Carl Martin The Fuzz is a fuzz/distortion pedal from Carl Martin, the Danish effects maker. The company describes it as a revolutionary fuzz/distortion pedal with wave guide technology and a 3-band EQ, and says it makes it possible to achieve sounds ranging from an old blues fuzz, to a mid 80's hard rock tone, to a hard core metal sound1. That spread places it between a vintage-style fuzz and a modern high-gain distortion in one box.
What the controls do
The pedal's defining feature is its wave guide technology. It adds two controls, Deep and High, which work alongside the 3-band EQ. Carl Martin's explanation of the design1:
"By using the wave guide's deep and high controls in conjunction with the 3 band EQ, it is possible to clean up the distortion and shape the sound."
In practice, that means the EQ does more than tilt the tone: the Deep and High wave guide controls are meant to shape and clean up the distortion itself, which is how the maker says the pedal reaches both its vintage blues fuzz end and its heavier metal end1.
Power
The Fuzz has a built-in regulated (+/-12V) power supply1. A built-in regulated supply is unusual on a stompbox and means the pedal carries its own power regulation internally rather than depending on the adapter alone.
Where it sits in the Carl Martin range
Carl Martin's drive range covers several gain flavors: the Plexitone Lo-Gain, the DC Drive, the Heavy Drive, the Panama OD, the TOD and the ACTone-S. The Fuzz is the maker's fuzz/distortion entry, distinguished from those overdrive and distortion designs by its wave guide approach and 3-band EQ1.
Questions
What is the Carl Martin The Fuzz?
It is a fuzz/distortion pedal from Carl Martin. The maker describes it as a revolutionary fuzz/distortion pedal with wave guide technology and a 3-band EQ, capable of sounds ranging from an old blues fuzz to a mid-80s hard rock tone and a hard core metal sound.
How does the wave guide technology work?
The wave guide has Deep and High controls. Carl Martin says that by using these in conjunction with the 3-band EQ, it is possible to clean up the distortion and shape the sound, which is what lets the pedal move between vintage fuzz and heavier modern tones.
How is The Fuzz powered?
The Fuzz has a built-in regulated power supply running at plus and minus 12V, according to Carl Martin's product page. Because the supply is built in, the pedal does not rely on an external 9V adapter in the way most compact pedals do.
Sources (1)
- The Fuzz, carlmartin.com, 2026
