Hiwatt's recent affordable Filter Fuzz MKII Compact opens up the legendary Messenger-style Fuzz to everyone now

So I acquired the MKII V1.1 Filter Fuzz a couple of years back when it was doing the rounds. In fact this is a paragraph from my review then :

"A pretty cool and distinct fuzz - the Hiwatt Messenger style Filter Fuzz MKII could do with a little more volume - but it sounds pretty great with the Filter set to Mid Focus - I run it in combination with my Strymon Sunset to bring the level up a touch - well worth having it in the collection!"

I really liked the pedal when I reviewed it - but felt that it was slightly underpowered on the volume side.

In conversation with Hiwatt’s Tom at the recent Leeds Pedal Show - he convinced me that it was worth having the compact version in my reference collection also - as it was sufficiently different from the MKII 1.1 that I had - and totally solved my volume issues.

Controls - Volume, Fuzz, Filter (Focus) : Upper Mids, Mids, Lower Mids, Thick (Bass Input), Filter Footswitch, Fuzz Footswitch.

There are actually 3 versions of the Filter Fuzz that Hiwatt makes - at the very top end it crafts a fully custom shop point-to-point hand-wired special edition in a large obsidian wedge-shaped enclosure. That mojo-infused circuit will set you back £316 / $399.

We then have the Mid-size MKII 1.1 - which is then one I picked up 2 years ago - that one is at £189 currently and features mostly THT style components. Including 2 x Metal Can BC109’s!

The newest kid on the block is the entirely SMT Compact MKII - which goes for just £81 / $100, and is available exclusively from Andertons, as well as direct from Hiwatt. Andertons currently have theirs discounted to £69 - which is an absolute bargain! I paid a little less at the Leeds Show - as I mentioned in my show report - it was an offer I could not refuse!

And the long and the short of it is that I much prefer this more compact edition. It has indeed wholly solved the volume issues, and is far more pedalboard friendly in addition. And while it may be in part a placebo effect because of the neater form factor - is sounds better balanced to me than its larger predecessor / sibling.

The Hiwatt Filter Fuzz is based on Grand Funk Railroad’s Messenger Fuzz - which was used on their first 3 albums, including 1969’s well loved ’On Time’. Basic Audio used to make a version of this too. In fact they still do - it’s just sold out currently. John Lyons makes all his pedals in small batches - and I guess he’s not made any Messengers recently - those won’t be anywhere near the bargain price of these Hiwatt Compacts!

If this compact edition had been available 2 years ago - I would probably have skipped over the MKII V1.1 edition - as this new one delivers and all-round better experience for me.

No doubt the dearer pedals feature increasingly more rarified mojo components, while I feel that the new compact edition pretty much has you covered already - it’s a very decent sounding and versatile fuzz. If I were to change anything it would be to have the different filter options cycled around on the left-footswitch - so you need never bend over and adjust the Filter rotary switch again. That would of course add some costs but it would probably be worth it for the extended utility. I would probably switch to top-mounted jacks also - but that is never a dealbreaker for me.

When I originally had the MKII V1.1 I tended to mostly sit on the Mid Focus Filter setting - but with this new one I seem to like all the options - while I am indeed mostly still found  on the Mid, and Lower Mid Ones. I have Volume and Fuzz @ 3 o’c - with some room to spare, and the Thick control seems to be mostly positioned between 1 and 2 o’clock for me.

I would direct you to the Andertons site - where you can liberate one of these for just £69 - it’s surely the best £69 you can currently spend - a total steal really!

Hiwatt is putting the Compact MKII out at such a good price - everyone should get one!