The Acorn Amplifiers F#%k Face is a fuzz pedal from Acorn Amps built around a familiar idea with one addition: it takes a circuit based on the Fuzz Face and adds a third gain stage. Premier Guitar described it as "a triple gain stage fuzz with thick and meaty sustain that sounds huge in front of a slightly cranked tube amp"1. GuitarPlayer's Jackson Maxwell put it the same way: "Otherwise, the triple-gain stage pedal is based on a Fuzz Face"2.
What it does and how it is controlled
The F#%k Face keeps the control layout simple. It has two knobs, Fuzz and Level, which GuitarPlayer describes as dynamic controls2. Premier Guitar's announcement lists them as "Dynamic 'Level' and 'Fuzz' controls"1. There is no tone knob or extra switching: the character comes from the circuit itself, with the added gain stage doing the work that distinguishes it from a stock Fuzz Face design.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the amount of fuzz distortion2 |
| Level | Sets the pedal's output volume2 |
| Footswitch | On/off true bypass switching2 |
Build and power
Premier Guitar reports the pedal is powered by standard 9V pedal power, so it runs from the same supply as most of a typical board1. The company describes the pedal as assembled entirely with high-quality, audio grade components, with a rugged latching footswitch and metal Switchcraft jacks1. Premier Guitar also notes it is hand built and hand wired from start to finish in Atlanta, GA1.
The published specifications give the voltage as standard 9V pedal power but no current draw figure, so it is worth confirming the draw before running it on a daisy-chained supply alongside other pedals.
The artwork
Part of the pedal's identity is its face. Premier Guitar describes "iconic baseball 'error card' graphics recreated atop a fresh take of a legendary fuzz circuit"1. GuitarPlayer explains the reference: the artwork sports the image of an infamous 1989 Billy Ripken baseball card2. The pedal's name plays on the same card.
Release, price and where it sits in Acorn's range
The F#%k Face was announced by Acorn Amplifiers, with availability through AcornAmps.com1, and GuitarPlayer covered its release in its April 1, 2021 piece on the pedal2. It sits alongside the company's other fuzz offerings, including the TMA-1 fuzz and the Epstein Didn't Kill Himself fuzz, which Acorn brought out in the years around it. Within that range, the F#%k Face is the more conventional proposition: a Fuzz Face base with one extra stage, two knobs and true bypass.
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Questions
Is the Acorn Amps F#%k Face true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's news item lists True Bypass among the pedal's features, and GuitarPlayer describes an on/off true bypass footswitch. That means the pedal takes itself fully out of the signal path when switched off, so your guitar's signal reaches the amp untouched.
What power does the F#%k Face need?
Premier Guitar reports that the pedal is powered by standard 9V pedal power, the same supply most pedals on a board use. The company's published specifications do not give a current draw figure, so check the maker's documentation before sharing a supply with other pedals.
Where is the Acorn Amps F#%k Face made?
Premier Guitar reports that the F#%k Face is hand built and hand wired from start to finish in Atlanta, Georgia. Acorn describes its builds as assembled entirely with high-quality, audio grade components, with a rugged latching footswitch and metal Switchcraft jacks.
How many gain stages does the F#%k Face have?
Three. Both Premier Guitar and GuitarPlayer describe it as a triple gain stage fuzz. GuitarPlayer's Jackson Maxwell notes that otherwise the pedal is based on a Fuzz Face, so the extra stage is what sets it apart from that classic two-transistor design.
How much did the F#%k Face cost at release?
The F#%k Face launched at $139. Premier Guitar gave the price as $139.00 in its March 30, 2021 news item, and GuitarPlayer reported the pedal available now for $139 when it was announced on April 1, 2021.
Sources (2)
- Acorn Amps Reveals the F#%k Face Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-30
- Acorn Amplifiers Unveils New F#%k Face Fuzz Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-04-01
