The Ananashead Main Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Barcelona-based Ananashead Effects, built on the classic Fuzz Face circuit but with far more tonal range than the original design. Premier Guitar announced it in December 2019 as "an all-around fuzz pedal based on the classic Fuzz Face circuit," and the maker describes it as covering "a wide spectrum of tones from the trebly tonebender mk1.5 to the full bass modern fuzzes"1.
Controls
The Main Fuzz carries five knobs plus a mode switch, a layout gearnews.com's reviewer compared to many modern boutique fuzz stompboxes2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Fuzz amount2 |
| Volume | Output level2 |
| Tone | Low-pass tone knob controlling the amount of bass entering the circuit, reaching from the Solasound Tonebender Mk 1.5 to more modern, heavier fuzz tones12 |
| Bias | Affects how much current goes to the transistors, pushing them hard or starving them of juice; on the germanium version it also helps with temperature, and sculpts the signal toward more zippery or more overdriving tones12 |
| Pre-gain | Cleans up the wet signal and makes the pedal more useable with wah pedals, which often do not play naturally with fuzzes2 |
| Mode switch | Alters the voicing of the pedal away from its classic Fuzz Face core tone2 |
The Bias control is worth a second look if you are considering the germanium version. Germanium transistors shift with heat, and Ananashead positions the Bias knob as the practical answer: it "helps with the temperature on the germanium version but it also is useful to sculpt the signal towards more zippery or more overdriving tone"1.
Silicon, germanium or hybrid
The pedal is offered built-to-order in three distinct formats: germanium, silicon or hybrid Si-Ge2. Premier Guitar's announcement lists the same three versions as Silicon, Germanium and Hybrid Si-Ge1. The choice of transistor type is the classic fork in the fuzz road: germanium for the softer, vintage-leaning character, silicon for a harder edge, and the hybrid format mixing both. The Main Fuzz's wide stated range, from the trebly Tonebender Mk 1.5 character to full, bass-heavy modern fuzzes, is what the mode switch, Tone and Bias controls are there to reach12.
The Main Fuzz is a built-to-order pedal, available directly from the Ananashead online store rather than through dealers12.
Build and power
Each pedal is hand-built in Spain2, with shielded inputs and outputs to prevent RF interference, a feature Premier Guitar's announcement also lists12. Power comes from a polarity-protected 9V DC input2, and the pedal draws 3mA1, a small enough draw that it sits easily on any pedalboard supply.
What reviewers said
gearnews.com's reviewer, writing under the name Jef, summed the pedal up as "a dirt box with plenty of options - and all of them pretty filthy," and noted that it is "based on the classic Fuzz Face circuit, but with more tonal options than any vintage fuzz pedal could ever hope to" offer2.
Videos
Ananashead Effects
Questions
What circuit is the Ananashead Main Fuzz based on?
The Main Fuzz is based on the classic Fuzz Face circuit. Premier Guitar described it as an all-around fuzz pedal built on that foundation, and gearnews.com noted that it adds more tonal options than any vintage fuzz pedal could offer, through its Bias, Pre-gain and mode switch controls layered on top of the original design.
What does the Bias knob do on the Main Fuzz?
The Bias control affects how much current goes to the transistors, and can either push them hard or starve them of juice. On the germanium version it also helps with temperature, since germanium transistors are sensitive to heat, and it is useful for sculpting the signal toward more zippery or more overdriving tones.
Does the Main Fuzz work with a wah pedal?
The Pre-gain control is used to clean up the wet signal and makes the pedal more useable with wah pedals, which often do not play well together with fuzzes. Running the Pre-gain lower keeps the signal cleaner going into a wah, so the two can sit on the same board without fighting.
Is the Main Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar lists it with Popless True Bypass switching, and gearnews.com likewise reports that the Main Fuzz comes with true-bypass switching, so the pedal does not load or color your signal when it is switched off.
Where is the Ananashead Main Fuzz made?
The Main Fuzz is hand-made in Barcelona, Spain, by Ananashead Effects. Each pedal is built to order, and buyers purchase directly from the Ananashead online store rather than through a dealer network.
How much does the Ananashead Main Fuzz cost?
The Main Fuzz carried a list price of 110.00 euros when it was announced in December 2019, a figure reported by both Premier Guitar and gearnews.com. Because it is built to order, it is sold directly by Ananashead rather than through retailers.
Sources (2)
- Ananashead Unveils the Main Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2019-12-18
- Ananashead Effects' Main Fuzz: A clever built-to-order pedal inspired by the Fuzz Face, gearnews.com, 2019-12-20