Beetronics VEZZPA Octave Stinger BLACK FRIDAY Limited Edition

The Beetronics VEZZPA Octave Stinger BLACK FRIDAY Limited Edition is a limited-run octave fuzz pedal, part of the long list of special finishes Beetronics has built around its Vezzpa Octave Stinger circuit. Beetronics describes the pedal as a wasp, "a nasty and aggressive one with an op-amp heart that can produce an extreme high-pitched buzz"¹. It is an op-amp based fuzz with two modes, FUZZZZ and STINGER, and it is now sold out at the maker's store¹.

A high-octave fuzz with an op-amp heart

The Vezzpa Octave Stinger is a two-mode fuzz. On FUZZZZ mode, Beetronics says you get "a big wall of fuzz, great for the coolest riffs and power chords"¹. On STINGER mode, the maker says the pedal "gets aggressive, bringing up the high octave and cutting through the mix"¹. Delicious Audio, writing about the standard Vezzpa, called it "a two-knob, two-mode modern fuzz with a high octave"².

The circuit is built around an op-amp rather than the germanium or silicon transistors of vintage fuzz designs, which is what gives the pedal its high-pitched buzz character in the maker's description¹. Within FUZZZZ mode, the SUSTAIN control shapes the texture: Beetronics says turning it down gives a spitty fuzzing tone, while turning it up gives a gated super high gain fuzz³.

While the pedal was designed for guitar, Beetronics says it can also add unique textures to bass and synth setups⁴.

The controls: FUZZZZ and STINGER modes

The pedal keeps things simple: two knobs and a multi-function switch. The switch is the heart of the pedal's flexibility, since it does two jobs²¹⁵.

The momentary function is what sets the Vezzpa apart from a plain two-mode fuzz. Instead of only latching into STINGER, you can hold the switch to jump to the high-octave sound for a phrase or a single accent, and release it to drop back into the wall of fuzz¹. Beetronics says this gives you multiple options for how the two modes sit in your playing.

Power: 9V, 36mA

The Vezzpa requires a 9V DC power supply with a center negative plug, and the power supply is not included with the pedal¹. Current draw is 36mA¹, which is modest enough that it will run comfortably on most isolated pedalboard power supplies. The same 9V DC center negative requirement and approximately 36mA draw is listed across the other Vezzpa editions⁴.

Size and weight

The maker lists the pedal's weight as 0.5 lbs (0.25 kilos)¹. That is a light pedal, easy to move around a pedalboard or toss in a gig bag. The listings do not give a single figure for the enclosure's dimensions, so players comparing board space should look at the maker's photographs before planning a spot for it.

The Black Friday and other limited editions

Beetronics has released the Vezzpa Octave Stinger in a long series of limited finishes, of which the BLACK FRIDAY Limited Edition is one. Most are now sold out at the maker's store¹⁶³:

• BLACK FRIDAY Limited Edition, sold out¹
• Limited Edition WHITE, sold out⁴
• Limited Edition Redbee, sold out³
• Limited Edition "Memorial", a 10-piece run, sold out⁷
• Limited Edition "Great Pumpkin", sold out⁸
• The Blackbee Edition, sold out⁹
• Limited Edition (Reverb), sold out¹⁰

All of these editions share the same circuit, controls and power requirements; the differences are in the finish. The maker also offers Custom Shop variants of the Vezzpa for players wanting a one-off look⁴.

Beetronics backs its pedals with a 30-Day Hive Happiness Guarantee: shipping is not included, an RMA is required, and a full refund is given if the pedal is returned in new condition in its original packaging¹.

Questions