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News › July 15, 2025

News

Fredric Effects announces Silicon Harmonic Percolator

July 15, 2025 · 4 sources

Fredric Effects has announced the Silicon Harmonic Percolator, a modified version of its Harmonic Percolator circuit that swaps the original germanium components for vintage silicon transistors from 1980s East Germany12.

The maker says the pedal uses silicon transistors manufactured 40 years ago in the former East Germany and clips the signal with an East German diode array3. Fredric Effects has built a part-for-part clone of the original 1970s Interfax Harmonic Percolator for over a decade, and an improved version of that hybrid silicon/germanium circuit as the Utility Perkolator for almost as long32.

"This modified version uses only silicon transistors manufactured 40 years ago in former East Germany, and clips the signal using a weirdo East German diode array. This results is an effect which tightens and focuses the sound of the Percolator. The Silicon Harmonic Percolator sits somewhere between fuzz and distortion - clearer and more defined than a traditional fuzz, but still wild and saturated when pushed. It’s a distinctive evolution of a cult classic."
Tim of Fredric Effects, quoted by Guitar Pedal X4

The accounts of the controls differ. Delicious Audio lists Volume, Harmonics (tone shaping) and Drive knobs1. Guitar Pedal X lists Gain, Volume and a Diode On/Off control, and says clipping off gives more volume, warmth and an open fuzz, while clipping on produces a tighter, more defined sound4. Delicious Audio describes a raw, articulate distortion with enhanced midrange presence and tighter low-end response than the original hybrid design, and says the all-silicon build delivers stable performance across temperature changes1. Guitar Pedal X describes a backlit viewing port and says the pedal had been on soft release for a while before its official launch4.

No US price was given in the available material.

Sources (4)
  1. New Pedal: Fredric Effects Silicon Harmonic Percolator | Delicious Audio, delicious-audio.com
  2. Fredric Effects Silicon Harmonic Perc - Premier Guitar, premierguitar.com
  3. Silicon Harmonic Percolator, fredric.co.uk
  4. Guitar Pedal X - GPX Blog - Fredric Effects officially launches its superb 1980's Specially Selected East-German Components Silicon Harmonic Percolator - with a backlit viewing port to admire those superior electronics, guitarpedalx.com