Let’s discuss the 13 great fuzz pedals for guitar 2023 to make your guitar tone more aggressive and expressive.
It is an indispensable pedal if you play Stoner, Sludge, or Doom. But fuzz is also a great option if you’re a fan of old-school rock like Jimi Hendrix or David Gilmour.It’s also great tool in any guitarist’s arsenal, giving you more tonal possibilities.
All of these pedals are from popular brands and have good reviews. In addition, the units are suitable for both humbuckers and single-coil pickups.
Now, let’s dive in:
Fuzz Pedals: The 13 best For Your Guitar 2023
1. Behringer Super Fuzz SF300
The Behringer Super Fuzz SF300 is a budget-friendly pedal that can surprise you with its versatility and sound.
We start our list with a product from Behringer, a well-known manufacturer of budget equipment. This line of their pedals are clones of other well-known products. In particular, the SF300 Super Fuzz tries to replicate the Boss Hyper Fuzz. But despite this, the pedal is quite self-sufficient and will give you good functionality for the money.
In general, this pedal has several controls, including EQ. You’ll also get several mods that will radically differ in the character of the fuzz sound. By the way, there’s also a secret mode that we’ll tell you about below. So, let’s talk about this pedal’s functions in more detail.
Key Features:
- Three Operation Modes
You’ll see a switch between modes on the right side of the pedal. Fuzz 1 will be focused on the midrange, while Fuzz 2 has a scooped-out sound. There’s also a cleaner Boost mode, which uses only the EQ and Gain controls. - Secret Mode
This pedal also has a so-called “secret mode.” It can be accessed by placing the switch right between Fuzz 1 and Fuzz 2. As a result, you get two modes that work simultaneously in parallel. Be prepared for a boost in volume as well. - Add Some EQ
In addition to the operating modes, this pedal has an equalizer section. In particular, there are two Bass and Treble controls. It’s worth noting that they are located after the gain stage and will have a very noticeable effect on the guitar tone. - Gain & Level Controls
Of course, you’ll be able to adjust this pedal’s gain thanks to the knob of the same name. Thanks to it, you can get both extremely compressed fuzz and quite light one. In addition, you can balance the output signal of the pedal thanks to the Level control.
Pros:
The Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz is a pedal that costs only about $25. For this money, you get EQ and the ability to choose between three modes of operation that differ in sound. This pedal can produce quite an extreme effect, which is well suited for stoner rock, doom, and other similar genres.
Cons:
Of course, the main disadvantage of this unit is its plastic body, which raises doubts about its reliability. But it would help if you understood that this is justified by the extremely low price of the pedal.
2. JHS Pedals 3 Series Fuzz
The 3 Series Fuzz by JHS Pedals is a minimalist pedal that gives you the great sound of a two-transistor fuzz.
Now we will show you Fuzz from the 3 Series by JHS. It was launched in 2020, and its main feature is that each unit has three controls. The series includes seven pedals: delay, reverb, distortion, overdrive, compressor, and chorus. But let’s talk about the fuzz.
This unit looks quite restrained – it is made in white. In general, it is quite straightforward because you will not get lost in the number of controls, as there are only three. However, you’ll also find a switch with an additional Fat function to give you more control over your guitar tone. Now let’s talk about all this in more detail.
Key Features:
- Define The Fuzz Level
The main control for you here is Fuzz, which determines the effect level. The fuzz will be quite insignificant in its initial position, and in the highest position, it will be relatively extreme. However, even with the most effect, you won’t get a dirty signal – all the notes will be quite clear. - Biased Effect
A rather interesting feature of this fuzz is the Bias control. It will direct the electricity to the last stage of the gain, and, as a result, you will get the gate effect. The signal will be somewhat choked, reminiscent of the sound present in Jack White’s songs. - Add Some Fatness
It’s also worth noting that this pedal is not limited to knobs – you’ll also have a Fat switch here. It will give you a boost to the low end and make your guitar tone a bit thicker. Experiment with it to see if it’s something you need.
