Fairfield Circuitry Roger That

Overview: The Roger That Pedal As a Sonic Playground

The Roger That from Fairfield Circuitry brings together distortion, fuzz, and unpredictable noise in one compact package. Released in January 2023 and made in Canada, it's marketed not just as a conventional effects pedal, but as a tool for adventurous guitarists, synth players, and sonic experimenters. With a price set at $359, the Roger That pledges a niche but engaging experience for those who want to venture beyond classic and transparent drives.

Build and Connections

The pedal measures 119 x 97 x 48 mm, striking a balance between footprint and ease of use on most pedalboards. Its chassis is rugged, feeling solidly constructed and ready to handle the abuses of stage or studio life. Input and output are standard quarter-inch jacks, while tuning can be controlled externally via a 1/8 inch control voltage (CV) input, an unusual addition for an effects pedal. Power is supplied via a barrel connector (5.5 x 2.1 mm, center negative) at 9, 9.6 volts DC. Current draw is modest at 30 mA. There is no battery option, only external power supply, and the unit is true bypass when disengaged.

Controls and Interface

Control labels are minimal: Shift, Drive, Wet, Dry, and Tune. Two mini-switches expand the pedal's flexibility, one (labeled R) switches the tuning control between a normal and an extended range; the other (labeled F) applies or bypasses a voice filter to the wet signal. An LED indicates when the effect is active, and a true bypass mechanical footswitch rounds out the control set.

Feedback consistently highlights the absence of position markers or recall memory on the knobs. For some, this means documenting favorite settings with a photo is essential, especially if you rely on specific sounds during a show or session.

Sound and Tonal Range

Fairfield Circuitry characterizes the Roger That as living between distortion, fuzz, and the crackling static of an old transistor radio. This is not marketing hyperbole. In practice, the pedal veers from subtle harmonic enhancement and gently broken textures to completely unhinged, wild, radio-interference chaos. The "Tune" knob is central: sweeping through it often feels like searching for a station across a battered radio dial, with abrupt entries into noisy zones, harmonic surges, and percussive digital-sounding artifacts. The companion "Range" switch allows the Tune control to cover both a restrained, musical sweep and a far wider, more volatile arc.

• Subtle Settings: With "Drive" at midday or below and the "Wet/Dry" blend tailored to taste, the Roger That can function as a colored boost or mild distortion, adding brittle edges and sporadic sizzle. Subtle tuning shifts can tease out ghost notes and transient-enhancing oddities.
• Extreme Processing: Pushing "Drive" or engaging aggressive Tune ranges transforms everything into a noisy, broken signal, a thick, sawtoothy fuzz loaded with high-frequency artifacts and burbling radio noise. Switch in the voice filter for a distinctive band-limited, lo-fi presence reminiscent of megaphone vocals or chopped AM broadcasts.
• Expression and Interactivity: The pedal responds dramatically to instrument dynamics, playing style, and even cable swaps. Slight adjustments create massive changes in response, and it can jump from smooth overdrive to full-on sonic meltdown in moments.

This sensitivity is both the Roger That's greatest asset and its source of chaos. It invites improvisation and rewards hands-on exploration, but recalling a specific setting can be difficult without documentation.

Use Cases: Inspiration and Limitations

Players who thrive on noise, abstract soundscapes, or unpredictable elements in their signal chain will find the Roger That enormously rewarding. It is especially effective for:

• Synth or modular users wanting CV control over filter-like responses
• Experimental guitarists incorporating drones, sputtering swells, or abrupt frequency shifts
• Producers after creative reamping or outboard processing for non-traditional textures

The pedal is much less suited for anyone looking for a transparent overdrive, precise recall, or traditional modern metal tones. There is no battery operation, and the absence of any preset or digital memory reinforces the pedal's anti-conformist philosophy.

Field Experience and Reliability

User reports uniformly praise the build, citing robust construction and reliable performance. Many mention that the pedal transforms sound design into a game, once the basic control layout is understood, it rapidly becomes an intuitive tool for hours of sonic exploration. However, the lack of labeled markers and the impossibility of saving settings are recurring themes, so it pays to take notes or snap photos for live use.

Conclusion: For Noise Seekers, Not Traditionalists

The Fairfield Circuitry Roger That is an unapologetic tool for the curious and open-minded. Its real strength is not just in dirt and fuzz, but in its extreme sensitivity and level of creative interactivity. It won't suit every setup, but for players who treat effects pedals as instruments in their own right, it's a singular and powerful choice. The price, while non-trivial, reflects the unique approach and demanding build quality. If you are after new paths for your sound, the Roger That is both challenge and invitation.