The EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea Low End Fuzz Driver is a fuzz pedal built around the sound of a well-worn pedal rather than a clean-sheet design: a Version-6 (V6) Electro-Harmonix Big Muff used by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem for his band's fuzz-bass tones. Jamie Stillman and EarthQuaker Devices were tasked with crafting a replacement for Murphy's pedal, and the result is a collaboration fuzz that arrived in March 2025 at $17912.
Premier Guitar describes the Chelsea as having "a Big Muff-style voice that leans more Ram's Head than Sovtek," and the reviewer heard "lots of grind, presence, and a delectable balance between air and aggression that make the Chelsea soar"2. Although it was made for a bass player's sound, Guitar World reports that it works with electric guitar as well as bass3. For more fuzz options, see the site's Fuzz Pedals page, and for the wider category, Bass Pedals.
Where it came from
The Chelsea is a production recreation of James Murphy's vintage fuzz, made with LCD Soundsystem as a collaboration. Guitar Pedal X notes that its artwork reflects earlier LCD Soundsystem album artwork, including cloudy skies and a mirrorball4. Each unit is handmade in Akron, Ohio, and ships with a lifetime warranty3.
The controls
The Chelsea keeps things simple: three knobs and one switch34.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume |
| Tone | Tonal shaping; can be removed from the circuit with the Tone switch |
| Sustain | Amount of fuzz sustain |
| Tone On/Off mini-switch | Removes the Tone pot entirely from the circuit32 |
The Tone On/Off switch is the pedal's distinguishing control. Guitar World explains that it "can remove the Tone control from the circuit entirely," and describes the two positions: "When turned off, expect a straightforward attack and bucketloads of natural distortion with a natural scoop when it's on"3. Premier Guitar's reviewer took to the bypassed mode too: "The midrange-heavy result is appealing and impressive in its own punky way"2.
Power and setup
The Chelsea takes 9V DC from a pedalboard power supply and draws 10mA1. All connections are located on the top of the pedal, which makes it easier to fit alongside other pedals on a board1. Switching is handled by an electronic relay with true bypass, so the circuit drops out of the signal path when the pedal is off3.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review came away with the Chelsea described as having "lots of grind, presence, and a delectable balance between air and aggression that make the Chelsea soar," and singled out the tone-bypass mode as "appealing and impressive in its own punky way"2. Guitar Pedal X called it "a really cool 3-knob device with an additional Tone-defeat switch" that "sounds pretty impressive"4.
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Questions
Can you use the EarthQuaker Chelsea with guitar?
Yes. Although the Chelsea was built around the bass fuzz sound LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy gets from his vintage Big Muff, Guitar World reports that it sounds just as epic when paired with an electric guitar, so it works as a guitar fuzz as well as a bass fuzz.
Is the Chelsea true bypass?
Yes. The Chelsea uses true bypass with electronic relay-based switching, according to Guitar World. That means the pedal's circuit is removed from your signal path entirely when it is off, and the relay handles the switching rather than a plain mechanical footswitch.
What does the Tone switch do on the Chelsea?
The Tone On/Off mini-switch removes the Tone control from the circuit entirely. With Tone off, Guitar World describes a straightforward attack and plenty of natural distortion; with Tone on, there is a natural scoop. Premier Guitar found the midrange-heavy result in bypass mode appealing and impressive in its own punky way.
Is the Chelsea an analog fuzz?
Yes. Guitar World reports that the Chelsea delivers an all-analog signal path. It is a fuzz in the Big Muff family, with a voice Premier Guitar describes as leaning more Ram's Head than Sovtek.
What power supply does the Chelsea need?
The Chelsea takes 9V DC from a pedalboard power supply, drawing 10mA, according to MusicRadar. All of its connections are located on the top of the pedal, which helps with fitting it on a crowded board.
How much does the EarthQuaker Chelsea cost?
The Chelsea lists for $179 in the United States, a figure reported by MusicRadar, Guitar World, Guitar Pedal X and Premier Guitar. In the UK, Guitar Pedal X reported a price of £189 when it reached dealers such as Andertons.
Sources (4)
- “I'm going to guess that you have heard this pedal”: EarthQuaker Devices and LCD Soundsystem join forces for a “one-of-a-kind” pedal based on James Murphy's vintage fuzz, MusicRadar, 2025-03-04
- EarthQuaker Chelsea Low End Fuzz Driver Review, Premier Guitar, 2025-06-12
- EarthQuaker Devices & LCD Soundsystem release Chelsea Low End Fuzz Driver, Guitar World, 2025-03-11
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-03-06
