2023 Best of New Fuzz Pedals of the Year

Controls - Bass, Mid Cut, Treble, Volume, Bias, Gain, Impedance : MKI / FZ-1 / MKII + FF, Tone : FF / MKI + FZ-1 / MKII

One of the most potent silicon fuzzes out there - using 4 cleverly chosen transistors to replicate the best of Fuzz Face, Maestro and Tone Bender tones. There's very few fuzzes as versatile and extended range as this one - particularly in this compact form factor.

Controls - Gain / Hold for Gain Type : Crunch [Green LEDs - as pictured above] > Overdrive [Orange LEDs] > Distortion [Red LEDs] > Fuzz [Purple LED] / Bass EQ, Tone / Hold for EQ Mode / Mid EQ, Accent : Dynamic Range / Compression / Hold for LED Brightness, Level / Hold for Low Frequency Profile Mode : Guitar [Red Footswitch LED / Bass [Blue Footswitch LED], Save Preset Button, M1 Preset, M2 Preset, M3 Preset, Bypass Switch : Buffered [White Footswitch LED] / True Bypass.

Revived by Kikusui Electronics - Bixonic delivers a fantastic new evolved hybrid take on the Expandora - with 3 presets onboard. The Fuzz voicing in particular is fanatic and where I've mostly lived on this pedal this year. I wasn't sure when I first got it - but it really does sound amazing - and all those extra parameters take you into new territories - which you can then save for posterity via the onboard presets.

Controls - Fuzz Gain, Master Volume, Cutoff Low Pass Filter : 15Hz > 44kHz, Resonance : ± Signal Intensity, LPF Volume, 2P/4P : -12dB/Oct / -24dB/Oct, Add Fuzz : On / Off, Filter + Fuzz : Serial / Parallel.

The one that got away! I approached CD 3 times this year to collaborate on this fabulous fuzz - but alas they were unable to accommodate me on each occasion and throughout this side of Christmas - hopefully I will get an opportunity in the new year. One of the finest filter fuzzes out there for sure - really needs to be part of the reference collection - will try again in January.

Controls - Volume, Circuit : Rat / Muff, Gain, Tone (Muff), Voice (Mids : Muff), Filter (Hi-Cut : Rat), Link EQ Buttons = combine all 3 EQ controls.

Another why didn't anyone think about it before pedal - Christos is of course a genius with these smart combinations and everything sounds better with all 3 EQ controls utilised - a really smart pedal for sure - and with fantastic voicings of each classic circuit.

Controls - Gain, Bite, Filter.

I already had Sebastien's 2-knob Fresh Fuzz from earlier in the year - but then he went ahead and made a much better version with that incredibly turret style circuitboard - pictured above. This is fantastic opamp based fuzz - which operates mostly in fuzzy-drive territory - it's really pretty distinct!

Controls - Fuzz (Gain + Bias Voltage) [Bias / Gain 3], Level (Master Volume) [Gain 1], Focus (Tuned Gain Boost / Frequency) [EQ / Gain 2].

I said so in my article and I believe it still holds true that David Pretty much reinvented the Classic Fuzz Face here with a hybrid 2 Silicon + 1 Germanium Transistor circuit. You literally get a fuzz flavour on each of those dials - any of them can be used in isolation or combination. Never known a fuzz quit like it - very easy to dial in once you've figured out the impact of each knobs - and of course sounds superb! Developed in part for fuzz haters as it never really goes off the rails! Such a cleverly engineered fuzz.

Controls - Volume, Bias, Fuzz, Xen : 3-way Switch, Morph / Xen EQ : Darker > Brighter.

The start of my Hello Sailor Effects journey - this rnrmf collaboration delivers as standardised a version of an HSE Abbey Road Fuzz as there ever has been. And here we have a really superb sounding full flavour Germanium Fuzz Face variety with Audio Transformer Pickup Simulator which for me delivers a different texture / flavour - which with the Bias control makes this an incredibly versatile fuzz.

Controls - OCTAVE } Fuzz, Octave, SAG } Trigger (Threshold), Sag, FUZZ } Volume, Blend, Tone, 2nd Octave switch, Sustain, FOOTSWITCHES > Bypass Footswitch, Octave Footswitch, Sag Footswitch, Expand Footswitch.

