The Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz is a classically voiced fuzz pedal from Buffalo FX, a French one-man effect builder, based on the Fuzz Face circuit, one of the most copied vintage fuzz designs. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as "a limited-edition, new-old-stock-transistor-fueled, classically voiced fuzz" that "conjures the sounds and feel of a really nice Fuzz Face"1. It first appeared in 2012 as a limited edition, sold out, and was followed in July 2013 by the Germanium Fuzz V2, which Buffalo FX's Steve said "once again delivers the classic germanium fuzz tones we love from the late 60s and 70s"23.
What sets it apart from a straight Fuzz Face copy is its control set: alongside Fuzz and Level it adds external Pre-gain and Bias knobs, which Guitar Interactive Magazine said allow "a huge amount of tones" beyond the classic 60s germanium fuzz sound4.
A Fuzz Face-style germanium fuzz
The pedal is a hand-built replica of the Fuzz Face circuit, the two-transistor germanium fuzz that Buffalo FX built with new-old-stock parts. The original limited edition used NOS B175 germanium transistors, a choice Premier Guitar's reviewer flagged: "The new-old-stock B175 transistors will raise the eyebrows of some germanium purists"1. The V2 switched to NOS Texas Instruments 2N404 transistors2.
The V1 came in what Premier Guitar called "a taller-than-average rectangular enclosure"1. The V2 is powder coated, screen printed, and hand wired by Steve, with Neutrik jacks, Vishay capacitors in the signal path, and screened cabling for low noise operation2. Its dimensions are L114.4 x W63.7 x H55.1mm2.
Buffalo FX described the V2's character in its own announcement:
"They have great clean-up, and plenty of punch, ideal for stage use. There are a lot of ‘warm’ fuzz’s around but they get lost in the mix easily, the V2 cuts through more"
The controls: Fuzz, Pre-gain, Level and Bias
The control layout is the same idea across both versions: Fuzz, Level, Pre-gain and Bias5. Premier Guitar's review of the V1 labeled the knobs P, F, L and B and explained what each does1.
| Knob | What it does |
|---|---|
| F (Fuzz) | Controls the amount of fuzz1 |
| P (Pre-gain) | Controls the amount of pre-gain, feeding the fuzz stage1 |
| L (Level) | Output volume; uses a reverse-taper potentiometer, so resistance tapers as the pot turns clockwise1 |
| B (Bias) | Enables 3.5 to 8.5V of bias adjustment; clockwise gives more jump, counterclockwise coaxes a dying-battery effect1 |
The external bias and pre-gain controls are the pedal's main departure from a stock Fuzz Face. Guitar Interactive Magazine reported that the design goal was "a fuzz for the 21st century," with "all the classic sounds of a 60's germanium fuzz plus the added versatility of the external bias and pre-gain controls allowing a huge amount of tones"4. Buffalo FX said the external controls on the V2 offer greater versatility and "easier integration" with the player's guitar and amplifier2.
Power and connections
The V2 has top-mounted jacks, a side-mounted battery compartment, and a 9V center negative power socket23. The V1 likewise has a side-mounted 9V battery door that Premier Guitar called out as a practical touch, one that "enables you to switch out a battery in seconds," plus a 9V barrel adapter connection on the opposite side of the enclosure1.
Power polarity matters here. Premier Guitar's review notes that, like many vintage-style fuzzes, the circuit is center positive, so the pedal requires a dedicated center negative supply1. That rules out sharing a simple daisy chain with pedals that expect the opposite polarity.
The limited first run and the V2
The V2 follows on from the limited edition 2012 Germanium Fuzz, and once again delivers the classic germanium fuzz tones, according to Steve of Buffalo FX, who hand wires each pedal2. The V1 was a limited edition and all sold, with Steve reporting that the response was great and that after they all went he was getting emails asking if he could make more2. The V2 uses NOS Texas Instrument 2N404 transistors, and Steve describes the sound as having great clean-up and plenty of punch, ideal for stage use, cutting through the mix more than the many warm fuzzes around2.
The 150.00 euro price and the buffalo-fx.com availability are from the July 2013 announcement2. The original limited edition is sold out.
How it compares
The Germanium Fuzz sits in a crowded field of hand-wired germanium Fuzz Face replicas. The Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini FFM2 Germanium offers the same circuit idea in a compact enclosure with true bypass switching, while the ThorpyFX Tacit Blue Germanium Fuzz Face adds a Smooth (impedance) control to its Volume, Fuzz and Bias set, in a run limited to a few hundred units. The Expresso FX Germanium Fuzz is another hand-built Fuzz Face replica using hand-selected NOS germanium transistors, with an optional three-voicing EQ toggle. The Buffalo FX pedal's distinguishing feature is the external bias control paired with pre-gain, on a hand-wired pedal with a 2 year guarantee2.
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Questions
Does the Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz take a battery?
Yes. Both the original limited edition and the V2 have a side-mounted battery compartment, so a 9V battery can be swapped out in seconds without opening the enclosure. The V2 also has a 9V center negative power socket on the enclosure, so it can run from a barrel adapter instead.
Is the Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz V2 true bypass?
Yes. Buffalo FX's announcement for the Germanium Fuzz V2 lists true bypass among its features, alongside top-mounted jacks, a side-mounted battery compartment, and a 2 year guarantee. The pedal is powder coated, screen printed, and hand wired by Steve, the builder behind Buffalo FX.
What transistors are in the Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz V2?
The V2 uses new-old-stock Texas Instruments 2N404 germanium transistors. The original 2012 limited edition instead used new-old-stock B175 germanium transistors, a choice Premier Guitar's reviewer noted would raise the eyebrows of some germanium purists.
What power supply does the Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz need?
The V2 runs on 9V from a center negative power socket, and it also takes a 9V battery. Premier Guitar's review of the original notes that, like many vintage fuzzes, the circuit itself is center positive, so it needs a dedicated center negative supply rather than sharing a daisy chain.
Where can I buy the Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz V2?
When Buffalo FX announced the Germanium Fuzz V2 in July 2013, it was available only through the builder's own site, buffalo-fx.com, priced at 150.00 euros plus shipping. The original limited edition sold out, which is what prompted the V2 in the first place.
Sources (5)
- Buffalo FX Germanium Fuzz Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-09-05
- New Germanium Fuzz V2 From Buffalo FX, Premier Guitar, 2013-07-29
- Buffalo FX Announces the Germanium Fuzz V2 Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-07-29
- Buffalo FX introduces Germanium Fuzz and Tonebender Mkii, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-05-22
- Buffalo FX Offers Germanium Fuzz V2, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2013-07-30
