sweeps the band occasionally employs.
While wah pedals are not the most prominent element in Electric Wizard’s sound, their occasional use adds a layer of complexity and emotion to their music. The sweeping, vocal-like effects created by the wah pedal can elevate a riff or solo, providing a moment of contrast within the band’s dense, heavy arrangements. For guitarists inspired by Electric Wizard, exploring the wah pedal’s capabilities can open up new avenues for expression, allowing them to infuse their playing with the same dynamic, atmospheric qualities that define the band’s unique style.
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Overdrive Pedals: Overdrive pedals enhance their riffs with additional grit and sustain
Electric Wizard, known for their heavy, doom-laden sound, relies heavily on overdrive pedals to achieve their signature tone. Overdrive pedals are essential in their setup, as they enhance the riffs with additional grit and sustain, giving their music that raw, crushing power. These pedals work by pushing the guitar signal into a mild distortion, adding warmth and thickness without completely obliterating the original tone. For Electric Wizard, this means their riffs retain clarity while gaining the aggressive edge needed for their doom metal style.
One key aspect of overdrive pedals in Electric Wizard’s setup is their ability to add sustain. Sustain is crucial for doom metal, as it allows notes to ring out longer, creating a dense, immersive sound. Overdrive pedals achieve this by slightly compressing the signal and boosting its gain, ensuring that each riff lingers and resonates. This sustain is particularly evident in Jus Oborn’s guitar work, where the notes seem to stretch endlessly, enveloping the listener in a wall of sound.
The grit provided by overdrive pedals is another vital element of Electric Wizard’s tone. Unlike high-gain distortion pedals, overdrive pedals offer a more organic, amp-like breakup that retains the dynamics of the guitar playing. This grit adds texture to their riffs, making them feel alive and raw. It’s this balance between clarity and distortion that allows Electric Wizard to maintain their heavy sound without sacrificing the emotional depth of their music.
When selecting overdrive pedals, Electric Wizard likely opts for models that complement their amplifier setup. Tubescreamer-style pedals, for example, are a popular choice in the doom metal scene due to their smooth, creamy overdrive and midrange boost. These pedals can drive an amp harder, pushing it into natural breakup territory while adding a layer of harmonics. This combination of pedal and amp overdrive creates a rich, complex tone that’s essential for Electric Wizard’s sound.
Finally, overdrive pedals offer versatility in Electric Wizard’s live and studio setups. They can be used subtly to add a touch of warmth or cranked up for full-on saturation, depending on the song’s needs. This flexibility allows the band to craft dynamic performances, shifting from quieter, atmospheric passages to earth-shattering riffs seamlessly. In essence, overdrive pedals are not just tools for distortion—they are integral to shaping the mood, texture, and intensity of Electric Wizard’s music.
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Frequently asked questions
Electric Wizard is known for using the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi for their signature heavy distortion tones.
Yes, they frequently use the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi, which is a classic fuzz pedal, to achieve their thick, doom-laden sound.
They often incorporate the Boss DD-3 Digital Delay to add depth and atmosphere to their guitar tones.
While not as prominent, they occasionally use reverb pedals like the Holy Grail or similar units for subtle atmospheric effects.
They typically rely more on distortion and fuzz, but occasionally use the Tubescreamer for additional grit and boost in their setup.
