ao link
Filter content by area of interest
Amps
Boost and Overdrive
Delay
Distortion
Fuzz
Guitars
Modulation
Pitch
Reverb
Utility
All
All

16 Secret Weapon Fuzzes

AnasoundsBardic Audio DevicesBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBispell AudioBlakemore EffectsDr ScientistDrunk BeaverEl Músico Loco FXFjord FuzzFree Fall DiverFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzKuro Custom AudioMaestro Style FuzzModulated FuzzOctave FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzPaul Trombetta DesignProAnalog DevicesRainger FXRedbeard EffectsShift LineSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTone Bender Style FuzzToneczar+-
2023-GPX-Secret-Weapon-Fuzzes-700.jpg

A reader asked me to pick out some of my all-time favourite fuzzes - which are legion actually - just far too many to include in a single rundown. So we settled on doing somewhat less well known favourite fuzzes - under the guise of ’Secret Weapon Fuzzes’. These are mostly somewhat under the radar classics - several of which are discontinued, but all of which deliver distinct superior tones.

 

Beyond these being Secret Weapon Fuzzes there was no other specific theme - so we get a variety of ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

9 of the Best Extended-Range Medium Vertical Enclosure Analog Overdrives

Blues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveColortone PedalsDistortionDriveDSM & HumboldtDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveKeeley EngineeringKlone and Transparent OverdriveKMA AudioMulti-DriveOCD Style OverdriveOverdrivePete CornishPoly EffectsPRS GuitarsPRS PedalsShnobel ToneToneczar+-
2022-GPX-Medium-Vertical-Overdrives-700.jpg

After the Compact size enclosure - the Medium-Vertical sort of 1590-BB size of enclosure is my second favourite format - and often a go-to for more extended range pedals. This is a far more practical format than those typically horizontal BB types - like so many of the dual overdrive units - a la King of Tone etc.

 

This article was prompted by my recent acquisition of the KMA Machines Logan which I kind of missed out on the first time around. In fact it emerged very soon after I had received...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

9 of the Best Mid-Size Extended-Range Muff-Style Fuzz Pedals

Abominable ElectronicsBig Muff Style FuzzBlack Arts ToneworksBuffalo FXDemon PedalsFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioOpAmp FuzzSilicon FuzzTone ElectronixToneczarTX PedalsWren and Cuff+-
2021GPX9MediumMultiMuffs700V3.jpg

This post marks the milestone that all these are now in the reference collection - with the Animalizzer and Pharaoh Supreme the most recent to be added. There are still a few more out there that I have my eyes on, while this selection in and of itself is pretty much as good as it can be.

 

These are all Extended-Range Muff-Style Fuzz Pedals which have a very significant coverage via additional clipping, gain-structure and tone controls. Each of these covers a number of varieties, while ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

4 Killer Pairs of Medium Enclosure Extended Range Fuzz Pedals

Big Muff Style FuzzBuffalo FXDwarfcraftFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzModulated FuzzOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzSilicon FuzzSpaceman EffectsSuper-Fuzz StyleToneczar+-
2021GPX4PotentFuzzPairsVerticalM700.jpg

This article was prompted by an observation of obviously complementary fuzz pairings - where I currently own all of these bar the two Dwarfcraft Devices - Limited Edition Necromancer and Reese Lightning. In fact a number of these could be construed to be officially highly limited - where Buffalo FX and Dwarfcraft Devices have both ceased trading and their products are in very short supply. There were only 25 dual-footswitch editions of the Dwarfcraft Devices Limited Edition Dark Arts ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2020

Acoustic SimulatorAmbient EffectsAnasoundsBeat MachineBest in ClassBitcrushing and Lo-FiBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioChorus and VibratoCompressorCooper FXCrazy Tube CircuitsDelayDelay WorkstationDemon PedalsDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDouble TrackingDr ScientistDriveDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveEarthQuaker DevicesEchoverbEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQEventideFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzGlitchGranular DelayGuitar Synth and SequencerJackson AudioKeyztoneKlone and Transparent OverdriveKMA AudioLo-Fi DelayLooperMarshall Style DistortionMenatoneMetal DistortionMidValleyFXModulated FuzzModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveOCD Style OverdriveOctave FuzzOctaverOddball DelayOddball FuzzOddball ModulationOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPitchPlate ReverbRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbShnobel ToneSilicon FuzzSpacey ReverbSpring ReverbStrymonTape DelayTC ElectronicThorpyFXTimmyToneczarTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveUtilityVox Style DistortionVS Audio+-
2020GPXSKSignalChainPostNAMMEndOfYear700.jpg

And so here is the culmination of everything that happened to the pedal-chain in 2020.

 

There were quite a few more displacements than I had expected - all told 22 slots changed over this year - including 19 Brand New Pedals for 2020, then 3 slightly older pedals, and some incidentals.