Pros:
The 3 Series Fuzz by JHS Pedals is a straightforward pedal that gives you great sound quality at a relatively affordable price. It is made in the United States and costs approximately $130. For this money, you’ll get Volume, Bias, and Fuzz controls, as well as a Fat function switch.
Cons:
Some users complain that the sound of this fuzz could be more transparent in the low frequencies, making it suitable for bass guitars. Also, some people don’t like the fact that the sound of the gated fuzz has a lack of sustain.
3. Electro-Harmonix Op Amp Big Muff Pi
The Big Muff Pi Op Amp from Electro-Harmonix is a recreation of the legendary 70s pedal in a new, more compact format.
The next item on our list will appeal to those who appreciate when classics meet modernity. The Big Muff Pi Fuzz Op-Amp pedal by Electro Harmonix was developed in collaboration with Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. They took the 70s pedal as a basis and made it in a compact format with true bypass.
The peculiarity of this fuzz is that instead of traditional transistors, the distortion here relies on op-amp chips. The unit also has four stages of gain instead of three, common in similar products. Overall, the pedal is quite straightforward, but let’s closely examine its features.
Key Features:
- Control Your Sustain
Sustain on this pedal is self-explanatory. However, you can get the so-called “dying battery” effect in its initial position. Conversely, the more sustain you add, the more screaming fuzz you get – the sound promises to be dense and rich. - Adjust The Tone
The great thing about this pedal is that you can also control the EQ with a single Tone knob. You can make the sound quite bassy and vice versa – fill it with high frequencies. As for the mids, it will be scooped out. - Tone On/Off Switch
If you don’t need the Tone knob, you can turn it off thanks to a special switch below. It is also an important feature because with the tone turned off, your sound will have more emphasis on the midrange, as opposed to the scooped character when the feature is on.
Pros:
The Electro-Harmonix Op-Amp Big Muff Pi is a great pedal with a unique sound you might have heard on Smashing Pumpkins albums. This fuzz is versatile because it can be dirty with a lot of crunch and vice versa – experiment with Sustain for this. The icing on the cake of this pedal is that it also has an excellent price – over $70.
Cons:
We do not see any drawbacks in this product. Therefore, we advise you to check out the user reviews on the Internet in detail.
4. Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face FFM3
The Jim Dunlop FFM3 pedal is perfect if you want a practical solution to the Jimi Hendrix tone.
The Fuzz Face is one of the most popular fuzz pedals in the world, created by the legendary Jim Dunlop. First of all, it was used by Jimi Hendrix himself. But it has one drawback – it’s also one of the largest guitar pedals. Nevertheless, the company conceded users almost ten years ago by creating a line of compact Fuzz Faces.
Now we’re going to talk about the Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face Mini, which is a recreation of his custom pedal in a compact form. The most important thing to know here is that this pedal is very straightforward. As with most Fuzz Faces, you’ll only have two knobs and one true bypass button. But let’s take a closer look at it.
Key Features:
- Fuzz Control
The Fuzz control will likely be the main focus of this pedal. In general, it has a wide range of gains, and the tone will be bright when you pass noon. Before that, the sound will be a bit muddy, but good if you want a slightly broken grunge guitar tone. - Adjust The Volume
Another important control here is Volume, located on the opposite side of the Fuzz. Thanks to it, you can balance the output signal of the pedal. It’s also worth noting here that most users use this knob cranked up to get the most out of the pedal’s potential and adjust the volume on the guitar itself. - Powered By Adapter Or Battery
When connecting this pedal, you can do so in two ways: with an AC adapter or a 9V battery. As for the latter, the creators of the unit have provided it with a cover on the back that can be quickly and conveniently removed to install the battery.
Pros:
The Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face FFM3 is a pedal that will give you that legendary Jimi Hendrix tone. Its main advantage is that it’s straightforward and, unlike its predecessors, compact and pedalboard friendly. And the cherry on top is its relatively reasonable price, approximately $160.
Cons:
We don’t see any drawbacks to this product. Therefore, please check the user reviews for more detailed information.
5. Warm Audio Foxy Tone Box
The Warm Audio Foxy Tone Fuzz is a recreation of the legendary pedal that will give you a big, round sound.
