The Bad Hoss Harmonic Sustainer is a pedal from Bolt & Forge Analog Audio that sits between the fuzz and distortion camps. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in December 2023, described it as "not exactly a fuzz and not exactly a distortion," but a hybrid of the two, built around JFET transistors and a Big Muff Pi circuit reimagined in that form. It is a harmonic sustainer pedal: its job is thick, sustained distortion rather than light breakup.1
The pedal is hand-wired in Yakima, Washington, and carries true bypass switching. Pedal of the Day's reviewer came away impressed, writing that it delivers "a TON of gorgeous sustained distortion, this golden god will immediately perk up your eardrums."1
The gain and EQ switches
The Bad Hoss keeps its control layout to two switches, each choosing between two voicings rather than sweeping a knob1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| High/low gain switch | Selects a lower-gain mode while keeping sustain; Pedal of the Day called it "perfect for lower-gain work without giving up that creamy, violin-like sustain"1 |
| EQ switch | Switches between two distinct tone stacks: a classic mid-scoop and a modern take that lets mid frequencies come through1 |
The two switches together give four broad voicings: scooped or mid-forward, at higher or lower gain. The maker's product page, which Pedal of the Day links to at bfanalog.com/badhoss, is the place the maker documents the pedal further.1
Where it sits
Players comparing the Bad Hoss with other dirt pedals should know it leans toward the fuzzy, sustaining end of the distortion and fuzz territory rather than the tighter response of an overdrive. Its Big Muff-derived circuit puts it in the same broad family as other muff-style fuzzes, but the JFET transistor approach and the switchable EQ set it apart from a straight clone.1
The Bad Hoss Harmonic Sustainer is a harmonic sustainer pedal from Bolt & Forge Analog Audio, built around JFET transistors and described by the maker as "perfect for garage rock, fuzzy blues, stoner rock or violin-like sustain on lead lines."1
"Reimagined with JFET transistors"
Pedal of the Day suggested the pedal suits "garage rock, fuzzy blues, stoner rock or violin-like sustain on lead lines."1
Videos
Mike Hermans
TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow
Pedal of the Day
Sources (1)
- Bolt & Forge Analog Audio Bad Hoss Harmonic Sustainer, Pedal of the Day, 2023-12-07