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Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 Review - 3-Mode Guitar Pedal

August 29, 2024

Today we have a review of the Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 3-mode fuzz distortion effects pedal, let's see what this budget guitar pedal can do. When you need an effect on a tight budget, Behringer is ready to lend a hand. If you're new or an amateur in the "guitar world," you've probably come across Behringer gear and the Behringer brand while browsing the catalogs of online marketplaces or the shelves of music stores. Behringer is known for its budget-friendly solutions in audio equipment. If you are looking for a fuzz pedal, you should look at the Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz. The pedal is a clone of BOSS FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, which in turn is based on a more vintage effect - Univox Super Fuzz.

We want to point out that today (at the time of writing this review) the Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 is one of the best-selling effects pedals in the world. We did a little research and found out that ~2000-3000 units of this guitar effects pedal are sold per month - that's mind-blowing! The pedal is pretty versatile: you can warm up a clean signal, add a touch of crunch, or bring out dirty grunge tones. For ~$25-$28, guitarists get three effect modes, a two-band EQ, and battery operation. Of course, the SF300 doesn't sound like a BOSS, but for the price, it's more than worth it. We'll talk about the pedal's sound and features later, so let's start our review with the Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 specifications, as usual.

Is this effects pedal worth buying? How does it sound? Why is it so cheap? Who is this pedal best suited for? - Don't worry, in our review we will answer all the important questions about this pedal.

Best Price on Behringer Super Fuzz SF300

For its price, the Behringer SF300 is hard to beat, offering classic fuzz sounds and enough flexibility to cater to a wide range of musical needs.

Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 box and package Classic Package

Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 Specifications

  • Guitar Effect Format: Pedal
  • Pedal Type: Fuzz
  • Analog/Digital: Analog
  • Inputs/Outputs: 1 x ¼" TS - input | 1 x ¼" TS - output
  • 3 Different Sound Settings: Classic Fuzz, Grunge and Gain Boost
  • Separate gain and level controls as well as a 2-band EQ
  • The ON/BATT LED illuminates when the effect is activated. It also serves as a battery level indicator
  • Rugged electronic On/Off switch for highest signal integrity in bypass mode
  • Power Supply: 9V DC 100mA power supply - 2mm DC jack, negative center (sold separately)
  • Battery Option: alkaline battery 9V 6LR61 (battery not included)
  • Housing: made of hard plastic with a bright orange color
  • Dimensions (WxDxH): 70 x 54 x 123mm (2.7 x 2.1 x 4.8 inches)
  • Net Weight: ~330 grams (0.73 lbs)
  • Set Includes: Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 guitar pedal unit, quick start guide, user manual in different languages

Overall Build, Design & Features

Here we get to the main section of our Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 review, here we'll take a closer look at the pedal's sound and all the features, but first, we'll start with the design and unboxing. The pedal comes in a cardboard box with very bright information printed on it. The pedal does not dangle in the box, it sits tight and we do not think it will have any problems during delivery. Unfortunately, when we opened the box, we didn't feel any WOW effect, only a Behringer SF300 pedal (wrapped in a tight plastic bag) and printed manuals were waiting for us, that's all. What else did you expect for $25?

Behringer SF300 in box

So we take the Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 in our hands and it feels like a plastic toy, of course, the feeling of cheapness is present. And it is obvious, for such a price the manufacturer cannot offer us a metal case, then Behringer would have no profit and sell this device at a loss. Therefore, we are satisfied with a plastic case for this money. The encoder buttons feel as cheap as the footswitch itself. It should be noted that the battery compartment is located underneath the footswitch; to access the compartment, it is worth pushing off the plastic fasteners and sliding the footswitch body. But in general, we have no complaints about the build quality, not to say everything is assembled as reliably as possible. Still, at least nothing is as playful and creaky.

Sound Quality

Moving on to the Behringer SF300's hardware part, things are much better here! Let's start in order, LEVEL Control - here everything is quite simple, the encoder is responsible for adjusting the output level. Next is TREBLE Control & BASS Control - this is a function of the 2-band EQ. The Treble control allows you to boost/cut the high-frequency range. The Bass control allows you to boost/cut the low-frequency range. When adjusting Treble and Bass, the most important thing is not to push up these settings and find the golden mean. If you turn these parameters too much, the sound of your tone will be very harsh and chaotic. Last is the GAIN Control which adjusts the gain for more distorted sounds (in simple words, adjusts the saturation of the selected tone). Again, it is very important to find the golden mean of this parameter. At high Gain values, the pedal sounds disgusting, and too harsh sound. At low Gain settings, the Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 sounds decent.