The Foxx Tone machine pedal was created by Steve Ridinger in the early 70s and had a major impact on the fuzz sound of the time. For example, this unit was used by Adrian Belew, Billy Gibbons, and Peter Frampton. But now we’re not going to talk about the original pedal but its recreation by Warm Audio – the Foxy Tone Fuzz.
The cool thing about this unit is that it is covered with velvet, just like the original, but in orange. Overall, this pedal is handmade and has original components. In particular, among them are germanium Fairchild transistors. Let’s now move on to check out the features of this product.
Key Features:
- Volume & Sustain
The two controls on the left are Volume and Sustain. The second one can also be called the gain control. The thing is that the more you add it, the more you get the amount of effect. You can achieve a loud and saturated fuzz at the maximum position. - Add an Octave Up
One of the main features of this pedal is the Octave switch. It will add one upper octave to your signal. As a result, you’ll get an exciting effect that can be useful for both lead and rhythm parts. - Mellow Or Bright
The rightmost knob of this pedal is called Fuzz. But don’t let this mislead you because we’re talking about EQ control. Similar to the other Tone controls, this one will allow you to make the effect sound mellow, or vice versa, quite bright.
Pros:
The main advantage of this pedal is that it looks different from all the others – the unit is covered with orange velvet. In general, the Foxy Tone Box has a rather characteristic, bright sound, and the octave switch will expand your field of sound experimentation. Even though the original components are used here, the price of the pedal can be considered pleasant – it’s about $150.
Cons:
Unlike most other pedals, the controls here are located not on the top of the unit but on the front, which can be inconvenient for use on a pedalboard. Besides that, we don’t see any other drawbacks to this product.
6. Wampler Velvet Fuzz
If you like overdrive and distortion but have never given fuzz a chance, the Velvet Fuzz pedal by Wampler might be right up your alley.
The Wampler guitar pedal company is known for the high quality of its products. Yes, you will need to pay a little more than many other units, but this is justified by the fact that these pedals should satisfy you both in sound and build quality. It also applies to the next item on our list – the Velvet Fuzz pedal, which will give you more than just fuzz.
Whereas most fuzz pedals only give you the desired effect when combined with a cranked amp or overdrive, this one is designed to give you that sound on its own. Moreover, the unit is quite straightforward, but despite this, it has two modes of operation. Let’s figure it out in order.
Key Features:
- Big or Tight
This pedal has a special Big/Tight switch in the middle that will give you two different clipping characters. The names of these modes speak for themselves. If you take it associatively, Tight is more like Jimi Hendrix’s fuzz, and Big is David Gilmour’s. The latter will be more massive with less compression. - Adjust The Brightness
You’ll also have a Brightness control, which is also pretty self-explanatory. It will act as an EQ control. This way, you can make the sound brighter, or vice versa, darker and less prominent. - Volume And Fuzz Control
Of course, like most fuzz pedals, you’ll also have the standard Volume, and Fuzz controls. With the latter, you can adjust the amount of the effect and make it more open. And Volume is responsible for the output signal from the pedal.
Pros:
The Wampler Velvet Fuzz is a high-quality pedal that gives you the sound of a fuzz plugged into a cranked amp. In addition, it has two modes, Big and Tight, which will give you more tonal variety because they have different clipping characteristics. Another advantage is the straightforwardness of this unit, as there are only a few controls.
Cons:
This pedal is a bit expensive and costs about 200 dollars. Besides that, we don’t see any other drawbacks to this product. So, we recommend you check out the detailed user reviews online.
7. Orange Fur Coat Fuzz
Orange’s Fur Coat gives you a big sound and the ability to add octave effects.
It’s no secret that Orange is a well-known British guitar amplifier company. In addition to them, the company also produces guitar effects pedals. And now, we will talk about one of them – the Orange Fur Coat. As you can guess from the name, this unit is also inspired by the legendary vintage Foxx Tone Machine pedal.
In general, the pedal has a rather attractive design, as it depicts a girl with a skeleton and, in fact, a fur coating. You’ll also find a sufficient number of controls and a barrier separating the button zone from the knob zone. Let’s try to understand all the features of this unit.
