The Loaf is a silicon fuzz pedal from BIG EAR Pedals, a builder Delicious Audio describes as a boutique operation. The pedal has been around since roughly 2013: Guitar Pedal X noted in November 2023 that the Loaf fuzz was then ten years old1. Its design intent, as Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio put it, is to rein in the gain and provide "a less brittle, more low-end-rich sound, tweakable through a Tone knob"2.
What it sounds like
The Loaf is a silicon fuzz, meaning it uses silicon transistors rather than the germanium parts found in many vintage-style fuzzes. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as "a pretty smooth, and really well balanced Silicon Fuzz with nuanced textures"1. According to Karlsson, the output profile has "less harsh, brittle and buzzy top-end, while it retains more low end frequencies" to balance the brightness of single coil pickups1.
Delicious Audio's description lines up with that: the pedal reigns in the gain for a less brittle, more low-end-rich sound, adjustable through the Tone knob2.
The controls
The Loaf keeps things simple with three knobs:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the amount of fuzz |
| Tone | Shapes the top end, taming brittleness |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
Karlsson praised the layout: "Its traditional 3-knob topology makes it very easy to dial in, and gives it sufficient range to adapt to most scenarios"1. De Gregorio made a similar point, writing that "The simple three-knob layout allows you to easily dial-in the perfect setting on every guitar"2.
Power requirements
The Loaf has no battery snap. As of November 2018, it requires an external power supply, so a battery will not get you going.
- Voltage: 9V
- Current: 100mA
- Connector: 2.1mm barrel, negative center
Delicious Audio's listing from November 2018 states the pedal "will require a standard 9v (100ma) power supply with a 2.1mm barrel connector (negative center)"2. A supply rated for at least 100mA is worth having on hand, since some daisy-chain outputs deliver less.
Versions and finishes
Existing versions of the Loaf come with Cedar Wood or Walnut Wood facias1. For the pedal's tenth anniversary, BIG EAR Pedals also released a special Matt Hoopes Low-End Enhanced Edition, a sort of signature version with some of Hoopes' notes scripted on the facia and an enhanced low end output profile1.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Big Ear Pedals Loaf take a battery?
No. As of November 2018, the Loaf no longer contains a battery snap, so it cannot run on a 9V battery inside the pedal. It requires an external power supply instead: a standard 9V supply rated at 100mA with a 2.1mm barrel connector, negative center.
What power supply does the Big Ear Pedals Loaf need?
The Loaf needs a standard 9V power supply rated at 100mA, with a 2.1mm barrel connector with negative center polarity. Because the pedal has no battery snap as of November 2018, a power supply is required rather than optional.
Is the Big Ear Pedals Loaf a silicon or germanium fuzz?
The Loaf is a silicon fuzz. Guitar Pedal X described it as a smooth, balanced silicon fuzz with nuanced textures, and noted that its output profile has less harsh, brittle and buzzy top-end than many fuzzes while retaining more low end.
How many knobs does the Big Ear Pedals Loaf have?
Three. The Loaf has Fuzz, Tone and Volume controls. Guitar Pedal X called its traditional three-knob topology very easy to dial in, with enough range to adapt to most scenarios, and Delicious Audio noted the layout makes it easy to find a good setting on every guitar.
What wood finishes does the Loaf come in?
Existing versions of the Loaf include Cedar Wood and Walnut Wood facias, according to Guitar Pedal X. A special Matt Hoopes Low-End Enhanced Edition was also released, with some of Hoopes' notes scripted on the facia and an enhanced low end output profile.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-11-02
- Big Ear Pedals Loaf Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2020-04-06
