The Nichols 66 is a fuzz pedal from Danelectro that MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described as "a fuzz pedal that's really half-distortion, half-fuzz, 100 per cent vintage"1. It is a revised version of Steve Ridinger's first ever guitar effects pedal, first designed in 1966, which he then called his Liverpool Fuzz Tone. Ridinger, the Foxx Pedals founder and Danelectro owner, saw the Liverpool Fuzz Tone enjoying a second act as the Nichols 661.
What it does to your sound
Depending on where you set the interactive Fuzz and Drive knobs, the Nichols 66 is capable of pulling double shifts, working as a distortion or a fuzz depending on the settings. MusicRadar also noted that it works nicely with the guitar's volume knob, cleaning up and revealing more tones as you roll it back1.
Controls
The control setup has been modernised compared with the original design, with Fuzz, Drive, Tone and Volume knobs, plus a Stock/Mid Cut toggle switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the fuzz side of the circuit, interacting with Drive |
| Drive | Sets the drive side, interacting with Fuzz |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response |
| Volume | Sets output level |
| Stock/Mid Cut toggle | Switches between the stock voicing and a mid-cut voicing |
The Fuzz and Drive knobs are interactive, so the balance between them decides whether the pedal leans toward distortion or fuzz1.
Where it came from
Steve Ridinger designed the circuit in 1966 as his first ever guitar effects pedal, calling it the Liverpool Fuzz Tone. His creation featured a trio of transistors. The pedal is so-called after the Nichols Canyon residence where he grew up, with the 66 marking the year of the design1.
Danelectro lists the Nichols 66 as available now at retailers such as Sweetwater for pre-order1.
Enclosure and availability
As with Danelectro's current pedal lineup, such as the 3699 fuzz/octaver and the Breakdown distortion pedal, the jacks are mounted on the top of the unit1. The pedal was announced priced at $199 and available at retailers such as Sweetwater for pre-order1.
The pedal is listed as available now at retailers such as Sweetwater for pre-order2.
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Questions
Who designed the Danelectro Nichols 66?
The circuit comes from Steve Ridinger, founder of Foxx Pedals and owner of Danelectro. The Nichols 66 is a version of his first ever guitar effects pedal, designed in 1966 and originally called the Liverpool Fuzz Tone. MusicRadar reported the pedal's release in February 2024.
Why is the pedal called Nichols 66?
The name points to two things: the year the circuit was first designed, 1966, and the Nichols Canyon residence in Los Angeles where Steve Ridinger grew up. He originally called the design the Liverpool Fuzz Tone before it became the Nichols 66.
What does the Stock/Mid Cut switch do?
It is a toggle switch added as part of a modernised control setup alongside the Fuzz, Drive, Tone and Volume knobs. As the name suggests, it lets the player cut mid frequencies, with Stock leaving the original voicing in place.
How much does the Danelectro Nichols 66 cost?
MusicRadar reported the pedal priced at $199 when it was announced in February 2024, available at retailers such as Sweetwater for pre-order.
How many transistors are in the Nichols 66?
The original circuit Steve Ridinger created featured a trio of transistors, according to MusicRadar's report on the pedal.