Key Features:
- Octave Effect
Like the original pedal, this unit also has an octave effect – you can turn it on using a special button. Moreover, there is a separate control that determines the amount of the effect. It will give you a more screaming guitar tone, which can even be quite aggressive. - Choose Fuzz Amount
The control of the same name, located in the upper right part of the pedal, is responsible for the amount of fuzz effect. Thanks to it, you can make the sound more compressed and massive. And, of course, you can compensate for the output signal using the Volume control. - Adjust Your EQ
Another great bonus of this pedal is the presence of an EQ control. It’s quite easy to use because it’s just one knob on the pedal’s left side. It has a fairly good response, making the sound either dark or bright and prominent.
Pros:
Orange Fur Coat is a great fuzz pedal from a well-known manufacturer of guitar and bass amplifiers. It is designed in the likeness of the vintage Foxx Tone Machine unit and reproduces its sound quality quite well – it gives a big sound. You can add octave and have all the other features to fine-tune your guitar tone in more detail.
Cons:
Some users note that the pedal is quite noisy. Also, its size is slightly larger than other similar units.
8. JHS Pedals Muffuletta Fuzz/Distortion
The Muffuletta by JHS Pedals is the right choice if you want different flavors of Big Muff in one pedal.
The Big Muff pedal can easily be considered legendary. Electro-Harmonix created it in the 60s; since then, it has gone through many different reincarnations. But what if we told you you could have several Big Muff flavors in just one unit? And they are completely analog without modulations. That’s what the Muffuletta unit by JHS Pedals is.
In general, this pedal is quite restrained and straightforward. The main weather here is created by a special switch, thanks to which you can choose different variations of the Big Muff. And, of course, once you’ve done that, you’ll have a few more controls to shape your guitar tone in more detail. Let’s take a look at the features.
Key Features:
- 6 Different Big Muffs
A special knob allows you to switch between six pedal variations. All of them are marked with different icons. For example, there are such options as ’73 Rams Head, Triangle Muff, Pi V3, Russian Muff, Civil War, and JHS Mode. The latter is the company’s take on the Big Muff sound. - Adjust The Tone
Another great feature of this pedal is the Tone control, which allows you to adjust the guitar tone in terms of frequencies. Thus, you can make it dark or bright. All modes have different sound characteristics, so this control will definitely come in handy. - Sustain Control
This pedal also has a Sustain control, thanks to which you can adjust the amount of fuzz. In other words, it’s your gain control. Next is another Volume knob that will help you balance the output signal from the pedal.
Pros:
JHS Pedals Muffuletta will be a great choice if you don’t know which Big Muff to choose. That’s because it gives you as many as six pedals in one box. This unit is quite easy to use, with only a few controls. The sound also deserves compliments because the creators of this pedal have accurately reproduced the characteristics of the originals.
Cons:
This pedal is quite expensive and costs over $260. But this is not surprising because it is an all-in-one unit. In addition, there is no power supply from a battery.
9. EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz
The Hoof V2 from EarthQuaker Devices is a versatile pedal that will give you a monstrous fuzz.
EarthQuaker Devices is a well-known guitar effects pedal manufacturer in Akron, Ohio. They make units with very cool artistic designs, and as for their types, there’s everything from overdrives, distortion, compressors, boosters, EQ, and much more. However, now we’re going to talk about fuzz.
The Russian Big Muff inspires the Hoof pedal. In general, it’s a hybrid fuzz that combines germanium and silicon circuitry. And, of course, this unit is completely analog. Its main feature is the ability to adjust the frequency spectrum of the guitar tone more accurately. But let’s talk about it in more detail.
Key Features:
- Shift Your Frequency
It’s worth noting that this fuzz offers a Shift control along with other standard features. Thanks to it, you can adjust the midrange, which is especially useful if you need to fine-tune your guitar tone. - Dark or Bright
Of course, you’ll have even more tonal options here, as you’ll also have the standard Tone control. With this control alone, you can make the effect sound more expressive, or vice versa, giving it more emphasis in the low frequencies. - Fuzz Amount
Another important control here is Fuzz, which allows you to determine the amount of effect. In general, you can make it quite extreme without losing the definition of the notes. It is one of the main things that makes this pedal great.
