The Acorn Amplifiers F#%k Face is a fuzz pedal built on a Fuzz Face-style circuit with an extra gain stage added, making it a triple gain stage design. It keeps the classic two-knob layout of Fuzz and Level, switches with a true bypass footswitch, and wears enclosure artwork based on an infamous 1989 Billy Ripken baseball card. It was released on April 1st, 2021 at $139.12
What it is and how it differs from a Fuzz Face
A Fuzz Face is one of the most copied fuzz circuits, typically a simple two-knob design. The F#%k Face starts from that circuit but adds an additional gain stage. GuitarPlayer's Jackson Maxwell described it as "the triple-gain stage pedal... based on a Fuzz Face," and noted that Acorn Amplifiers called it "far from your typical fuzz unit."1
Premier Guitar summed up the design the same way: "The circuit is based on a legendary fuzz with a different face, but with an additional gain stage." The publication described the pedal as "a triple gain stage fuzz with thick and meaty sustain that sounds huge in front of a slightly cranked" amp.2
According to Acorn, the extra stage changes the character of the fuzz: "With an additional gain stage," the maker said, "The F#%k Face is voiced to retain more full-bodied, usable, and dynamic fuzz tones" along the sweep of the two controls.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the amount of fuzz distortion |
| Level | Sets the output volume |
| Footswitch | On/off true bypass switching |
Premier Guitar lists the Level and Fuzz controls as dynamic, in keeping with the touch-responsive character players expect from this style of fuzz.2
The artwork
The enclosure carries graphics based on an infamous 1989 Billy Ripken baseball card, the well-known "error card." Premier Guitar describes the pedal as pairing "iconic baseball 'error card' graphics" with "a fresh take of a legendary fuzz circuit."12
Release and availability
The F#%k Face became available on April 1st, 2021 through AcornAmps.com and select dealers, priced at $139.00.12
Coverage of the F#%k Face dates from its 2021 release. Acorn Amplifiers has since released other fuzz designs, including the TMA-1, the Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz and the Huge Vagina Muff Fuzz, so current availability of the F#%k Face may differ from its launch status.
For more circuits in the same family, see the site's guide to Fuzz Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Acorn Amplifiers F#%k Face true bypass?
Yes. The pedal has an on/off true bypass footswitch, so when it is switched off your guitar's signal passes through the pedal without going through the fuzz circuit. Both GuitarPlayer and Premier Guitar list true bypass switching in their coverage of the pedal's features.
What was the launch price of the F#%k Face?
The F#%k Face launched at $139. GuitarPlayer reported it as available for $139 when the pedal was announced, and Premier Guitar listed it at $139.00 ahead of its April 1st, 2021 release through AcornAmps.com and select dealers.
What is the artwork on the F#%k Face based on?
The enclosure artwork is based on an infamous 1989 Billy Ripken baseball card. Premier Guitar describes the pedal's graphics as iconic baseball 'error card' artwork recreated on top of the fuzz circuit, and GuitarPlayer points to the same 1989 card as the source of the image.
Is the F#%k Face a Fuzz Face clone?
Not exactly. The circuit is based on a Fuzz Face, but Acorn added an additional gain stage, making it a triple gain stage fuzz. According to the maker, that extra stage is voiced to retain fuller-bodied, more usable and more dynamic fuzz tones across the sweep of the two controls.
How many controls does the F#%k Face have?
Two. The pedal has a Fuzz control and a Level control, described by Premier Guitar as dynamic Level and Fuzz controls, plus an on/off true bypass footswitch. That is the same two-knob layout as the classic Fuzz Face circuit it is based on.
Sources (2)
- Acorn Amplifiers Unveils New F#%k Face Fuzz Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-04-01
- Acorn Amps Reveals the F#%k Face Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-30
