The Dubrek Audio Boutique Harmonik Germanium Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from the UK based on the famous Interfax Harmonic Percolator, the rare early-1970s fuzz/drive unit. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as boasting "the same type of fuzzy distorted sounds as the vintage unit", achieved through a re-engineered design to improve the overall filtering and control of the pedal12. The pedal is discontinued: Guitar Pedal X listed it as such in May 2024, writing that the brand "has seemingly gone to ground to in the interim"3.
The controls
The Harmonik keeps things to three controls and one voicing switch3:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume |
| Gain | Amount of fuzz drive |
| Diode: Off/On | The Diodes Lift switch, which takes the clipping diodes out of the circuit or puts them back in3 |
The toggle is the pedal's defining option. Pedal of the Day notes that "the toggle switch lets you add the germanium diodes into the circuit", while Guitar Pedal X describes "the addition of a Diodes Lift - where you can switch those clipping diodes in or out"31. With the diodes lifted, the circuit runs without that clipping stage; with them engaged, you get the germanium-clipped voicing the pedal is named for.
Where it came from: the Harmonic Percolator
The Harmonik is one of many pedals built on the Interfax Harmonic Percolator. Aion FX calls the original "a unique and extremely rare fuzz/drive from the early 1970s", and the Madbean documentation for a Percolator-style project describes it as "a very rare and mysterious fuzzbox" with not many production units made in its short life-span52. Guitar Pedal X explains that it was a hybrid fuzz circuit, originally featuring 2N404 germanium and 2N3565 silicon transistors, with the classic germanium in the PNP position3.
Dubrek's take re-engineered that design to improve the overall filtering and control, adding the Diodes Lift switch and an on/off LED1. It shipped mostly in original 1590BB-sized variants, with a rare compact batch at the end: Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson wrote it was "likely not more than 10 or 20 of those"3.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's Mike B reviewed the pedal in March 2016 and came away enthusiastic, calling its controls broad-ranging and signing off: "we are really excited to see what comes next from this company hailing from the UK"1. Guitar Pedal X included it among Harmonic Percolator-style fuzzstortion pedals, noting the £99 discounted price in 2019 and later marking the compact edition discontinued at $14934.
The pedal is discontinued and the compact batch was very small, so examples turn up mainly on the used market. The original versions were in the larger 1590BB enclosure, and the compact edition is the rarer form3.
Videos
Dubrek Studios
Pedal of the Day
Rob Padley
Questions
What does the Diodes Lift switch do on the Harmonik Germanium Fuzz?
The Diodes Lift switch takes the pedal's germanium clipping diodes out of the circuit, or puts them back in. With the diodes lifted, the fuzz runs without that stage of clipping; with them engaged, the toggle adds the germanium diodes back for the pedal's characteristic fuzzy distorted character. It is the pedal's main voicing option beyond the Gain and Level controls.
Is the Dubrek Audio Harmonik Germanium Fuzz still made?
No. Guitar Pedal X listed the compact edition as discontinued in May 2024 and described the brand as having seemingly gone to ground in the interim. The pedal appeared in two main forms: the original 1590BB-sized variants and a rare compact batch, so used-market availability is limited.
What is the Interfax Harmonic Percolator?
The Interfax Harmonic Percolator is a very rare and mysterious fuzzbox from the early 1970s, a hybrid fuzz circuit that originally paired 2N404 germanium and 2N3565 silicon transistors, with germanium transistors in the PNP position. Not many production units were made in its short life, and it has since inspired many re-engineered versions, including the Dubrek Harmonik.
What was the Harmonik Germanium Fuzz's price?
The compact edition was listed at $149 USD when Guitar Pedal X marked it discontinued in May 2024. Earlier, in May 2019, Guitar Pedal X noted the pedal discounted to £99, down from £129.
How many compact Harmonik units were made?
The compact batch was small. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson wrote that a batch of compact editions was released right at the end, likely not more than 10 or 20 of those, making the compact version the rarest form of the pedal alongside the mostly original 1590BB variants.
Sources (5)
- Dubrek Audio Boutique Harmonik Germanium Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-12
- Tracing Journal: Catalinbread Karma Suture (Germanium & Silicon), Aion FX, 2021-02-21
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-05-13
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2019-05-28
- PepperSpray.pdf, madbeanpedals.com, 2024-06-07