Pros:
The Hoof Hybrid Fuzz is a high-quality pedal from EarthQuaker Devices, made in the United States. It can be characterized as a modern fuzz but with a preserved old-school flavor. The unit is quite versatile because you can get both a huge effect and a fairly tight one – it depends on the selected settings.
Cons:
This pedal is quite expensive and costs about $230. Apart from that, we don’t see any other nuances that can be considered disadvantages of this product.
10. Keeley Electronics Fuzz Bender
The Fuzz Bender pedal by Keeley Electronics is perfect if you want to seek out your sound.
Keeley Electronics is a guitar pedal company founded by American engineer Robert Keeley in Oklahoma. Their assortment includes enough units for every taste: compressors, distortion, overdrives, delays and echoes, reverbs, choruses, and more. But let’s take a look at the company’s fuzz product.
The Fuzz Bender is a pedal that will give you a wide range of tonal diversity. That’s because it’s a hybrid pedal that combines high-gain silicon and germanium. In addition, a pretty cool fact is that you get two-band EQ. Let’s move on to a more detailed look at the features.
Key Features:
- Set The Bias
This unit’s most important feature is the Bias control‘s presence. Thanks to it, you can choose between a smoother germanium fuzz and an aggressive high-gain silicon. The latter can be classified as a type of so-called gated fuzz. The great thing is that you can blend these two types. - Two-Band EQ
In addition to this, instead of a single tone control, you will have a two-band EQ, which includes Bass and Treble controls. It is an active equalizer that has up to 20 dB of boost. So, it will give you enough headroom and opportunities to influence the frequency spectrum of the guitar tone. - Fuzz and Level
Other important settings here are Fuzz and Level. With the former, you can dial the amount of effect, how much the sound is compressed and saturated. Of course, if you add a lot of gain, you’ll need to compensate for the signal, and the Level control will come in handy for that.
Pros:
If you want a tool that will allow you to get a wide variety of fuzz sounds, then the Fuzz Bender pedal from Keeley Electronics is for you. Thanks to the Bias and two-band EQ controls, it has plenty of tonal possibilities. Also, this unit generally has a fairly high build quality and sound. As for the price, it is relatively moderate and costs about $160.
Cons:
A battery does not power the pedal. In addition, it’s not a good choice if you want something straightforward and prefer to avoid digging into the tone of your guitar for a long time.
11. Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz MKIIS
The Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz MKIIS pedal by Way Huge will come in handy if you need to choose from various tones.
Way Huge is a pretty cool name for a guitar pedal company. In case you didn’t know, this brand is part of the Dunlop company. Therefore, their pedals can be called quite high quality. Plus, they offer quite a few tonal possibilities. Now we will discuss one of them – the Swollen Pickle MK IIS.
This pedal is green and has additional controls along with the main ones. Moreover, two more small knobs are hidden inside the unit, which is especially useful for those who like to tweak the sound. Let’s move on to examine the pedal’s features.
Key Features:
- Loudness & Sustain
Loudness and Sustain are the two biggest knobs on this pedal. They’re self-explanatory: the first one controls the pedal’s volume. As for the second one, you can use it as a gain control to add or reduce the amount of effect. - Adjust The Filter
As for the Filter control, it acts as a tilt EQ. Accordingly, in the leftmost position, you will get a maximum of low frequencies and a minimum of high frequencies. And vice versa – in the right position, your sound will be full of high frequencies with a minimum of lows. - Scoop And Crunch
The great thing is that, unlike most similar pedals, you’ll also have two additional Scoop and Crunch controls. The first one will allow you to remove the midrange and quite radically. The second will allow you to add extra grit. - Internal Trim Pots
If you want to customize the pedal’s sound further, you can do so with another pair of additional controls. But they are located inside the pedal – Clip and Voice. They change the nature of the two settings described above – Scoop and Crunch.
