Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Acorn Amps Reboots Hybrid 2 Transistor Circuit Fuzz as Super Cool Manga-inspired Kakarot Fuzz with added LED Clipping Zing
Key Points
Acorn Amps' Kakarot Fuzz reworks the Circuit Fuzz into manga-inspired Blue or Orange editions, adding a lit-up stage spark and LED clipping after the two-transistor stages.
Hybrid circuit: hand-picked NOS germanium first stage and a silicon second stage; controls: Level and Fuzz.
Hand built and wired in Atlanta with audio‑grade components, latching footswitches, Switchcraft jacks, true bypass; runs on 9V DC and consumes <30mA.
No demo yet—the demo is of the Circuit Fuzz without LED clipping. As of now, price was $149 at the Acorn Amps Webstore.
For electrical safety or any opening/modification, consult a qualified tech.
So a couple of years ago Acorn Amps released the Circuit Fuzz pedal - which had a snap-out boost circuit embedded into the enclosure facia - which you could snap-off and build - and use separately or else use within said fuzz. The core fuzz circuit was a somewhat derivation of Fuzz Face and Coloursound One Knob fuzz - but with hybrid transistors - Germanium in the first stage, and Silicon in the second - actually not too dissimilar to the Daredevil Aces I featured recently.
I love the look of the new evolved Manga-style editions - and I wonder why someone hasn’t done this sort of thing sooner - not just incorporating manga graphics (that has been done before) - but also the lit-up lighting spark which signals the on stage. The Kakarot also has LED clipping on its tail end - after the two transistor stages - to give it even more zing and tp beef up the output somewhat.
Controls - Level, Fuzz.
There’s plenty of one and two knob 2 transistor fuzzes - but this exact Kakarot formula is pretty rare - the look of the pedal massively adds to its appeal. The only major challenge really is deciding which of the two editions you prefer more - Blue or Orange!
I’m currently really struggling to pick a favourite here! I will likely roll a dice or toss a coin on the day I acquire it - and acquire it I will - at $149 it totally hits the spot - available right now from the Acorn Amps Webstore. Hopefully I will get my hands on one soon - while for me it’s definitely the combination of factors that creates the appeal - and it’s such a really cool looking pedal!
Features
- Hand built and hand wired from start to finish by obsessive compulsive pedal nerds in Atlanta, GA
- Two transistor fuzz pedal featuring one silicon transistor and one hand-picked NOS germanium transistor
- Fuzz control sweeps between slight gritty boost all the way to wily fuzz crunch
- Assembled entirely with high-quality, audio grade components and rugged latching foot switches and metal Switchcraft jacks
- True bypass and powered using standard 9V DC [-] pedal power and consumes less than 30mA of current
NOTE - there is no demo yet of this pedal - so the below demo is of the Acorn Circuit Fuzz - which is near identical bar the LED clipping of the Kakarot.
Demo
