The Dunlop FFM6 Band of Gypsys Fuzz Face Mini Distortion is a fuzz pedal from Dunlop that packs the Band of Gypsys fuzz circuit into a pedalboard-friendly Fuzz Face Mini housing. Dunlop describes it as recreating "the biting, aggressive fuzz tone used by Jimi Hendrix for the Band of Gypsys show and other iconic performances"1. Unlike the classic round Fuzz Face, it has an AC power jack, an on/off status LED, and a footprint sized for a modern pedalboard2.
The circuit is unusual for a Fuzz Face. According to the launch announcement, Dunlop's engineers "narrowed down this elusive fuzz tone to a version of the Octavio Fuzz without the octave up circuitry," with a few tweaks3. That makes it a different animal from the standard Dunlop Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face or the Dunlop Octavio, which adds the octave-up effect on top of the fuzz.
The Band of Gypsys fuzz in a mini housing
The original Band of Gypsys fuzz tone comes from Jimi Hendrix's performances with that trio, and Dunlop built the FFM6 around a recreation of that sound. The company says the pedal delivers the tone "used by Jimi Hendrix for the Band of Gypsys show and other iconic performances"1. Guitar World's launch coverage described the circuit as "based on a rare vintage fuzz circuit"2.
The housing is where the "Mini" part matters. The classic Fuzz Face is a large round enclosure that eats pedalboard space; the FFM6 puts the same family of circuit in a compact box with an AC power jack and a blue status LED that shows when the effect is on1. At launch it was positioned as a pedalboard-friendly alternative for players who wanted the Band of Gypsys sound without the full-size footprint3.
JHS Pedals' history of the mini Fuzz Faces characterizes the FFM6's voice as distinct within the family4:
"This pedal almost has more of a Rat-style tone, much more rock'n'roll, a lot more aggressive"4
Josh Scott, JHS Pedals4
That squares with Dunlop's own "biting, aggressive" description, and with MusicRadar's review, in which Mike Astley-Brown called it "an aggressive vintage fuzz for Hendrix tones and beyond"5.
The controls: Volume, Fuzz and footswitch
The control set is minimal, in keeping with the Fuzz Face tradition. Two knobs and a footswitch1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FUZZ | Sets the amount of fuzz; clockwise increases, counterclockwise decreases1 |
| VOLUME | Sets the overall effect volume; clockwise increases, counterclockwise decreases1 |
| FOOTSWITCH | Toggles the effect on and bypass; a blue LED indicates on1 |
Setup is a two-step process per the manual: run a cable from your guitar to the FFM6's input jack, then another cable from the output jack to your amplifier1.
Measured performance from the manual: maximum gain is 60 dBV at 1 kHz with Volume and Fuzz maxed, maximum output is +9 dBV, and the noise floor is 72 dBV (A-weighted) at those same settings1. Input impedance is 320 kΩ, and output impedance varies with the Volume control, from 11 kΩ at maximum volume to 64 kΩ at mid volume, measured at 1 kHz1.
Power: 9V, 4.7mA
The FFM6 runs on 9 volts DC and draws only 4.7 mA, so it is light on a power supply's budget1. Power options from the manual:
- One 9-volt battery, installed through a battery door on the underside of the pedal1
- A 9-volt AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003 or ECB003EU1
- A Dunlop DC Brick power supply1
The pedal uses true bypass switching, so when it is off the circuit drops out of the signal path entirely1. The launch press releases said the same: "Like all Fuzz Face pedals, the FFM6 features true bypass switching"3.
How it differs from the Octavio
The closest relative in Dunlop's Hendrix line is the Dunlop Octavio, the pedal behind Hendrix's octave-up fuzz sounds. The FFM6's circuit is a version of that Octavio Fuzz with the octave-up circuitry removed and a few tweaks applied3. In practice, that means the FFM6 gives you the aggressive Band of Gypsys fuzz without the octave doubling on top. Players who want the octave effect alongside the fuzz should look at the Octavio; players who want the straight fuzz tone in a small box get it here.
Who uses it: Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys tone
The FFM6 is a signature-adjacent pedal rather than an artist endorsement: its whole reason for existing is a specific historical tone. Dunlop's manual ties it directly to Hendrix, "used by Jimi Hendrix for the Band of Gypsys show and other iconic performances"1. MusicRadar's review found it practical for modern playing too, noting that "with the same mid focus as its predecessor, the FFM6 is extremely usable in a band mix, and cleans up with a quick twist of the volume knob"5. That cleanup behavior, rolling back the guitar's volume to tame the fuzz, is a trait Fuzz Face players expect from the family.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Mike Astley-Brown gave it a favorable verdict:
"Another worthy entry in the small Face family - an aggressive vintage fuzz for Hendrix tones and beyond5."
MusicRadar review5
JHS Pedals' history piece frames it as a Fuzz Face that leans toward distortion, noting it "has all the feeling of a Fuzz Face but also does an incredible distortion"4.
Availability
At launch, the FFM6 was sold at limited international retailers and exclusively in the US at Guitar Center and Musicians Friend, beginning November 1, 2014 and running through the end of that year32. Its MSRP at launch was $171.412.
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Questions
Does the Fuzz Face Mini FFM6 take a battery?
Yes. The FFM6 is powered by one 9-volt battery, installed through a battery door on the underside of the pedal. It can also run from a 9-volt AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003 or ECB003EU, or from a Dunlop DC Brick power supply, so a battery is not required.
Is the FFM6 true bypass?
Yes. Dunlop's manual lists true bypass for the FFM6, and the press announcements at launch said the same: like all Fuzz Face pedals, the FFM6 features true bypass switching. When the effect is off, the signal passes through without the circuit in the path.
What is the difference between the FFM6 and the Octavio?
Dunlop's engineers traced the Band of Gypsys fuzz tone to a version of the Octavio Fuzz circuit without the octave-up circuitry, with a few tweaks. So the FFM6 is essentially the Octavio sound minus the octave-up effect, packaged in a Fuzz Face Mini housing with Volume and Fuzz controls.
Where can I buy the FFM6 Band of Gypsys Fuzz Face in the US?
At launch in 2014, the FFM6 was sold at limited international retailers and exclusively in the US at Guitar Center and Musicians Friend, beginning November 1, 2014 and running through the end of that year. Its MSRP at launch was $171.41.
What power supply does the Fuzz Face Mini need?
The FFM6 runs on 9 volts DC and draws 4.7 mA. Dunlop recommends a 9-volt AC adapter such as the ECB003 or ECB003EU, or a DC Brick power supply. A single 9-volt battery, fitted through a door on the underside, also powers it.
Sources (5)
- FFM6.pdf, Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., 2019
- Eric Gales Demos Band of Gypsys Fuzz Face Mini Distortion, Guitar World, 2014-10-31
- Introducing the Dunlop Band of Gypsys Fuzz Face Mini Distortion, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-11-04
- MINI FUZZ FACES, JHS Pedals
- Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Band Of Gypsys FFM6 Fuzz Face Mini review, MusicRadar, 2014-12-17
Eric Gales
