The Bigfoot Engineering King Fuzz XL is a fuzz/overdrive/distortion combo: two of the maker's pedals built into one enclosure, a Thunder Pup overdrive and a King Fuzz distortion, switchable between two settings. Premier Guitar's reviewer came away wondering whether a single pedal could cover the ground, writing that it "left me wondering if I needed anything besides this one pedal"1. It sits in the fuzz family but reaches into overdrive and distortion territory, and it is a larger companion to the King Fuzz Mini in the maker's range, which also includes the Octo Puss Prime.
What it does
The XL's premise is simple: two circuits the maker likes, housed together. On That Pedal Show, the presenters described it as "actually two of these two of his favorite pedals in one so it's a Thunder pup overdrive" alongside the King Fuzz distortion side2. The two sides cannot be combined: as the presenters put it, "you can't stack them"2. Each side has its own character, and the presenters drew a line between them: "the Thunder pup has Angus in mind," while the King Fuzz side leans toward "a more down-the-back modern sort of" voice2.
How it sounds
Premier Guitar's reviewer heard a fuzz with a clear pickup preference:
"you get the feeling the King Fuzz was voiced with a bias toward humbuckers, for which it is a perfect fit."
The same review flagged a trade-off for single-coil players: "Those hi-fi qualities can make Fender single-coils sound sizzly at high-gain settings"1. Players with Fender-style guitars may want to hear the pedal at their own gain levels before committing.
The reviewer's summary of the pedal's strengths, in the review's own pros list1:
- Unique, potent fuzz voice
- Flexible, organic, clean-to-crunchy overdrive
- Solidly and thoughtfully crafted1
King Fuzz XL at a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Fuzz/overdrive/distortion combo1 |
| Two sides | Thunder Pup overdrive, King Fuzz distortion2 |
| Stacking | Not possible; sides are switchable, not stackable2 |
| Voicing | Fuzz side biased toward humbuckers1 |
| Street price | $265 USD1 |
Videos
Bigfoot Engineering
Bigfoot Engineering
Bigfoot Engineering
Questions
Can you stack the two sides of the King Fuzz XL?
No. The pedal holds two of Bigfoot Engineering's circuits, a Thunder Pup overdrive and a King Fuzz distortion, and the two sides are switchable between settings rather than stackable. That Pedal Show's presenters noted plainly that you can't stack them, so a player chooses one side at a time.
What guitars suit the King Fuzz XL?
Premier Guitar's reviewer felt the fuzz circuit was voiced with a bias toward humbuckers, calling it a perfect fit for them. The same review noted that its hi-fi qualities can make Fender single-coils sound sizzly at high-gain settings, so players with single-coil guitars may want to hear it at their usual gain levels first.
Sources (2)
- Bigfoot Engineering King Fuzz XL Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-10-12
- That Pedal Show, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2017-08-18
