The Acorn Amplifiers Kakarot Fuzz is a two-transistor fuzz pedal whose single Fuzz control sweeps across a wide range of gain: Acorn describes it as moving from a slight gritty boost all the way to wily fuzz crunch, covering overdrive, distortion and fuzz tones with the turn of one knob1. It sits in the maker's fuzz line alongside pedals like the Mind Killer dual distortion, and it is hand built in Atlanta, Georgia, listed at $149.00 USD as of 26 October 20261.
How the circuit works
The Kakarot Fuzz is a hybrid fuzz circuit: one germanium transistor feeds into one silicon transistor, and a pair of LEDs at the tail end of the circuit provides boosted clipping1. Germanium and silicon transistors respond differently to gain, which is why hybrid two-transistor fuzzes can cover a broader sweep of tones than a single-stage design. Acorn's own description puts that sweep in the Fuzz knob: "Fuzz control sweeps between slight gritty boost all the way to wily fuzz crunch"1.
Guitar Pedal X, covering the pedal in its 2022 selection of mini fuzz pedals, described it as Acorn Amps rebooting its hybrid two-transistor Circuit Fuzz as a manga-inspired Kakarot Fuzz with an added LED clipping stage2.
Kakarot Fuzz vs the Circuit Fuzz
The Kakarot Fuzz is a similar effect to Acorn's Circuit Fuzz, with one addition: an extra clipping section featuring a pair of LEDs at the tail end of the circuit1. That LED stage is the difference between the two pedals; the core two-transistor hybrid circuit carries over.
Controls, power and build
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fuzz knob | Sweeps between slight gritty boost and wily fuzz crunch, covering overdrive, distortion and fuzz tones1 |
| Bypass | True bypass1 |
| Power | Standard 9 VDC pedal power, less than 30mA1 |
| Jacks | Top-mount Switchcraft1 |
| Footswitch | Robust latching1 |
| Enclosure | 125B aluminum1 |
Acorn lists the Kakarot Fuzz as powered by standard 9 VDC pedal power with no battery option mentioned, and it draws less than 30mA. A standard isolated pedalboard supply output covers it1.
The pedal is hand built and hand wired from start to finish in Atlanta, GA, which Acorn sums up as the work of "obsessive compulsive pedal nerds"1. The 125B aluminum enclosure and top-mount Switchcraft jacks are aimed at pedalboard use, with the jacks and power on top to keep the footprint tight1.
Videos
PedaiseEfeitos
Questions
Is the Acorn Kakarot Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Acorn Amplifiers specifies true bypass switching, with a robust latching footswitch on top of the pedal. It runs on standard 9 VDC pedal power and draws less than 30mA of current, so it fits a normal pedalboard power setup.
What transistors does the Kakarot Fuzz use?
The Kakarot Fuzz is a two-transistor fuzz pedal using one silicon transistor and one hand-picked NOS (new old stock) germanium transistor. The germanium stage feeds into the silicon stage, and a pair of LEDs at the tail end of the circuit adds boosted clipping.
How is the Kakarot Fuzz different from the Circuit Fuzz?
Acorn describes the Kakarot Fuzz as a similar effect to the Circuit Fuzz, but with an additional clipping section added: a pair of LEDs at the tail end of the circuit for boosted clipping. Guitar Pedal X described it as Acorn Amps rebooting its hybrid two-transistor Circuit Fuzz as the manga-inspired Kakarot Fuzz with added LED clipping.
Where is the Acorn Kakarot Fuzz made?
Acorn Amplifiers builds the Kakarot Fuzz by hand in Atlanta, Georgia. The maker says each pedal is hand built and hand wired from start to finish.
What power does the Kakarot Fuzz need?
The Kakarot Fuzz runs on standard 9 VDC pedal power and consumes less than 30mA of current. Acorn does not list a battery option, so plan on a pedalboard power supply.
Sources (2)
- Kakarot Fuzz, Acorn Amplifiers
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-04-26
