Roger Mayer Mongoose Fuzz: Good, the Mongoose Fuzz is a potenet Roger Mayer effect pedal. Mr. Mayer; from the UK, was one of the OG's, (Original Guys), who helped to Mod, and redesign amplified, Rock music gear, to it's present level. This began in an environment swarming with cheap guitars, microphonic pickups & sizzling, transistor fuzztones.
Naturally you have to mention his involvement/influence on young Jimi Hendrix, too. The Octavia designed by Roger Mayer, was presented to Jimi, just a few days before his lead guitar part was added to "Purple Haze". Imagine listening to the radio at that time: 'Giddie-Up 409', 'Blue Jean baby', Pat Boone, then Jimi Hendrix Experience. "...And since that day, I never looked back... it's almost like living a dream"! ('Climax'). Thanks Jimi!
At one point we saw an article stating, that the glassy high notes at the end of Purple Haze, were created by doubling the speed of the recording. Now; they might have tried something like that, but the Octavia is what's heard on the hit recording we all know. (Younger players: selecting the neck pickup really helps bring out the Octave, because the pickup is sensing more movement on the strings, farther from the bridge. Be sure to try this with Octave & Auto-Wah type pedals, it often deepens the effect) .
Roger Mayer created a few fuzz flavors, most of them have a great, huge quality to how they sound. The Mongoose Fuzz certainly leaves that VAST, thick, expansive impression. Mayer also designed a rack mounted Vibe-type effect, long before the floor pedal issued in the late 1990's. It sounds v-e-r-y good: well worth trying.
The older Mayer pedals had simple controls, plenty of harmonic heft, and were housed in the unique, Space Ship shaped, box you see here. Among other things, like looking cool, the space ship shape, was praised for being very hard to turn over accidentally. It's super stable, despite looking exactly the opposite. Physical stability & and durability may not seem that important... until you go on the road for a month, or three, with "Drainage & the Droplets", a group not exactly at the pinnacle of emotional stability. Let that sink in...
The Mongoose pedal, seen and heard here, was issued along with his other fuzzes, in the early/mid 80's, as part of the Autograph series/edition. Very few Mayer pedals were made in the late 60's/early 70's, fewer of them are ever seen. There was a Jimi Hendrix Album released in the UK, with some reference to "War Heroes". Jimi & the Experience, are pictured in some Post Modern, tank-like vehicle, that resembles the Roger Mayer pedals! This reporter only saw the album cover one time: Insane, graphics, deeply saturated, startling fantasy motif & color scheme.
Yes boys & girls, before the Simpsons and even the Waltons, there were the Freaks! Contrary to the cartoonish, dismissive characterizations on MTV, of ordinary people disassociated, by overwhelming doses of LSD; there were some very creative, incisive visionaries on the scene. Dylan, John Lennon, Jimi, Lenny Bruce, (and these are just a few entertainers); joined by many other protestors, religious leaders, freedom marchers, objectors, "peace-nick intellectuals", they helped get the ball rolling. It may even have required such intense drama & sacrifice, to overcome the stasis they helped to undermine. Cool!
Please enjoy our Mongoose audio samples below. A gentleman in Australia liked it enough to submit our audio; without permission, to an e-zine site as his playing! That site didn't return our e-mails to this effect, so we phoned them. Seemed like a friendly way to make contact. :-) Someone in authoriy, said it would be removed, but must have forgotten his promise to do this. As AC/DC sang; over a kick-ass rhythm track: "Yeah, it's tough and mean -- it's a long way to the top, if you wanna Rock & Roll! Ahmen
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