The Fuzz Pedal Olympics!

Controls - Shift (fade between 2 Classic BB Modes), Filer (Up = Hi-Cut), Input Gain, Tone (High Mids), Master Level.

So there were two Australian fuzzes that were likely to win this category for him - both from Anarchy Audio - the Deadwoods High Gain Fuzzstortion, and this Baa Bzz Fuzz take on the Roland Bee-Baa. In the end - the slightly more extended versatility of the Baa Bzz meant that one won it by a whisker. A really beautifully textured full-on fuzz - which can also be elegantly tempered to your preferences. Really smart control topology and a beautiful output! Really like this one!

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

This is one of those categories where I only have one fuzz from said country - so there's not much competition here. This essentially a Mojo / Deluxe edition of Germanium Fuzz Face, while the NKT275's in question are those skinny grey market ones, not the actual original 60's Newmarket varieties. But then again King Tone uses similar grey market NKT275's in its miniFUZZES. And don't forget that the original Newmarket NKT275's were cheap knock-offs of the AC125 - so it's simply more of the same essentially. Identical topology to Thorpy's 4-knob Tacti Blue. Actually this Mojo Gear FX fuzz is a good sounding fuzz - while it had a somewhat distracting badly scripted MF label on the facia!

Controls - Bass, Mid, Treble, Mix, Gain, Volts / Starve, Volume, Gain Channel I / II, Engage Fuzz.

Obviously just recently covered in the World Odyssey article, in fact one of the most covered pedals on the site - and a perennial favourite of mine. Still probably my all-time favourite fuzz pedal - as it's just so versatile! Ryan should add one more 'Octave' switch or mini-knob to truly make it the ultimate all-rounder fuzz / multi-fuzz! 

Controls - Volume, Tone, Sustain.

I actually don't have too many Chinese Fuzzes - it was really mainly between two minis in the end - the Tone City Matcha Green Muff, and this Mooer Triangle Buff Muff. On a different day the selection might have been the other way around - there's not much to separate them really - while the Triangle style of Big Muff is normally my favourite variant of Muff. These sound surprisingly good for their size - but could both do with a little more output volume! I heavily considered having my HSE-Modded Joyo Voodoo Octave Fuzz here - but that is now more of an HSE pedal really - it would not have been right to feature that here - but it deserves a mention - as it is quite superb in that format!

Controls - Dry/Wet Mix, Reverb (Decay), Shimmer (Amount), Reverb & Crush Volume, Order : FCR/FRC, Sample Rate Frequency, Crush Signal Mix, Fuzz Volume, Crush On/Off, Left Footswitch Engages Reverb & Crush, Right Engages Fuzz.

A proper Shoegaze Fuzz - which combines Fuzz, Bitcrushing and Reverb in various ways - with two different orders of effects. A great all-in-one Shoegaze-in-a-box - really sounds great. There's another differently named variant of this pedal which swaps out the Reverb for a PT2399 Delay. Great combination in any case!

Controls - Depth, Level, Speed, Fuzz (Gain), Level (Fuzz).

This is kind of similar to Fjord Fuzz's later SOL concept - Fuzz-Vibes both of them - this one has a few more controls for more granularity - while the Fjord Fuzz SOL probably has the superior texture overall - even though I prefer other Fjord Fuzz Fuzz Face and Uni-Vibe combinations. The Purple Moon is really easy to dial in for satisfying results.

Controls - Delay, Drive, Volume, Tone.

This to me is that kins of super smooth Eric Johnson adjacent tones. They typically label this as an Overdrive - but for me it's more of that singing smooth fuzz sound - which delivers those Cello-like tones so well. A wonderful sounding pedal - where the Amber Overdrive is supposedly mainly the same circuit just without the Delay part! I still need to get in the Custom Amber Overdrive variant - that's on my list for sure - along with the Bluebird and Sky Blue Overdrives - all in good time as I say!

Controls - Volume, Tone, Buzz (Fuzz Face Gain), Fuzz (Super Fuzz Gain), INTERNAL } Bias, Ring Freq (Modulation), Feed (Input Gain), LED Brightness.

For a long time this was my very favourite Octave Fuzz - while it may have been finally ousted by my recent HSE Voodoo Sailor edition. The Crankled Bitoun is still very much in the running though - as it delivers a supremely thick and expressive, richly textured octave flavour - really sounds superb!

Controls - Bass (±18dB), Mids (±18dB), High (±18dB), Boost (+36dB), Gain, Level, Grind (Boost EQ / HM-2 Curve), Depth (Input Saturation), Comp (Clipping Style Fuzz/OD/Distortion), Boost Footswitch (+36dB), Bypass Footswitch, Internal Doom Switch (↑ UP).

