Fairfield Circuitry: About 900 VS The Unpleasant Surprise

In this video, we are going to shootout the Fairfield Circuitry About 900 and The Unpleasant Surprise fuzz pedals! A few weeks back, I got in contact with Fairfield Circuitry about including either the About 900 or The Unpleasant Surprise in the Fuzz series that I am working on.

They said, and I'm paraphrasing here: Why don't we send you both so you can shoot them out? People ask us what the differences are and this would answer that very question.

So, I kindly obliged and have been testing both pedals extensively for weeks. I did not want to mess this up. I've narrowed down the tests to the following:
- we'll looks at the controls of both pedals
- we'll listen to each of them at their extreme settings
- we'll listen to light fuzz tones
- Medium fuzz
- cranked fuzz
- Boosted with a TC Electronic Spark
- and I'll give you some tips to get the best out of each pedals

I'm using my Vox AC15c1, Shure SM57 going to a PreSonus Studio 192 Mobile.

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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

** THE UNPLEASANT SURPRISE AND ABOUT 900 FUZZ PEDALS WERE SENT IN TO THE CHANNEL IN EXCHANGE FOR A FAIR AND UNBIASED REVIEW. I DID NOT GET PAID TO DO THIS REVIEW. ANY OPINIONS SHARED ARE MY OWN. **

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Celestion Impulse Responses

𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐒:
0:00 Fairfield Circuitry About 900 and The Unpleasant Surprise
0:19 About 900 Controls
1:18 The Unpleasant Surprise controls
2:18 Maxed settings
2:22 About 900
3:17 The Unpleasant Surprise
4:13 About 900 low gain
5:15 The Unpleasant Surprise low gain
6:16 About 900 Medium gain
7:18 The Unpleasant Surprise Medium gain
8:21 About 900 Heavy gain
9:32 The Unpleasant Surprise Heavy gain
10:42 About 900 Boosted
12:32 The Unpleasant Surprise Boosted
14:22 About 900 Tone Tips
16:11 The Unpleasant Surprise Tone Tips

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[LewWelchThePoet]

I have both these pedals but the About 900 is by far my favourite due to its versatility and sheer awesomeness. Great demo btw thank you.

[ndr]

First of all, a big thank you for introducing me with convincing guitar tones on the normal channel of my ac30. I used the normal channel since 1992 only bridged with the TB channel and only recently the normal channel as my main channel. The Barbershop video was very convincing and made me build my own. It is my fav, but not the only way to make a great sound. It is a lovely journey for myself. And following your journey is both educational inspiring as entertaining.

[lofijunky]

just the video i was looking for. both sound great but i love the way the the unpleasant surprise breaks up in the more extreme settings. going with that one! thanks!

[er_matze]

awesome demo!!
I have the 900 already and think it's a stellar pedal.
But I have just discovered in your video that it works amazingly well also when being boosted. Both pedals did imo.

[kosmicwizard]

Such killer pedals! Thanks for the video, Jonathan!

[jackduxburymusic]

Fantastic video and great playing mate - thank you 🙏

[JackNance]

Both are sweet pedals, nice comparison. The Unpleasant Surprise has many similar tones to the Fuzz Factory, but seems even more versatile, which is saying a lot. The 900 is well rounded in a more practical way, as you pointed out, great stuff. I'm a big fan of Fairfield Circuitry, their pedals always have that something extra.

[hekakain]

Tele reminds me of Wilko Johnson's guitar...

[aaronjones]

That was great thanks! This side by side shows how different the Unpleasant Surprise is. Now it's on my list for sure.I'm alos really curious how it compares to the Fuzz Factory. US seems like it is easier to dial in and has a more pleasing "squelchy" sound. Like velcro but more dynamic.

[JackNance]

17:16 I love that velcro ripping sound, it's pure ear candy to me. LOL

[rtdopenmic]

All the hyperactive random knob twiddling really makes this a frustrating watch. It would be a much better (and probably a lot more efficient hence shorter) video if there were some method and explanation to the knob turning

[bradruhfel]

My two favorite right now. Also using the t4.