Cornerstone Music Gear Nero Fuzz

The Nero pedal combines a unique fuzz circuit with a built-in Gladio SC, activating both circuits simultaneously for a stacked drive effect. It features a "Comp" knob for compression management, altering overall compression, and two independent bias controls ("voices") for a range of fuzz and overdrive tones. Notably, Nero allows for flexible gain control, maintains high input impedance for pedalboard versatility, offers constant compression adjustment, and seamlessly transitions between gritty fuzz and full overdrive with a footswitch. It also achieves gated fuzz and nice cleanup effects under specific conditions.

The NERO includes a "Comp" knob that manages compression by blending the sound from the Fuzz section with the Gladio SC section in parallel, thereby adjusting overall compression.

Often, fuzz pedals are used alongside overdrives when it's not feasible to use the fuzz directly on a slightly dirty amp. The NERO already provides this functionality, as it consists of a Fuzz section followed by an entire Gladio SC which, simulating the behavior of a preamp, it allows for a manageable and rounded final tone.

The switch between voice 1 and voice 2 can also be done with an external latching footswitch. This is ideal for use with looper switchers or when the pedal itself is not easily accessible, such as with multilevel pedalboards.

Forget about the typical low input impedances of fuzz pedals, which force you to place the fuzz as the first effect in the chain. The NERO offers a 1 Mega Ohm impedance, allowing it to be placed anywhere in the pedalboard.

The voice controls are identical and independent bias controls, and you can switch between them instantly, with the dedicated footswitch. The sound is gritty and rough in the first half rotation, and rolling down the guitar volume creates a nice gated tone. After noon, the sound becomes a full, big overdrive, which cleans up nicely when the guitar volume is turned down.

The Comp is the clean of the Gladio SC which, being hit from a fuzz in front, can’t be called “clean” anymore. Since it controls the amount of fuzz signal allowed to “pass-by” the SC section (it actually is a real parallel mix) its effect is to manage the overall compression.