Cool update of the 1968 Fender Blender with added controls and footswitches. A signature pedal for MBV's Kevin Shields - so surely the ultimate Shoegaze style fuzz. The main downside being its rather expanded dimensions. The large size is something that has held me away so far - but I love how this sounds and I may just come around to giving it a go even with its massive footprint and lack of pedalboard-friendliness.

Controls : Voicing : Scooped / Full, Tone, Clipping : Aysmmetrical / Symmetrical, Level, Gain.

Great sounding 4 x vintage NOS Silicon Transistor Upper Ocatave Fuzz with the most amazing rich texture - and built in a very attractive turret circuit style and wrapped in drab olive covering. Really sounds and looks superb - but is very pricey - I still want one though!

Controls -  Electricity (±Octave / Harmonics / Ring Mod Adjust), Mood (Character/Nature/Flavour/Texture), Volume, Post Tone, Pre Tone, Fuzz (Gain / Saturation), Preset Footswitch (Hold for 2 seconds to save favourite), On / Off Footswitch, Midi In / Out, and Expression ports on rear.

I think you all know how I feel about this one - the very last pedal I reviewed this year - and was very effusive and complementary about - one for the fuzz fans for sure!

Controls - Filter (Low Pass Filter), Timbre (±Fuzz Voicing), Dry (Dry Level), Oct+ (Octave Level).

Another really fantastic sounding octave fuzz with extended controls. I love how this one sounds - not sure about some of the design details here - I think it really needs a purple LED!

Controls - Mids, Tone, Volume, Gain.

Another unique Aisha and Fiona Big Muff variant with their usual enhanced harmonics. Designed to preserve note clarity for chord play - could do with a little more volume while it does have a fantastic breakup texture - just doesn't get quite loud enough for my preferences!

Controls - RM Si/Ge Toggle Switch (top edge), Bass ’B’ Mode Alternative Cap Toggle Switch (top edge), Volume, Input A, Bias A, Input B, Bias B, Fuzz / Gain, RM Input (left edge), Boost Level, Q1 : Ge/Si switch, Q2 : Ge/Si switch, Bass Level, RM Boost Footswitch, RM Range switch : Mid / Hi / Lo, Mode A/B Footswitch, Pickup Simulator : On/Off, Fuzz Footswitch.

Surely the ultimate Fuzz Face variant - with such an extensive feature range - including full-fate Range Master, A/B Gain and Bias options and Ge/Si Transistor options on Q1 and Q2. Beautifully engineered - and sounds as good as it looks. Definitely the Swiss-Army-Knife edition of Fuzz Face - and very reasonably priced considering everything that is onboard. The more streamline Green Edition sounds every bit as good - just has a fewer options Thant the V2.

Controls - Volume / Output, Fuzz [Glitch / Gating], Bass [Pitch], Treble [Octave Down / Oscillation], Oscillate Footswitch, On / Fuzz Footswitch. Oscillate Params in [parenthesis].

The other ultimate Shoegaze fuzz - as indeed used by Slowdive - and is a much more pedalboard-friendly format - and still with a fairly extensive feature range across two channels / modes. Generates the most amazing wall-of-sound textures with or without the oscillation engaged.

Controls - GATED FUZZ + OVERTONES } Overtone / Frequency, Volume, Effect On/Off Switch, Hi/Lo Overtone Range on rear. SQUAREWAVE CHOP } Rate, Chop push-button, TRIANGLEWAVE LFO } LFO push-button, Fast LFO Rate (Intervals), Slow LFO Rate, Slow/Fast Footswitch.

For a while my favourite fuzz of the year - certainly David's finest to date. Superb feature set and tones - and looks amazing - with that customised VU Meter and custom-designed knobs.

Controls - Volume, Tone, Gain, Clipping Diodes : Twin Ge / Twin Si / Twin LED.

Massively evolved from the Barnes and Mullins 70’s Fuzz Unit - a Colorsound manufactured variant of its 3-transistor Tone Bender Jumbo - Big Muff. The 3 clipping options give you very different voicings - creating an amazingly versatile yet simple fuzz! 

Controls - Volume, Tone, Fuzz.