I had a few options here - but I'm so impressed by the 4 Licthlaerm pedals I currently own - that I had to choose the Altar - surely the ultimate Doom Fuzz nowadays - along with the Blackhawk Balrog. The Altar has exceptional tone-shaping and a simply phenomenal output texture - which gets really heavy and bassy - but still maintains its tight percussiveness!

Controls - Volume, Gain, Mode : Fuzz Face (1966) / Vox Tone Bender (1966) / MK I.V Tone Bender (1966) / MKII Tone Bender (1965) / RangeMaster (1965) / RangeMaster > Fuzz Face.

I've collaborated quite extensively with Christos on the 3 models of Constellation - OC45, OC41, and CV7003 (Mil Spec OC44). Overall the first one is my favourite as that delivers overall the best fuzz texture - while each of the others has its strong points too. The OC45 V1 Edition though is my favourite here - and covers so many different flavours. It would have been nice to have externally accessible bias trimmers, but the pedal sounds plenty great enough already in any case!

Controls - Life (Tone), Death (Bias / Gate), Burial (Lows / Cut), Voodoo (Volume), Rum (Gain).

I had 2 to choose from here - both from Aditya Nandwana's Mumbai-based Anima Factory - where he's mostly about Eurorack and Modular Synths - but used to make the occasional pedal - which department is currently on hiatus - while he's promised me that the pedals will return eventually. In the end I went for the Baron Samedi Boss Tone variant as it sounds superb and has great extension - while the Chemical Burns Super Fuzz suffers a little form volume-drop - and could do with more output. Both texturally sound fantastic - and the Baron Samedi is perfectly calibrated!

Controls - Volume, Gain, Comp (Parallel Fuzz to Gladio Mix / Temperament), Tone, Bias 1 (Gritty > Smooth / Fuzz > OD), Bias 2 (Gritty > Smooth / Fuzz > OD), remote - Bias 1/2 switching port.

This is both a fantastic concept and a superb execution - blending the Gladio SC Dumble Drive voicing with a classic silicon Fuzz Face for a more easily accessible / approachable fuzz sound. You still get beautiful fuzz textures - but slightly smoothed out and tempered by the Gladio circuit - so ideal for those that struggle with the rawness of all-out regular fuzz. As a fuzz fanatic I love all flavours of fuzz pretty much - and this is its own exceptional voice!

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.

A modern DSP take on the Expandora with all manner of additional controls - including 3-Band EQ, 3 Presets and a really smart Accent control. Takes you above an beyond the standard Expandora - where the is capable of some exceptional searing fuzz sounds - actually sounds really decent - more need to get onboard with this - but the fuzz crowd can be a little traditional and old school in its appreciation!

Controls : Voltage, Mode : Boost / Octave Down / 2 Octaves Down / Octave Up / Octave Down + Up / 2 Octaves Down + Octave Up, Volume, Low Freq, High Freq, On/Off Footswitch / Engage Secondary Effect Footswitch.

This is another pedal carried over from the World Odyssey article - a superb different type of super-tight electrical charged fuzz / distortion - here with additional Octave Up / Down and Boost modes. The only Gamechanger pedal I own - but absolutely perfect for my preferences and needs - a really unique voicing!

Controls - Volume, Fuzz, TFM / EQ (Treble Full Mid), Bias.

I covered this brand in an extensive feature last year - where I have limited expanded editions of their  MKII Tone Bender and Hybrid Ge/Si Fuzz Face. Really distinctive look on these pedals - with proprietary PaulSwitch Footswitches - these sound really superb! I went for the slightly more flavourful Tone Bender in the end - but both are really excellent!

Controls - Max Gain / Dip-Switch Bypass, Max Treble / Dip-Switch Bypass, Volume, Fuzz, Wrath (% Oscillation), Sputter (Transistor Bias), 2 x unspecified internal trim-pots, 8 x Tone Dip-Switches. Awaken Main Bypass Footswitch, 8VE / Octave Footswitch, Oscillation Footswitch.

The Fuzz God IV is an exceptional all-rounder fuzz - with a superb extensively shapable Germanium Fuzz Face at its core - with a plethora of dip-switches, trim-pots and controls. And Octave and Oscillation in addition to the fuzz - with 3 footswitches to kick in the individual elements. A really great execution of a multi-fuzz - shame that it's discontinued! Hopefully we will get another iteration of this circuit soon - I'm sure a Fuzz God V will be in one the schedule at some stage!

Controls - Volume, Gain, Tone / Filter 1 (HPF), Octave Bias, Tone / Filter 2 (LPF), Momentary Tone Bypass Footswitch (Mid Boost), Bypass Footswitch.

Another carry-over from the World Odyssey - I've been trying to persuade Daniel at Fjord Fuzz to do another iteration of this phenomenal booming foghorn wall-of-sound of a fuzz - somewhat based on the Super Fuzz - but so thick and imposing that you almost feel as if you can touch it!