 

The most significant shift, and the one that caused the most disruption was the arrival of Boss GT-1000 CORE in October. This is often the case when you bring in a big new pedal - and you need to re-...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Jack White's Third Man Records Pedal Collaborations

CoppersoundDistortionFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGamechanger AudioGuitar Synth and SequencerJack WhiteMantic EffectsModulated FuzzModulationOctaverOddball FuzzOpAmp FuzzPitchSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleThird Man RecordsToneczarUnion Tube & Transistor+-
2020GPXThirsManRecrodsHardware700V3.jpg

This article pulls together Jack White’s 4 key pedal collaborations from the very first Union Tube & Transistor Bumble Buzz Fuzz through to the recent Coppersound Triplegraph. I myself have been intrigued about these along the way - and am still pondering if I still need to add one or two more of these to my own collection / rig.

 

I already have a limited edition Yellow Plasma Coil, and am in line to get a standard Triplegraph in the new year. I was sort of waiting for the ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

End of November Pedal-Chain Update - Episode X - Penultimate Positioning

Big Ear PedalsBig Muff Style FuzzBossBrown Sound DistortionChase Bliss AudioCooper FXCoppersoundDemedash EffectsDistortionFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGermanium FuzzKMA AudioMetal DistortionMidValleyFXPedal ChainPushking PedalsSilicon FuzzSitek Guitar ElectronicsStrymonToneczarVick AudioZvex+-
2020GPXSKSignalChainPostNAMMNovember700V4.jpg

So we’re in the final throws of 2020, and most of what’s going to be in place for the year is near enough there already - I typically wind down in November to shift budgets for December towards Christmas expenses. There will be at least one change in December - as I will reveal later on in forthcoming arrivals below - and there may be a couple or so further adjustments depending on how well I’m feeling things!

 

For 2020, of the 40/41 numbered slots - 21 have actually changed - which is a ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Ed Rembold's Toneczar Openhaus 6-Band Active EQ High Gain Distortion is a Beautifully Balanced Metal Monster

Brown Sound DistortionDistortionMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionToneczar+-
2020GPXToneczarOpenhausEQ700.jpg

You may recall the story of how I was for the longest time chasing the 3-Band EQ more compact original version of this pedal. But was persuaded by Ed in the end to go for the considerable superiority of his latest evolved edition - where he had finally gotten the noisefloor to its most optimal and desired level - and the timbre of the distortion to the perfect degree and combination of sizzle, punch and articulation.


The fact that you have 6 Active Bands of EQ - that you can adjust to ±...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

End of October Pedal-Chain Update - Episode IX - Imminent Acquiescence

Big Muff Style FuzzBossDelay WorkstationDistortionFulltone EffectsFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulation WorkstationNordland ElectronicsODR Style OverdriveOpAmp FuzzPedal ChainPitchPreAmpReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSTL TonesStrymonToneczarVick AudioWah and Fixed Wah+-
2020GPXSKSignalChainPostNAMMOctober700V3.jpg

October has proven to be another fairly significant month - both in terms of new pedal releases / arrivals and my own pedal-chain evolution. I’m also in the midst of a Vick Audio phase - having relatively recently acquired most of the key pedals in that range - including all 5 Tau Series Muff variants - which were all in my chain together for a big chunk of October.

 

There were a number of very significant releases/arrivals this month for me - including the Boss GT-1000 CORE and Strymon ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Pete Cornish Gilmourish Pedal Sound-Alikes and Near Match Alternatives

Basic AudioBig Muff Style FuzzBoost and OverdriveBuffalo FXDistortionFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionMarshall Style DistortionMojo Hand FXOverdrivePete CornishSilicon FuzzSkreddy PedalsStomp Under FootSuper-Fuzz StyleToneczarTop ToneVick AudioWren and Cuff+-
2020GPXAltPeteCornishG2700V2.jpg

I’ve had something of a David Gilmour and Pete Cornish fixation of late - obviously interrupted by homage to and celebration of the late great Edward Lodewijk Van Halen. There is just one final closing chapter on the Pete Cornish phenomena which is my listing of near match and sound-alike alternatives.

 

Pete Cornish pedals - the neater Deluxe line in particular are some of the very finest effects pedals ever created in terms of their beautifully and richly nuanced output - and ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions
Profile
Stefan Karlsson
Stefan Karlsson
Guitar Pedal X
News Navigation






















































Gerimaya Whyte
Some Thoughts on the Sheeran Looper+ and Looper X
"May opt for the Sheeran+ at this point for a "...
20 hours ago
max pixs
The Tanabe Zenkudo Dumble Drive is truly an inspiration machine full of verve and vibrancy
"Hi, I have a Kondo Shifuku D-Style, an in-depth "...
2 days ago
James Moses
Favourite Guitar Tuning Pedals and Devices of different sizes
"I'm sure you know by now, Peterson did "...
2 days ago
Stefan Karlsson
Why and How Cioks' Future Power Generation Series of Power Supplies is the Best in Class!
"Yes the Cioks Hi5Mod is a sort of special edition "...
4 days ago
Alev Guran
Some Thoughts on the Sheeran Looper+ and Looper X
"Hi Stefan, I’m not a looper pro but I use my "...
10 days ago
Waiting