Guitar Center review: T-Rex FAT SHUGA

T-Rex FAT SHUGA

Having the right gear is definitely a good start. But sometimes, it’s more important to have good looking gear and sacrifice your tone. Where is the balance? Can we have it all? Follow me through the next 300 words, and I’ll show you what I’ve come up with. Today, I chose to put the ever-so-bright spotlight on T-REX’s FAT SHUGA. The FAT SHUGA is a reverb/boost, 2 in 1 pedal. It’s vintage tone and design fits perfectly with the look and sound I’m trying to achieve.

I play guitar in a surfy, little rock & roll band called Dustin Bones and the Body Stealers (reverbnation.com/bodystealers), in which I play with a minimal setup.
• Gibson Les Paul

• Fender Excelsior 13w amp

• T-Rex FAT SHUGA
I don’t consider myself to be a “tone chaser”, or a “gear junkie”. I do, however, know exactly what I’m looking for and have the resources (the Accessories Department at Guitar Center) to find it. The only drawback to the 13w Excelsior is: no reverb! How can one have surf with no verb!? Once the FAT SHUGA came off of the truck, I was immediately intrigued by the dual ingredients – reverb AND boost. I didn’t even know I needed boost! Also, the brown pedal matched my brown amplifier perfectly. Again, it’s got to look good. The reverb feature has a 2 setting switch, ROOM and HALL as well as a knob to adjust the level of effect. I personally prefer the “HALL” setting cranked all the way up. It’s not overwhelming and has a great decay on the muted notes. The boost is the only setting I actually adjust from song to song. With a slight turn of the knob cleverly labeled “CREAM”, you can really tweak your tone. The higher the adjustment, the more volume and tube-like crunch you get.

This isn’t a pedal I need on the ground for easy access with my foot. I actually have it mounted to the top of my amp using Velcro and love. When I power up the amp, I turn the FAT SHUGA on, and the two work together to complete the perfect, vintage tone with a full, dynamic range.

In conclusion, for me, you can have it all…beauty and the beast.

-Dustin Bones is the Assistant Manager at Guitar Center Englewood

Tags: dustin bones, guitar center, T-rex fat shuga, gibson les paul, Fender Excelsior

Category: Product Reviews