Fuzz Pedals

There aren’t many pedals that sound as dramatic as a fuzz! Belonging to the same family as overdrive and distortion pedals. Fuzz pedals have a grittier and more raspy tone than their close cousins, used by players who love to make their riffs sound huge!

Early '60s fuzz pedals used germanium transistors which are known to produce warm, mid-focused and "vintage" tones. While germanium-based fuzzes are still manufactured, silicon fuzz pedals are considered the norm these days.

As a more reliable alternative, silicon transistors provide better longevity and consistency. Offering up a brighter tone with more gain and saturation to boot. You can also get octavia pedals, which are essentially hybrids of fuzz and octave effects, perfect for really thickening up the sound of riffs or solos!

There are many renowned fuzz pedals out there, but none are more famous than the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. Producing an engulfing wall of sound rich with saturation, this famous design hit its peak of popularity in the ‘90s when The Smashing Pumpkins used it on their hit album “Siamese Dream”.

Many iterations of this circuit exist, including the space-saving Little Big Muff. The Jim Dunlop Fuzz Face is another notable mention, made famous by Jimi Hendrix back in the late ‘60s. With a bold mid-range, these fuzz pedals possess a spittier tone with a lot of dynamic range and articulation.

Want to find out even more about these high-gain wonders? Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Fuzz Pedals!