Rotosound's pedal range is discontinued. The company's own product pages mark every pedal, including the RFB1 fuzz reissue, as discontinued, while the string business continues.
From string maker to pedal maker
Rotosound's first connection to fuzz was as a name on someone else's circuit. The Tone Bender MK3, the British fuzz design, was supplied as a pedal to various manufacturers including Park, Rotosound and Vox2. Rotosound's own account of the RFB1 says the original prototype pedals were produced alongside Solasound Tonebender fuzzes, and were only ever available in limited numbers, never released for general sale6.
The reissue looked back to the original 1960s prototypes, which were produced alongside Solasound Tonebender fuzzes and were only ever available in limited numbers, never released for general sales76. The new pedals followed the design of the original RFB1 Fuzz and aimed to replicate the sounds of the '60s with their hand-wired build4, and they were produced at the firm's UK factory in Sevenoaks, Kent4. The original 1960s units themselves had only been available in limited numbers at Rotosound's showroom in London's Denmark Street1.
Rotosound describes the reissued pedal as combining "yesterday's mojo and tone flavour with the reliability and stability of today's technology," and notes there is even a picture of Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page playing an original prototype6.
"This is the only original Rotosound fuzz pedal of the era to be reissued."
The John Oram range
Rotosound's new pedal additions joined the existing RFB1 Fuzz to bring the full range up to seven pedals4. The new pedals followed the design of the original RFB1 Fuzz and aimed to replicate the sounds of the '60s with their hand-wired build4. The range came out of a collaboration: Rotosound teamed up with electronics guru John Oram for the new range of effects, including the King Henry phaser8, and Oram is credited by name on the Pusher as a designer "of VOX & TRIDENT history"8.
| Pedal | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RFB1 | Fuzz reissue | Reissue of the 1960s prototype fuzz, germanium transistors67 |
| Wobbler | Tremolo | True bypass9 |
| King Henry | Phaser | True bypass10 |
| Pusher | Compressor | Vintage style, designed by John Oram8 |
| Crusader | Overdrive/distortion | True bypass11 |
| Aftermath | Delay | Analog delay5 |
| Leveller | EQ | Console style EQ pedal3 |
Every pedal in the range was hand-wired in England512131081193, and every product page lists true bypass switching512131081193.
Founder James How and the designers
The Rotosound company was founded by James How during the 1950s1. The pedal range's circuits came from John Oram, whose engineering background is with VOX and Trident8. The 1960s fuzz prototypes that started it all were produced alongside the Solasound Tonebender6714.
Discontinued and limited models
The whole pedal range is now discontinued. Rotosound's product pages mark the RFB1, Wobbler, King Henry, Pusher, Crusader, Aftermath and Leveller all as discontinued610811953. The original 1960s fuzz prototypes were themselves limited, only ever available in limited numbers and never released for general sales6, and the original Germanium Fuzz units were only ever available in limited numbers at Rotosound's showroom in London's Denmark Street1.
The company itself continues. Rotosound still produces its strings at its UK factory in Sevenoaks, Kent1, with Jason How as its present-day chairman1.
The range (15)
Questions
Are Rotosound pedals true bypass?
Yes. Rotosound's own product pages list true bypass switching on the RFB1 fuzz reissue and on the Wobbler, King Henry, Pusher, Crusader, Leveller and Aftermath pedals. The RFB1 reissue was also announced with true bypass switching when it launched in 2012.
Who designed the Rotosound pedals?
The pedal range was designed with John Oram, an engineer with VOX and Trident history. Rotosound's own page for the Pusher compressor credits him by name, and the company's story says the 2014 range of six new circuits was designed with him and built at the Sevenoaks factory.
Where are Rotosound pedals made?
All of the pedals were hand-wired in England. The RFB1 fuzz reissue and the wider range were manufactured at Rotosound's factory in Sevenoaks, Kent, the premises the company has occupied since 1986 and still uses as its headquarters.
How much do Rotosound pedals cost?
The one published price in the company's history is for the RFB1 fuzz reissue: £250, or $379, when it shipped in late 2012. Rotosound's product pages no longer carry prices for the rest of the range, which is discontinued.
Is the Rotosound Vintage Fuzz a reissue?
Yes. The RFB1 is a reissue of Rotosound's original 1960s fuzz pedal, using the original circuit configuration with modern resistors and capacitors and vintage germanium transistor stock. Rotosound calls it the only original Rotosound fuzz of the era to be reissued.
Are Rotosound pedals still made?
No. Rotosound's product pages mark the RFB1, Wobbler, King Henry, Pusher, Crusader, Leveller and Aftermath as discontinued. The company continues as a string maker and distributor, but its pedal range is no longer in production.
Sources (14)
- The fascinating story of Great Britain's Rotosound Music Strings, Rotosound
- Tone Bender History, British Pedal Company
- Leveller, Rotosound, 2025-02-20
- Rotosound rolls out six new pedals, MusicRadar, 2013-07-17
- Aftermath, Rotosound, 2025-02-20
- RFB1 Rotosound 'Fuzz' Guitar Effects Pedal • Rotosound Music Strings, Rotosound, 2025-06-27
- Rotosound Reissues Vintage Fuzz Pedal Using 1960s Circuit Configuration, Guitar World, 2012-08-30
- Pusher | Compressor Guitar Effects Pedal • Rotosound Music Strings, Rotosound, 2025-02-20
- Wobbler | Tremolo Guitar Effects Pedal • Rotosound Music Strings, Rotosound, 2025-02-20
- King Henry, Rotosound, 2025-02-20
- Crusader, Rotosound, 2025-02-20
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-02-21
- Rotosound Introduce Six New Effects Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-07-08
- Rotosound Re-invent Legendary Vintage Fuzz Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-08-31