Pros:
The main advantage of the Swollen Pickle MK IIS pedal is its versatility. Thanks to many controls, you can customize almost any fuzz sound: from small and subtle to huge. This pedal will generally appeal to those who like to dive into sound experiments and look for their own guitar tone. As for the price of the unit, it is moderate and amounts to $160.
Cons:
Two additional controls for this pedal are located under its rear cover. Some users note that taking it off is inconvenient every time you want to change the sound. Other than that, we don’t see any other drawbacks.
12. Boss FZ-1W Fuzz
The Boss FZ-1W pedal gives you a straightforward interface and two operation modes.
Boss needs no introduction, as it’s one of the most popular brands of guitar pedals. Now we will discuss the FZ-1W Fuzz, which belongs to the Waza series, manufactured in Japan. But while most of these units are reincarnations of old ones, this pedal has a completely new circuit with a silicon transistor.
This pedal is quite straightforward, as it has only three standard controls. Nevertheless, you will have a switch between modes, which adds to its versatility. It’s like two pedals in one. Let’s talk about its features in more detail.
Key Features:
- Level & Fuzz
At the top of the pedal, you’ll see two main Level and Fuzz controls. As for the latter, the range of effects here is quite large: you can get a very slight fuzz, which can even serve as a boost, and quite extreme and compressed. Of course, it depends on the pickups, but the noise level here is quite low. - Responsible Tone Control
The Tone control of this pedal has a cool response to the signal. It acts quite linearly, like a tilt EQ. It is worth noting that even in the extreme position, the sound will not be such that it causes blood from the ears. - Vintage or Modern
The switch between Vintage and Modern modes is a very cool feature of the pedal. Both of them sound quite decent. As for the difference, Modern has a greater emphasis on midrange frequencies.
Pros:
The FZ-1W pedal is a great reinterpretation of the Boss fuzz. The pedal has a good sound and an easy-to-use interface. Plus, switching between Classic and Modern modes gives you more versatility. Also of particular note are the Fuzz and Tone controls, which have a smooth and linear operation.
Cons:
The price of this unit is slightly higher than the average category and is approximately $180. Apart from that, we don’t see any other nuances that can be considered disadvantages.
13. Fender Hammertone Fuzz
If you want a classic dirty fuzz at an affordable price, then you should check out the Hammertone Fuzz by Fender.
The next item on our list is a Fender Hammertone pedal. The main feature of this line is that the units are relatively affordable. The series has nine units: reverb, delay, chorus, distortion, overdrive, and more. Now we’ll focus on the fuzz.
Like most of the pedals in the Fender Hammertone line, the Fuzz has a rather restrained design, made in a metal body. You will find the main controls here, but a nice bonus is the presence of an octave effect. Let’s talk about it in more detail.
Key Features:
- Add Some Fuzz
Dual silicon diodes create the effect of this pedal. You can adjust the amount of clipping thanks to the Fuzz knob. Here you can achieve both a very subtle effect and a very dirty one. - Tone Adjustment
Of course, you’ll also have a Tone knob, which serves as a single EQ knob. It should be noted that the effect of this pedal is quite dark, so you may want to add a lot of high frequencies. - An Octave Effect
You will also find a small Octave switch on the front panel of this pedal. As with some other classic fuzzes, it will add an octave effect. It should be said that its sound is similar to a synth. - Hidden Trim Pot
Only a few know, but this pedal has another hidden control. It is a small trim pot that controls the high frequencies. It is a pretty good bonus, considering that this pedal sounds quite dark in the first place.
Pros:
The main advantage of the Hammertone Fuzz is its price, as you can find it for around $65. And the good news is that this is not a cheap unit from Amazon but a pedal from Fender. You’ll get a good classic fuzz that can be either mellow or aggressive. You’ll also have all the necessary controls, an octave effect, and a treble trim pot hidden inside, which will add versatility.
Cons:
Some users don’t like the relatively rough design of this pedal, but this is subjective. Overall, we don’t see any drawbacks here, especially considering the price of this unit.
Ilarion Ivanenko is a remote mixing and mastering engineer from Ukraine, a musician with more than 15 years of experience. Specializes in rock, metal, progressive and the other genres. He can’t imagine his life without music, as it is the biggest passion in his life