The Daredevil Ron Asheton Real Cool Fuzz is a limited edition fuzz pedal from Chicago's Daredevil Pedals, built to recreate the fuzz tones Ron Asheton played on the Stooges' first two albums. Daredevil describes the result as "a powerful & biting tone that has great sustain and definition"1. The run was signed and numbered, and the maker's page listed it as sold out as of October 20261.
The circuit and the Stooges connection
Daredevil states that the circuit is based on the original Vox Tonebender of the late 60s, with tweaks for more gain, better cut, and overall improved operation1. The Tonebender is one of the classic British fuzz designs, and germanium-transistor fuzzes of this type are what players reach for when chasing late-60s fuzz sounds.
The Stooges reference is explicit. Daredevil says the goal was "to obviously nail the blistering tones of their first two albums. It's all in there… Funhouse, Dog, T.V. Eye"1. Ron Asheton's guitar work on those records is the sound the pedal is aimed at, and the maker names those songs directly as what the circuit delivers.
Build and components
The pedal is hand wired with high quality, through-hole components and is true bypass1. At its core are a pair of vintage new stock Mullard OC139 germanium transistors, tested and biased for each pedal1. Biasing each unit individually matters with germanium parts, which vary more than silicon, so the setting is matched to the specific transistors in that pedal.
The enclosure is a Hammond wedge enclosure built exclusively for Daredevil, the same vintage wedge format the maker uses on pedals like the Northern Creeper Wedge Fuzz and the Ten Tone Anniversary Fuzz1.
Power and the starving battery trick
The Real Cool Fuzz will work with either 9V batteries or a DC power brick1. Because it is a germanium fuzz, Daredevil also points to a lower-voltage option:
"You can definitely do the 'starving battery' trick with these and lower the voltage for some added destruction."
The starving battery trick means feeding the pedal less than its normal voltage, which degrades the fuzz into a rougher, more broken-up character. Players who want a cleaner, full-strength sound simply run it at normal 9V1.
Availability
The Ron Asheton Real Cool Fuzz was a limited run, signed and numbered, and the maker's page listed it as sold out1. Daredevil's wider fuzz range, including the Real Cool Fuzz, Shrineburner Fuzz, Almighty Bass, DAISHO, and the Cry Baby Fuzz Wah made with Dunlop, gives other routes into the maker's fuzz designs.
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Questions
What circuit is the Daredevil Ron Asheton Real Cool Fuzz based on?
Daredevil Pedals says the circuit is based on the original Vox Tonebender of the late 1960s, with tweaks for more gain, better cut, and overall improved operation. The Tonebender is a classic three-knob-era germanium fuzz design, and Daredevil pairs the circuit with a pair of vintage new stock Mullard OC139 germanium transistors, tested and biased for each individual pedal.
Is the Real Cool Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. According to Daredevil Pedals, the Real Cool Fuzz pedals are all hand wired with high quality, through-hole components and are true bypass, so the pedal does not load or alter your signal when switched off.
What transistors does the Real Cool Fuzz use?
Under the hood are a pair of vintage new stock Mullard OC139 germanium transistors. Daredevil states that each pedal's transistors are tested and biased individually, which is typical practice for germanium fuzz builds since germanium parts vary more from unit to unit than silicon ones.
Is the Real Cool Fuzz still available?
No. The Ron Asheton Real Cool Fuzz was a limited edition run, signed and numbered, and the maker's product page listed it as sold out as of October 2026. Daredevil's other fuzz pedals, such as the Real Cool Fuzz and Northern Creeper, remain on the site.
What is the starving battery trick?
The starving battery trick means deliberately lowering the voltage supplied to a germanium fuzz pedal. Daredevil says you can definitely do the starving battery trick with the Real Cool Fuzz, and that lowering the voltage brings some added destruction, meaning a rougher, more degraded fuzz character.
Which Stooges albums is the Real Cool Fuzz meant to match?
Daredevil says the goal was to nail the blistering tones of the Stooges' first two albums, and names Funhouse, Dog, and T.V. Eye as the sounds it has in there. Ron Asheton's fuzz-heavy Stooges playing is the reference point for the whole design.
Sources (1)
- Ron Asheton Real Cool Fuzz, Daredevil Pedals
