The Bad MotherFuzzer is a handmade germanium fuzz pedal from Dr. No Effects, first released in 2015 as the follow-up to the Evil MotherFuzzer. Dr. No describes it as reaching "totally insane old school fuzz gain," with fuzz levels that can be dialed back without the pedal losing power or turning cloudy1.
The pedal was announced in mid-2014 as part two of a pair of fuzzes Dr. No had developed over the previous year, with a planned release in Fall 20142. The maker pitched it as delivering usable, old-fashioned fuzz sounds "that cant be found anywere anymore in today's Boutique Effects world"3. Ten years after the first release, Dr. No brought it back as a new limited handmade series, which is now sold out1.
Controls and how it shapes the sound
The Bad MotherFuzzer has four knobs: Volume, Shape, Bias and Fuzz1. Each control is described by the maker in its launch material4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level. Dr. No says an impressive tone and fuzz stands out even with the knob turned fully counterclockwise4 |
| Shape | Dials in harmonic tone and sustain, and adds clarity to the midrange4 |
| Bias | Takes out the "fat" and "bass" when lowered, so effects like a wah can run through without getting lost in the signal4 |
| Fuzz | Controls the amount of "Evil Fuzz." Lowering it leaves a very organic tone4 |
The Bias knob is the one that sets this pedal apart from many fuzzes in practice. Because lowering it thins the low-end content, a wah placed in the chain can come through clearly instead of being buried under bass-heavy fuzz4.
The Fuzz knob also supports the classic germanium cleanup trick. Dr. No suggests leaving the Fuzz knob fully open and lowering the volume on your guitar or volume pedal to get what the maker calls a "clean up sound"3.
The germanium circuit
The current product page describes the pedal as a "rough monster" with three NOS germanium transistors inside, instead of the two used in the Evil MotherFuzzer1. The original 2014 press release described the circuit differently, as equipped with two hand-selected rare NOS AC-122 germanium transistors, matched on HFE and high gain to deliver a wide range of old-fashioned fuzz sounds3. The two accounts disagree on the transistor count, so both are given here.
That original run was limited to 132 pieces, constrained by the availability of the extremely rare NOS transistors3. An earlier 2014 preview had described the pedal as a silicon and germanium hybrid with a classic 70's fuzz sound, before the final germanium design was settled2.
Bad MotherFuzzer vs Evil MotherFuzzer
Dr. No calls the Bad MotherFuzzer the big brother of the Evil MotherFuzzer, but the maker is clear that the circuit of the Bad MotherFuzzer is totally different from the Evil, and that the two therefore cannot be compared1.
The differences the maker has described:
- The Bad MotherFuzzer carries three NOS germanium transistors to the Evil's two1
- It was originally presented as the blue-colored version of the Evil type2
- It arrived as part two of the two-fuzz series, after the Evil MotherFuzzer3
Power
The pedal runs on a 9V supply with a negative tip1. Dr. No says you can daisy chain it with other 9V guitar effects on the same supply3.
Availability
The Bad MotherFuzzer carries a list price of €345.00 in the Dr. No webshop1. The original series was capped at 132 units by the scarcity of its NOS germanium transistors3, so the pedal has only ever existed in small numbers.
"The Bad MotherFuzzer can reach to totally insane old school fuzz gain. Fuzz dials can be dropped easily without loosing power or getting cloudy."
Videos
Lefty Black Beauty
Questions
What is the difference between the Bad MotherFuzzer and the Evil MotherFuzzer?
Dr. No calls the Bad MotherFuzzer the big brother of the Evil MotherFuzzer, but the circuits are totally different, so the maker says the two cannot be compared. The Bad MotherFuzzer uses three NOS germanium transistors instead of the two in the Evil MotherFuzzer, and it was originally offered in a blue finish while the Evil type used another color.
What does the Bias knob do on the Bad MotherFuzzer?
Lowering the Bias knob takes out the fat, bass-heavy part of the fuzz tone. Dr. No says this lets other effects, such as a wah, run through the signal without getting lost in it. It is one of four controls, alongside Volume, Shape and Fuzz.
Which transistors are in the Bad MotherFuzzer?
The current product page says the pedal holds three NOS germanium transistors, compared with two in the Evil MotherFuzzer. The original 2014 press release described two hand-selected rare NOS AC-122 germanium transistors, matched on HFE and high gain for a wide range of old-fashioned fuzz sounds.
Is the Bad MotherFuzzer still available?
No. The Dr. The original 2014 series was limited to 132 pieces because of the scarcity of the rare NOS transistors.
Does the Bad MotherFuzzer work with a wah?
Yes. Dr. No says the Bias knob lets you leave out the fat, bass content when lowered, which allows effects like a wah to run through without losing them in the signal.
What polarity power supply does the Bad MotherFuzzer need?
It uses a 9V negative tip power supply. Dr. No also says you can daisy chain it with other 9V guitar effects on the same supply.
Sources (4)
- Bad MotherFuzzer, Dr. No effects webshop, 2025-10-30
- Preview of the NEW Evil and Bad Mother Fuzzer, drno-effects.com, 2014-06-05
- Dr.No proudly presents the new Bad MotherFuzzer!, Dr. No effects webshop, 2014-11-10
- NEW BAD MOTHERFUZZER NOW AVAILABLE!!!, Dr. No effects webshop, 2014-11-04
