Smiley

JHS created the Smiley to capture the silicon Fuzz Face that Jimi Hendrix preferred over earlier germanium versions. While the first Fuzz Faces used germanium transistors, by 1969 silicon had taken over production. The shift brought more aggressive bite and temperature stability that germanium couldn't match. Hendrix's Band of Gypsys recordings showcase that silicon snarl.

The Smiley delivers authentic silicon Fuzz Face voicing in JHS's bent-steel Legends of Fuzz enclosure. The circuit maintains that essential Fuzz Face characteristic of cleaning up completely when you roll back your guitar's volume knob. Full up gives you searing sustain with crisp midrange bite. Rolled back yields sparkling clean tones.

Volume and Fuzz controls provide straightforward operation. A side-mounted Mode button accesses JHS Mode for high-gain gated fuzz territory. The circuit straddles the line between distortion and sustaining fuzz with clear definition and powerful low end.