Vemuram Shanks II Fuzz

A "studio and stage" collaboration around legendary fuzzes

Developed in collaboration with American guitarist and producer John Shanks, the Vemuram Shanks II has a clear goal: to recapture the personality of the most iconic vintage fuzzes while gaining versatility and stability. The concept navigates between the thickness of a fuzz face, the bite of a tone bender, and the rougher texture of a buzzaround, with a modern approach to controls to cover a wide range of guitars and amps.

John Shanks describes it as the "child" of two original models with 3 and 4 controls: a fuzz capable of acting like a boost, offering a wide gain palette, and remaining musical when playing with the instrument's volume controls.

For which guitarists and styles?

The Shanks II is aimed at guitarists who want a high-end fuzz pedal that is simple to integrate into a pedalboard, without being limited to a single "fixed" sound. If you enjoy sculpting your tone with a pick, fingers, and especially the guitar's volume, it quickly becomes an extension of your playing.

It excels in blues rock, classic rock, psychedelic, garage, and even indie whenever an articulate fuzz is sought. In the studio, it's formidable for layering tracks with different textures. Live, its "boost + fuzz" side allows you to switch from a bright clean verse to a massive chorus without changing your entire amp setting.

Controls and features: simple on the surface, precise in detail

The Vemuram Shanks II offers ergonomics designed to focus on essentials while maintaining real customization potential. The Level, Fuzz, and Tone controls immediately set output volume, saturation amount, and tonal balance. The Bias (trimmer) allows fine-tuning of the fuzz's response and texture according to your pickups, guitar, and playing dynamics: ideal for achieving a tighter, more open, "chewy," or more aggressive sound depending on use.

Regarding pedalboard integration, the pedal is announced as true bypass, with simple and effective connectivity: one input and one output in 6.35mm Jack format. It can run on a 9V battery or via a regulated 9V DC power supply (center negative), making it compatible with most modern pedalboard power supplies.

Sound

The Shanks II stands out with a thick yet clear fuzz tone, with a sense of headroom that helps preserve attack and definition even when pushing gain. You can easily get a "chimey" and bright side by lowering the guitar volume, then a big, saturated, very lively drive by opening it fully, in the spirit of Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, or Clapton, with dynamics that stay under your fingers.

It can both strongly color and soften the high end depending on the Tone setting, making it relevant on already bright amps as well as darker setups. According to setups listed on Equipboard, this pedal is notably used by Wes Borland, Ray Toro, and The Edge, proof of its potential in worlds ranging from alternative rock to more atmospheric textures.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Boost	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Brown
EQ	Tone

Components	2 silicon transistors + 1 FET	Weight	395 g
Capacitors	3 Orange Drop	Made in	Japan
Bypass	True bypass	Included accessories	manual / documentation
Controls	Level, Fuzz, Tone, Bias (trimmer)	AC power supply	not included
Input	6.35 mm jack (mono)	9V battery	not included
Output	6.35 mm jack (mono)	Required power supply	regulated 9V DC, center-negative (or 9V battery)
Dimensions	70 x 114 x 50 mm	Power consumption	2 mA