The Ashdown Pro-FX Vintage Fuzz is an analog fuzz pedal with just two knobs, part of Ashdown's Pro-FX range of stompboxes. It is designed by Dave Green, described by MusicRadar as "the good doctor behind Doctor Green effects who has been with Ashdown since 2006"1. MusicRadar listed it at £75 in the UK1, the same figure Guitar World's reviewer gave2; no US dollar price appears in published coverage.
A simple vintage fuzz with two knobs
This is a deliberately stripped-back fuzz: two knobs and a footswitch, nothing else. Ashdown's own description of the pedal, quoted on RockBoard's PedalPedia, is: "Adding a vintage Fuzz tone to any guitar be it a rich meaty Les Paul or a Tasty Tele our Vintage fuzz will put a smile on your face."3
MusicRadar's verdict on the design suggests the simplicity has more to it than the knob count implies: "A simple design with hidden depths so long as you work your guitar's volume control, the Vintage Fuzz strikes a nice balance between aggro fuzz and sustain"1. In other words, the pedal responds to cleaning up with the guitar's volume knob, a familiar trait of vintage-style fuzz circuits, and the reviewer found it sat between aggressive fuzz and a smoother sustaining character.
The controls
There are only two knobs plus the footswitch, and each does one job12:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Dials in the amount of fuzz, "from a little to a lot"1 |
| Output | Controls the overall output volume1 |
| Bypass footswitch | Switches the effect in and out; true bypass1 |
With no tone or bias control on board, shaping comes from the Fuzz knob, the Output level, and what your guitar and amp contribute. That makes the volume-knob interaction MusicRadar highlighted the main way to vary the character on the fly1.
Enclosure, size and connections
The Pro-FX pedals share a common housing. MusicRadar describes the range as "each housed in a similarly rugged, if under-decorated, enclosure"1, and Guitar World's Trevor Curwen adds that the pedals "each have robust metal casings with four small rubber feet and feature a lit Ashdown logo when active"2. The lit logo doubles as the on/off indicator, since there is no separate LED described.
Connections are a standard input and a standard output1. Guitar World notes a practical pedalboard detail: "The front-facing connections facilitate close side-by-side pedalboard placement."2 With jacks on the front edge rather than the top, pedals can sit closer together, though cables will stick out sideways.
At 73 (w) x 112 (d) x 58mm (h), it is a compact pedal that fits a typical board without fuss1.
Power
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 50mA13. No adaptor is supplied, so you will need your own supply, either a dedicated 9V adaptor or an output on a pedalboard power brick with 50mA or more to spare1.
MusicRadar's specification lists power as a 9V DC adaptor (not supplied) and makes no mention of battery operation1. If you want to run it on a one-spot style daisy chain, the 50mA draw is worth checking against what your supply has left1.
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Questions
Is the Ashdown Pro-FX Vintage Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. MusicRadar's review lists the pedal as true bypass, so when it is switched off your guitar's signal passes through untouched. The switching is handled by the single Bypass footswitch, which also lights the Ashdown logo on the front of the enclosure when the effect is active.
Does the Ashdown Vintage Fuzz run on a battery?
MusicRadar's specification for the pedal lists power as a 9V DC adaptor, which is not supplied with the pedal, and makes no mention of battery operation. If you plan to run it on a pedalboard supply, allow for its 50mA current draw when sizing a output on your power brick.
What power supply does the Ashdown Vintage Fuzz use?
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, drawing 50mA. Ashdown does not supply an adaptor with the pedal, so you will need your own 9V DC supply, either a dedicated adaptor or an output on a pedalboard power supply with enough current to spare.
Where is the Ashdown Pro-FX Vintage Fuzz made?
MusicRadar's review lists the pedal's origin as China. Ashdown is a British company, and the Pro-FX range is its line of stompboxes, but the Vintage Fuzz itself is built in China.
Can the Ashdown Vintage Fuzz be used on bass?
Ashdown, a company best known for bass amplification, describes the pedal as adding a vintage fuzz tone to any guitar, and its maker copy suggests it suits everything from a Les Paul to a Telecaster. The company's background in bass gear makes it a natural candidate for bass players to try.
Sources (3)
- Ashdown Pro-FX Vintage Fuzz review, MusicRadar, 2022-04-19
- Ashdown Pro-FX Vintage Fuzz review, Guitar World, 2021-12-10
- PRO-FX Vintage Fuzz by Ashdown, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