Controls - Fat (± Bass centered @ 80Hz, 5.06 Q), Muscle (± Mids centered @ 875Hz, 5.5 Q), Air (± Highs centered @ 1550Hz, 4.58 Q), Exhaust (Volume), Vacuum (% Ring Mod Upper Octave), Power (Drive).

I guess I could have carried over the Heavy Bat from the World Odyssey article - as Rats qualify as both Distortion and Fuzz variant. While I've always loved the Drunk Beaver Fluff Octave Fuzz, and Mykolaiv Grunge - Boss PW-2 take, So this Drunk Beaver Seattle Drive which combines the best aspects of both the Fluff and Mykolaiv. So this Seattle Driver is a shoe in here really - basically a super searing and sustaining Muff Octave Fuzz - sounds amazing! I could also have selected the Bloom Expandora here which is another exceptional take on that format - but on balance I decided that the Seattle Driver should be the ambassador here!

Controls - Bass, Mid, Treble, Volume, Fuzz, Stage I Clipping - LED/Open/Silicon, Stage II Clipping - Open/Germanium/LED/Silicon, Depth, Pre-Gain (Boost).

I'm not sure what more can be said about this ultimate MufferFuzzer which I've loved since I first got hands on it in 2021 - the ultimate all-rounder Multi-Muff - while he KMA Chief Disrupter is also exceptional - the Animalizzer still has the edge for me - Rikk has so cleverly engineered and selected those specific Clipping Diodes - so you get no discernible volume drop - even on Germanium Mode!

Controls - Level, Dirt (Self Oscillation . Random Octaves / 8 Bit / Glitch, Gain, 3-way Harmonics Switch - Less / More High Frequency Harmonics, Mode Dial : Low Gain, Gated, Octaves Down / Up, Arpeggiation, High Gain etc.

I mentioned in the Wold Odyssey entry - that this was one of my all-time favourite multi-fuzzes - which has so many tones and textures onboard - including octaves and oscillation. Oleg at Shift Line has shared some shots on a follow-up prototype he's working on - I'm really looking forward to seeing how that one turns out - it's got a lot to live up to. I often cite the Termofuzz as a secret weapon of mine - and it's been going for some ridiculously high prices on Reverb.com recently - definitely time for a follow-up now!

Controls : Gain, Level, Tone, Mode : I Crunch / II Overdrive / III Distortion / F Forbidden Fuzz, Clipping Dip 1 : Stock Silicon / LED, Bass Boost Dip 2 : Boost / Off. Footswitch is intelligent and automatically senses Momentary and Latching behaviour.

My new edition of this pedal hasn't landed yet - should be any day now. But even based on the previous V1 model - this is a shoe-in for best Spanish Fuzz for me - while there was some competition from the El Musico Loco Wee Beaver Regulus VIII Fuzz. On balance the greater range and versatility of the Reverend V2 wins out - particularly with those new dip-switches and Remote Forbidden Fuzz Mode trigger. A really ingenious pedal all-round - and like its Golden Horse and Angry Swede siblings - should be in every pedal collection!

Controls - Volume, Fuzz, Bias.

I didn't have too much competition here - so a Björn Juhl take on the Tone Bender MKI easily wins out this particular category. I also have a Bearfoot FX variant of the same circuit - which sounds quite different - the Bone Bender 1 is a really smart take on that well loved but difficult to tune-in circuit!

Controls - Level, Attack (Gain/Fuzz), Feed (Volts), Mode : 3 Transistors / 2 Transistors, Tone, Engage Fuzz Footswitch, Tone Bypass Footswitch.

This is another multi-fuzz that features at the top of my favourite fuzzes list - a proper full on Multi-Bender that covers you for all Tone Bender flavours in the most brilliant way - MKI, MK I.V, VTB, MKII, MKIII and MKIV! Really superb - and we will be eventually getting an all Silicon version of this circuit - albeit that is some months off still!

Controls - LFO Rate, Tone, Volume, Gain, Theramin/LFO Switch, Light Sensor, 1-11 3-way Circuit Bending Switches.

I'm actually waiting on a new fuzz to land from Konstantin - which he's been working on for a couple of years now. In the meantime you can't go wrong with his 2 Evil Pumpkin Circuit Bending takes of the Boss DS-1 - which delivers all manner of flavours and textures, including a few really handy Fuzz style variants!

Controls : Signal (Volume), Scan (Scramble/Corruption), Range (Fuzz Gain), Drift/Sync (Engage Scan), Calibrate (Tone), Filter Engage : Engage = Bass Cut + Mid Scoop.

And last but certainly not least we have the wonderfully searing Red Cyrillic Edition of the Spaceman Sputnik I Germanium Fuzz - with 3 expertly selected Soviet flying saucer type transistors onboard - can do both classic and edgy / otherworldly sounds with each - via Scam / Drift modes!