The Broughton Audio Calamity is an analog fuzz pedal for bass, built as an homage to the Civil War variant of the Big Muff Pi circuit. Broughton Audio describes it as taking that classic design and adding features to expand its usability, including a Blend knob for underlying clean low end, a Mids control, and a three-way Clip switch. The maker says bass players have long turned to the Civil War variant for its excellent low end response, and the Calamity keeps that character while adding heavy distortion tones1.
The Calamity is an analog fuzz pedal for bass, an homage to the Civil War fuzz with many added features to expand the usability of this classic design1.
A Civil War Big Muff variant for bass
The Big Muff Pi fuzz circuit has spawned many variants over the years. Writing on the Guitar FX Layouts blog in 2015, layout author Zach and commenters noted that "there's a lot of muff variants out there like the black arts pharaoh & LSTR, blackout effector musket, frantone sweet," among others3. The Civil War variant is the one Broughton Audio chose to honor, and the maker points to its excellent low end response as the reason bass players favor it1.
Where the Calamity departs from the original is in the additions. Broughton Audio says the second stage of clipping has been replaced with a Clip switch, and that the pedal has very low noise compared to traditional Big Muff Pi designs1.
The controls
The Calamity keeps the layout of the original design where it matters and adds two bass-focused features1:
- Tone: a tilt EQ, as in the original design1
- Mids: a new knob; turning it up adds in middle frequencies that are absent in the original1
- Blend: a low passed boosted version of the input signal, bringing in underlying clean low end under the fuzz1
- Clip switch: three positions, varying between LEDs (toggle down), silicon diodes (toggle up), or no diodes (toggle in the middle)1
The Clip switch is the main tonal selector. Broughton Audio's guidance is to "use the silicon diodes for the stock Civil War sound, the LEDs for a brash distortion tone, or no diodes for more of a touch sensitive transistor distortion"1. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry sums it up as three clipping modes giving a variety of distortion tones2.
Inputs, outputs, and power
The input is high impedance, and Broughton Audio says the pedal can be used with active or passive basses1. The output is low impedance, is not affected by the Volume control, and the maker says it behaves well with other pedals, preamps, and amplifiers1.
Power comes from a 9V DC supply, which is not included. The current draw is approximately 10 mA, and the DC supply should be a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity. Broughton Audio also notes the pedal may be run at up to 24V DC without drastically changing the sound1.
Price, warranty, and returns
Broughton Audio lists the Calamity at US$190.00 as of 26 October 20261. Products are covered for one year to the original owner, and for warranty repairs the maker asks players to email sales@broughtonaudio.com1.
For returns, the process is:
- Email sales@broughtonaudio.com within 7 days of receiving the product1
- Pay the return shipping costs as the customer1
- Receive a refund minus the shipping cost once the pedal is verified in new condition1
Where it sits on a board
As a bass fuzz, the Calamity belongs alongside other bass pedals, and its Blend knob addresses the common bass problem of a fuzz swallowing the low end by mixing a low passed boosted version of the input back in1. Players comparing it with other Big Muff variants have plenty of company in the wider fuzz world, from the Pharaoh and LSTR to the Musket and Iron Bell3. Within Broughton Audio's own range, the Sunder Fuzz 10th is another fuzz option, while the Bass Box, Helion, and Azure Drive 10th cover other bass-oriented ground.
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Questions
Is the Broughton Audio Calamity true bypass?
Yes. According to Broughton Audio, the Calamity has a true bypass switch, so when the pedal is off your bass signal passes to the rest of the board without going through the fuzz circuit. The pedal also has a low impedance output that the maker says behaves well with other pedals, preamps, and amplifiers when it is engaged.
Does the Calamity work with active basses?
Yes. Broughton Audio specifies a high impedance input on the Calamity and says it can be used with active or passive basses. That means players with onboard preamps do not need to worry about the pedal loading down their instrument's signal, and passive basses work equally well into the same input.
What does the Clip switch do on the Calamity?
The Clip switch replaces the second stage of clipping found in the original design and offers three positions. Toggled down it selects LEDs, toggled up it selects silicon diodes, and in the middle position it removes the diodes entirely. Broughton Audio describes the silicon setting as the stock Civil War sound, the LEDs as a brash distortion tone, and the no-diode setting as more of a touch sensitive transistor distortion.
How much does the Broughton Audio Calamity cost?
Broughton Audio lists the Calamity at US$190.00 on its product page as of 26 October 2026.
What is the warranty on the Broughton Audio Calamity?
Broughton Audio covers its products for one year to the original owner. For warranty repairs, the maker asks players to email sales@broughtonaudio.com. Returns follow a separate process: email within 7 days of receiving the product, pay return shipping, and a refund is issued minus the shipping cost once the pedal is verified in new condition.
Sources (3)
- Calamity, Broughton Audio
- Calamity by Broughton Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Guitar FX Layouts: Mojo Hand Colossus Fuzz, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2015-11-18
