The Big Ear Slice of Pie is a fuzz pedal from Big Ear Pedals that looks like a slice of pizza. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio called it "the world's first ever fuzz pedal made to look just like a slice of pizza… that is also a fuzz pedal!"1 Under the toppings it is a Big Muff Pi-style circuit, so it sits in the same family as the classic fuzz designs players know from Electro-Harmonix1. It came out of a collaboration between Big Ear Pedals, described by Delicious Audio as a "Newyorker company turned Nashvillian," and The Tone Mob podcast12.
Sound and circuit
The Slice of Pie is a Big Muff Pi-style pedal, meaning it follows the circuit layout of Electro-Harmonix's well-known fuzz: a high-gain, sustained distortion sound rather than the spittier character of a boost or a distortion pedal1. Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach described the tone as "a saturated but midrange-forward fuzz tone, with plenty of gain range and volume"2. Delicious Audio put it more colorfully: "And just like a good slice, this fuzz is huge! Like, so big you'll need two paper plates!"1
Its controls are minimal:
- Gain: adjusts the amount of distortion1
Versions: pepperoni and cheese
The pedal was offered in two versions, pepperoni and cheese1. Guitar.com's early coverage described the variations as margherita and pepperoni2. Either way, the difference is only visual: "The two versions differ only in their looks, they sound and taste the same," according to Delicious Audio1, and gearnews.com agreed that "Both the pepperoni and cheese versions of SLICE OF PIE feature the same circuit; The only difference is the toppings!"3
| Version | Circuit | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperoni | Big Muff Pi-style fuzz1 | Looks only1 |
| Cheese | Big Muff Pi-style fuzz1 | Looks only1 |
Power and connections
The Slice of Pie has no battery snap and does not ship with a power adapter. Big Ear Pedals recommends an isolated DC power supply1.
The pedal requires 9VDC with a 2.1mm barrel connector, center negative, and draws 2mA1. gearnews.com described it as running "off a standard 9V DC power adapter"3. At 2mA the current draw is low enough that nearly any pedalboard supply output can handle it, but the lack of a battery snap means it will not run without external power.
The input and output jacks are mounted on the crust, the long edge of the triangular enclosure, and the pedal runs true bypass2. Guitar.com also noted that, just like a real pizza, the Slice of Pie comes in a box2.
Size and build
The enclosure is bent steel, sized at 5.2" x 3.4" x 1.4" (132mm x 85mm x 35mm), and the pedal weighs 11.2 oz1. The triangular, pizza-shaped form factor means it will not slot together like a rectangular pedal on a board, so plan your layout around the crust-mounted jacks32.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Enclosure | Bent steel1 |
| Dimensions | 5.2" x 3.4" x 1.4" (132mm x 85mm x 35mm)1 |
| Weight | 11.2 oz1 |
| Bypass | True bypass2 |
| Power | 9VDC, 2.1mm barrel, center negative, 2mA1 |
| Battery | None, no battery snap1 |
Videos
60 Cycle Hum
Devon Blue Whitaker (Devon Blue Whitaker music)
Demos In The Dark
Questions
Does the Slice of Pie come with a power adapter?
No. Big Ear Pedals states that the Slice of Pie does not come with a power adapter, and recommends using an isolated DC power supply. The pedal runs on 9VDC through a 2.1mm barrel connector with center negative polarity, so a standard pedalboard supply or a dedicated 9V adapter works, but you will need to supply one yourself.
Does the Big Ear Slice of Pie take a battery?
No. The pedal does not contain a battery snap, so it cannot run on a 9V battery. It needs external power: 9VDC through a 2.1mm center negative barrel connector, drawing only 2mA, which is light enough for nearly any pedalboard power supply.
Do the pepperoni and cheese versions sound different?
No. According to Delicious Audio, the two versions differ only in their looks and sound the same. Guitar.com likewise noted that both contain the same fuzz circuit. The choice between pepperoni and cheese is purely visual.
What size is the Slice of Pie pedal?
The bent steel enclosure measures 5.2 x 3.4 x 1.4 inches, or 132mm x 85mm x 35mm, and the pedal weighs 11.2 oz. It is a triangular, pizza-shaped unit rather than a standard rectangular box.
Where are the jacks on the Slice of Pie?
The input and output jacks are mounted on the crust, the long edge of the triangular enclosure, as Guitar.com noted in its coverage. The pedal also runs true bypass.
Sources (3)
- Big Ear Slice Of Pie Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2022-08-19
- Big Ear pedals’ Slice Of Pie fuzz is perfect for Crust Punk, Guitar.com, 2022-02-10
- Deep Pan Fuzz Tones? Meet the Slice Of Pie fuzz, www.gearnews.com, 2022-02-09
