The Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Acorn Amps, built around three silicon transistors. The maker describes it plainly as "a real fuzz pedal," and says it is sonically similar to the company's now discontinued Bweep Fuzz1. Guitar.com reported the pedal's unveiling in February 2024, noting it was on pre-order at the time with shipping beginning 18 March2.
Controls
The pedal keeps things to two knobs, each given a name that fits the pedal's theme12:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Erase Footage | Controls the overall signal volume of the effect1 |
| Fuzzy Recollection | Controls the amount of fuzz, sweeping between slightly gritty boost all the way to heavy fuzz crunch1 |
The Fuzzy Recollection control is the gain stage of the pedal in practice: at the low end it works as a slightly gritty boost, and turned up it delivers what the maker calls heavy fuzz crunch1. Erase Footage sets the overall output level1.
Neon lighting and artwork
The pedal's face carries a drawing of Jeffrey Epstein, and it is fitted with neon lighting that activates when the fuzz is engaged. Guitar.com describes what happens: a glowing "N'T" appears alongside the word "DID", changing the wording to "EPSTEIN DIDN'T KILL HIMSELF", and a pair of red devil horns appear above the previously inconspicuous drawing2. It is a visual gag built into the pedal's operation rather than a separate switch or mode.
Power and bypass
Acorn Amps specifies true bypass and 9VDC pedal power, with the circuit consuming less than 30mA of current1. Guitar.com's report gives the same figures2. A draw under 30mA is modest by the standards of modern pedals, so the Epstein fits comfortably on a board powered by a standard multi-output supply alongside other 9V pedals.
The maker lists 9VDC pedal power and does not mention a battery option, so plan on a 9VDC supply with a standard center-negative connection.
Price and availability
Acorn Amps lists the pedal at $125.00 USD on its product page1. That matches the $125 price Guitar.com reported at the February 2024 announcement, when the pedal was on pre-order with shipping set to begin 18 March2.
How it relates to the Bweep Fuzz
Acorn Amps states that the Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz is "sonically similar to our now discontinued Bweep Fuzz"1. The Bweep is no longer in production, so this pedal stands as the maker's current offering in that vein rather than a straight reissue. Players comparing it with the rest of the Acorn range will find the company has built several fuzzes over the years, including the TMA-1 Fuzz and the F#%k Face, each with its own circuit approach.
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Questions
What does the Acorn Amps Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz sound like?
Acorn Amps describes the Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz as a real fuzz pedal, and says it is sonically similar to the company's now discontinued Bweep Fuzz. Its Fuzzy Recollection knob sweeps the amount of fuzz from a slightly gritty boost all the way to heavy fuzz crunch, so the pedal covers a range from light grit to full fuzz depending on where the knob is set.
Does it use silicon or germanium transistors?
It uses silicon transistors. Both Acorn Amps' product page and Guitar.com's news report describe the pedal as a three-transistor silicon fuzz. Silicon fuzz designs are generally less sensitive to temperature than germanium ones, though the maker does not go into circuit detail beyond the transistor count and type.
What power supply does it need?
The pedal runs on 9VDC pedal power and consumes less than 30mA of current, according to Acorn Amps. That is a light enough draw for a standard pedalboard power supply, and the maker also lists true bypass. No battery option is mentioned by the maker.
How much does it cost?
Acorn Amps lists the Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz at $125.00 USD on its product page. Guitar.com reported the same $125 price when the pedal was announced in February 2024, so the price has stayed consistent between the announcement and the maker's current listing.
How does it relate to the Acorn Bweep Fuzz?
Acorn Amps says the Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz is sonically similar to its now discontinued Bweep Fuzz. In other words, the Bweep is no longer made, and this pedal is the maker's current take on that kind of fuzz sound rather than an identical reissue.
Sources (2)
- Epstein Didn't Kill Himself Fuzz Pedal, Acorn Amplifiers
- Acorn Amps reveals the Epstein Didn’t Kill Himself Fuzz, Guitar.com, 2024-02-22