Let's get to the most important thing - selecting the effect mode! The MODE Switch lets you choose between 3 effect modes:

  1. FUZZ 1: Basic fuzz sound with emphasis on the midrange.
  2. FUZZ 2: Full-bodied fuzz sound with scooped mids and sharp harmonics. After playing in this mode we noticed that this tone gives off the vibe of the famous BIG MUFF pedal and you can achieve a close enough sound to it (in the future we will do a comparison of these two effects pedals).
  3. BOOST: The Level control is inactive and the Gain control adjusts the boost. Interesting observation, Level control does not work in this mode. Gain control will be mostly responsible for the level in this mode. Also in this mode, the pedal resembles a bit of an overdrive effect.

For all three modes, we have selected the best setting for you (pictured below).

Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 preset

A level around 2 o'clock just to boost it; treble around 12 o'clock; gain around 12 o'clock (you can experiment with gain from 10 to 2 o'clock, but the main thing is not to oversaturate it); bass around 2 o'clock (also an area for experimentation). We've been playing the Behringer SF300 for about two weeks, and we really like the way it sounds for solos. And remember, it's not your guitar, stomp box, tube amp, or cab that's doing the job for you - it's about you and your skills!

Final Verdict on Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 and Q&A

Q: Is this effects pedal worth buying?

A: Yes and no. On the one hand, what is $25 to you? For some people, it's just breakfast in the cafeteria. Is it worth it to try a FUZZ pedal for the cost of breakfast - definitely YES! On the other hand, it makes sense to save some money and get something more worthy for ~$100. The best solution will be to buy this pedal at a discount in stores for about ~18-20$ or buy a used pedal on eBay for ~15$ or even cheaper.

Q: How does it sound?

A: The Behringer SF300 sounds pretty cheap and costs accordingly cheap. But you can find a nice tone and a perfect preset for your tasks and at the same time we liked the sound of the pedal when playing solo parts. And it is your guitar-playing skills that will allow you to get all 120% of the sound out of this pedal.

Q: Who is the best Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 guitar pedal for?

A: The Behringer SF300 is best suited for beginners who are just starting out in the world of electric guitars and are just learning how to play this challenging musical instrument. The Behringer SF300 will give you the Fuzz effect at a fraction of the cost. We also recommend this pedal for collectors, yes there are many of them. We can recommend this effects pedal for guitarists who know how to process recorded sound in audio sequencers, in some cases SF300 will fit perfectly into the mix.

Q: Does it make sense to compare it to the more expensive FUZZ pedals?

A: Unfortunately, there is no point in comparing it with expensive pedals, Behringer SF300 loses in all parameters, and as we have already mentioned, it is considered a clone of BOSS FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, and the sound of SF300 will be two heads lower than more expensive pedals.

Here we are at the end of our Behringer SF300 review, it's time to summarize the results. The Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 is an impressive fuzz pedal for its price, offering a wide range of vintage fuzz tones that can suit a variety of musical styles, from classic rock to modern punk. Its three modes offer versatility, making it an attractive choice for guitarists looking to experiment with different fuzz and boost sounds without investing in multiple pedals. While the plastic construction may raise durability concerns for some users, the SF300's affordability, sound quality, and tonal range make it a solid option, especially for those just starting their pedal journey or looking for an inexpensive addition to their fuzz arsenal.

 P.S. The Behringer SF300 can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

Hope you enjoyed our Behringer SF300 review and we answered all your questions. If you still have questions, feel free to leave your comments, questions, and suggestions in the section below. We will be happy to answer them all as soon as possible. And if you own this device, please leave us your impressions as well. Finally, we recommend you get acquainted with the revolutionary guitar pedal-shaped device - IK Multimedia TONEX Pedal, on which we wrote a great review.

Pros
  • Super Affordable
  • Good for beginners and getting used to the Fuzz effect
  • Gives you a pretty good amount of control to customize your sound
  • Sounds good at low saturation levels
Cons
  • Plastic pedal, you need to treat it with care
  • When the Gain level is high, the tone becomes very bad/harsh
  • It feels cheap, and looks just as cheap
  • Level control almost does not work in Boost mode
  • Loses out on sound to more expensive Fuzz pedals
5.6
/10
Our Score

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