Stella

This limited edition fuzz pedal was made for pairing with a Stella guitar and with the “Stella 99” album, recorded in Porto by various artists.
“Stella 99” is a metaphor intended as a tribute to nameless refugees, those displaced by war, populations subjugated by totalitarian systems around the world, victims of slavery. All those who suffer from being sold, robbed, and cheated in search of a better life or who are simply alone or trapped by fear.

Stella is a discrete dual transistor fuzz design based on obscure vintage fuzz-wah Spektr series models. Two versions of Spektr circuits simplified to the bare bones would present a traditional 60’s European fuzz style layout, always effective and coveted. Stella offers a natural synthesis of maintaining the best qualities of these and advancing with its own voice – far from refined, without a doubt powerful. Appealing with its raw and rugged character.

Fuzz sound is thick yet dynamic, never becoming muddy or needlessly shrill. Peculiar gain control via limit knob allows for classic balanced response around noon, while turning it will not only change perceived amount of distortion but also bias of transistors (crackling noise when adjusting it is normal). Limit turned down intensifies saturation and brings in wild behavior with lots of grit and robotic-like artifacts. Limit turned toward maximum reduces gain for milder, but very textured low gain fuzz sound.

Spektrum knob blends two different filters working in conjunction with volume knob. Spektrum turned down reduces treble content, while turned up increases it – neutral setting is a bit above noon. The lower volume setting, the more noticeable is the effect of Spektr control, which extends volume knob operation to tone-shaping duty.

Stella uses KT3102EM and TFK BC108 transistors, Philips and Panasonic capacitors, Vishay resistors and heavy duty hardware.

The circuit design and the overall assemblage was made by Juliusz Śledziński (Blue Colander stompboxes)