Great sounding Silicon Fuzz Face with added Tone control, and powered by 2 rare NOS Micro Electronics C1016Y yellow dot transistors. A follow-up to the DaughterBoard Darlington Flyer which is also excellent - I need to get both!

Controls - Level, Gain, Tone.

One of my favourite Hybrid Ge/Si Fuzzes - this one gets the harmonious blend of transistors just right - for a really well balanced and richly textured tone. Combination of Controls is just perfect for a range of different Fuzzy Drive and Fuzz sounds. I liked it so much that I had to swap out the plastic knobs for proper gold hued aluminium ones - looks as how it was meant to now!

Controls - Volume, Tone (See-Saw EQ), Dry>Wet Mix, Fuzz Saturation, MODE : Fuzz - Standard / Latching [orange] | Fuzz- Momentary Octave [green] | Fuzz - Momentary Bypass [cyan] | +Trem - Standard Division [magenta] | +Trem Custom Division [white], VOICE : Bright Tone [orange] | Fat Tone [cyan], Bypass / Fuzz Engage Footswitch, Analog Octave / +Tremolo Engage Footswitch, Expression / Tap Tempo socket on side.

Fantastic fresh take on an Octave Fuzz with modulation of the octave also - for a sort of Tremolo / Vibrato Octapulse texture. These should be landing in the new year - really looking forward to getting my hands on one of these!

Controls - FUZZ } Fuzz, Volume, Effect On Footswitch, OCTAVE / PLL } Octave > Fuzz Mix, Octaves - Down : 2/1, Uo : 2/1, Octave Blend, Tracking Mode : Wiggle / Normal, Range : Slow / Fast, Speed / Character knob, Octave Footswitch.

A genius evolution of the Phase Locked Loop Fuzz-Harmonizer with simplified controls - but maximum variability and impact. My favourite PLL pedal by far - brilliantly engineered by Marc Christiansen.

Controls - Volume, Fuzz, Smooth (Impedance), Bias.

One of my very favourite Germanium Fuzz Faces with extended features. Using similar sort of military spec Transistors as the legendary Boneyard Multi-Bender - this has the same amazing visceral vibrancy and sizzle of that pedal - sound amazing. Actually a deconstruction of the Thorpy Veteran into its two constituent halves - with the other being the Have Blue Germanium Rangemaster - which I'm still kind of deciding on whether I need - would certainly make a nice pair - but a touch pricey when bought together! Especially considering the Palmer Custom FX Solarist.

Controls - Volume, Mode : '69 (2 x Ge AC125) / '70 (2 x Si BC108C), Fuzz (Gain), Bias, Input Gain (side).

Two Germanium Fuzz Faces in a row - another of my favourites and one of just a handful of Ge/Si switching ones - albeit not both Q1 and Q2 individual Transistors - unlike the DanDrive Austin Pride, ExpressoFX Custom Ge/Si fuzz, and the above Palmer Custom FX Solarist. One of 4 Germanium Fuzz Faces in this listing - and then the Spaceman Charon is essentially a hybrid Fuzz Face!

Controls - Sensitivity (Fuzz Gain / Intensity), Dry Level, Fuzz Level, High Pass Filter, Low Pass Filter 1, Low Pass Filter 2, Mids Cut : Alpha / None / Delta (around 1kHz), Edge / Sizzle, Bias / Voltage Starve, Phase Inverter : Positive / Negative.

Killer thunderous wall-of-sound upper octave fuzz - incredibly thick and richly textured and one of my very favourite takes on this genre. Really sounds immense!

Controls - (OCTAVE-) FUZZ SIDE } Level, Kill (Octave > Squelch > Choke), Gain, Sensitivity (Input Gain Sensitivity), Pedal Bypass Footswitch, (PLL) GLITCH SIDE } Level, Drift (Tracking > Divebomb), Amok (Glitchy/Fragmented) / Drone (More Continuous), Depth (Amount of Low End in Signal), Activate PLL Footswitch.

Fantastic combination of searing Octave Fuzz with optional PLL Glitch Modulation on a second additive channel (not independent). Slightly enlarged format - would be preferable for me if it could be shrunk down to BB-size - but sounds so good - that possible those expanded dimensions don't matter so much!