The line spans several tiers: the affordable Vexter Series with printed artwork, hand-painted and custom-designed pedals, and ZVEX Synth Modules for modular synthesizers7. Circuits cover fuzz, distortion, boost, octave, tremolo, looping, and more, including the Box of Rock, Machine, Octane 3, and Woolly Mammoth for bass.
The story: Minneapolis pedals and amps since the mid-1990s
ZVex describes itself plainly: "ZVEX makes effects pedals and amps for guitar and bass and we've been at it since 1995"8. The company operates out of Minneapolis, with manufacturing at a dock in nearby St. Louis Park8. Its own summary of the line is "a unique blend" running "from our affordable Vexter series to our hand painted and custom designed items"8.
The artist roster on ZVex's site includes My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields, who "owns and uses various ZVEX pedals"10.
Known for the Fuzz Factory
The Fuzz Factory is the pedal the brand is identified with, a germanium-transistor fuzz with five knobs12. It has spawned a large family: the Fat Fuzz Factory, the Fuzz Factory 7 with hand-painted enclosure, the Silicon Fuzz Factory, which ZVex calls "an aggressive, temperature stable pedal," the Fuzz Probe, and the compact Fuzzolo13.
The Fuzz Factory debuted in 1995 and was one of the first pedals to purposely use feedback-loop-style self-oscillation14. It is considered one of the most influential fuzz pedals, built around a five-knob design, and its designer, Zachary Vex, "really struck gold with this fuzz circuit"15.
One Fuzz Factory variant, the Reverse Fuzz Factory, cannot be daisy-chained with other pedals on a shared power supply, according to ZVex16.
From Vexter series to hand-painted pedals
Most ZVex circuits come in two finishes, and the maker is explicit that the electronics do not change between them: "The parts inside Vexters are identical to the hand painted pedals"17.
| Vexter Series | Hand-painted | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | UV printed or silk-screened artwork18 | Painted by hand, colors and details vary181920 |
| Price | Lower priced212223 | Higher tier |
| Parts | Identical to hand-painted pedals17 | Identical to Vexter pedals17 |
| Warranty | Not covered by the hand-painted lifetime warranty | Lifetime warranty24 |
Hand-painted units are sold both as standard production pedals and as one-of-a-kind pieces through the custom store, painted by artists such as Daniel Buettner and Lisa McGrath (LJM)2526.
Zachary Vex and the crew
The company carries its founder's name, Zachary Vex, in the ZVEX initials. The maker's own pages describe the crew only in terms of the work: pedals and amps for guitar and bass, built in St. Louis Park since 19958. Painters such as Daniel Buettner and Lisa McGrath (LJM) are named on the one-of-a-kind custom-store pedals2526.
Collaborations and limited editions
ZVex has a long run of limited editions and collaborations, many built around the Fuzz Factory circuit272829:
- Chase Bliss Audio collaboration: ZVex Effects and Chase Bliss Audio have confirmed a partnership on a brand-new stompbox, described as a limited edition3031.
- Full Of Hell Fuzz Factory: a limited edition version of the classic fuzz pedal made with the band29.
- Fuzz Factory 20th Anniversary Limited Edition: a limited edition of 25 pedals32.
- Fuzz Factory Clear: a limited run of Fuzz Factory pedals with transparent enclosures crafted from a durable Lexan material.
- Woolly Mammoth (Screaming Females limited run): a limited run of Woolly Mammoth pedals featuring Marissa Paternoster's original artwork.
- One-of-a-kind hand-painted pedals: the Octane 3 E006 and the Machine 51-60, each a one-of-a-kind hand painted pedal by Lisa McGrath (LJM)2633.
- Other limited runs: the Super Duper Concert Bass Mod, sold as a limited edition, and a very limited edition Lofi Looper pedal.
On the Fuzz Factory 7, ZVex notes that "colors and details may vary" on hand-painted pedals34.
Support, warranty, and repairs
Hand-painted pedals carry a lifetime warranty, a term repeated across the maker's product pages24. For service, ZVex directs players to its repairs page or to repairs@zvex.com for repairs, technical help, or replacement parts; sales@zvex.com handles orders, marketing, and international shipping; and modular@zvex.com handles ZVEX Synth Modules questions. The company also lists a phone number, 952-922-83208.
The range (55)
News
Questions
Where are ZVex pedals made?
ZVex is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a PO Box mailing address there and manufacturing at 4301 HW7 Dock 3 in St. Louis Park, United States. The company has described itself as making effects pedals and amps for guitar and bass since 1995.
What is the difference between ZVex Vexter and hand-painted pedals?
Vexter Series pedals are the lower-priced line, finished with UV printed or silk-screened artwork instead of paint. According to ZVex, the parts inside Vexters are identical to the hand-painted pedals, so the circuit and sound are the same. Hand-painted pedals carry a lifetime warranty and each one varies in color and detail.
Do ZVex pedals have a lifetime warranty?
Hand-painted ZVex pedals include a lifetime warranty, and the maker notes that colors and details may vary from unit to unit. Vexter Series pedals, the printed-artwork line, are sold at a lower price and are not covered by the hand-painted lifetime warranty terms.
How do I get a ZVex pedal repaired?
ZVex points players with repairs, technical help, or replacement-part needs to its repairs page or to repairs@zvex.com. Other contacts include sales@zvex.com for orders, marketing, and international shipping, and modular@zvex.com for ZVEX Synth Modules questions. The company also lists a phone number, 952-922-8320.
What was the Bliss Factory?
The Bliss Factory was a collaboration between ZVex and Chase Bliss Audio, a souped-up Fuzz Factory with digital control and a resonant lowpass filter. It was limited to 1000 units, tied to Reverb's The Pedal Movie, and sold exclusively through Reverb.com at $399.
Can I order a ZVex pedal with custom artwork?
ZVex sells one-of-a-kind hand-painted pedals through its custom store, including Fuzz Factory, Box of Rock, Octane 3, and Machine units painted by artists such as Daniel Buettner and Lisa McGrath (LJM). Because each is one of a kind, colors and details vary and availability depends on what is listed at the time.
Does ZVex make synth modules?
Yes. Alongside its Vexter series and hand-painted and custom-designed pedals, ZVex offers ZVEX Synth Modules, its modular synth line. Questions about the synth modules are handled through a dedicated contact, modular@zvex.com.
Sources (34)
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