The Electro-Harmonix / JHS Pedals Lizard Queen Octave Fuzz Distortion is a collaboration between Electro-Harmonix and JHS Pedals: an analog, silicon-transistor-based octave-up fuzz1. Pedal of the Day called it "a unique analog octave up circuit" and "an affordable, amp-crushing effects unit"2. The EHX version of the pedal comes in Electro-Harmonix's nano-sized chassis2.
Where it came from
The Lizard Queen began as a private project. JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott and artist Daniel Danger created it "in an effort to conjure a mythical 'lost' EHX fuzz pedal from the 1970s," according to Premier Guitar1. They built a half-dozen in 2022 and presented one to EHX's Mike Matthews, and the pedal then became an official co-branded unit1. Gearnews described the design as "a loving tribute to the historic sound and design of the iconic Electro-Harmonix effects of the 1970s-1980s"3. Pedal of the Day likewise framed it as an homage to Electro-Harmonix in what Josh and Daniel consider the company's design heyday of the 1970s2.
The controls: Octave, Balance and Volume
The Lizard Queen has three knobs and no gain control. Its gain is fixed: Premier Guitar's reviewer found it "fixed at a nicely clipped, low level that, to my ears, zeroes in on a template late-'60s/early-'70s fuzz sound"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Octave | Adjusts the level of the octave-up signal, from zero (left) to a full high-octave setting (right)12 |
| Balance | A filter shifting between "shadow" (left) and "sun" (right): shadow rolls off highs for a darker tone, sun adds treble1 |
| Volume | Controls the master output; it does not affect pedal gain12 |
The Balance control behaves very differently depending on where the Octave knob is set, and Pedal of the Day noted that its effect is especially apparent with the octave set high23.
Power
The pedal runs on a 9V DC barrel-type power supply or, in what Premier Guitar's reviewer called "a suitable salute to the past, a battery"1. It draws 5 mA1, a small enough draw that any standard supply or daisy chain handles it comfortably.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer compared the Lizard Queen against other octave fuzz pedals on hand, most notably the Way Huge Purple Platypus, through a Carr Vincent amp with single-coil and humbucker guitars1. His verdict: the pedal "possesses a voice that's monstrous yet controllable and reactive in ways that make it easier to dial in classic, articulate fuzz tones" than many other octave/fuzz devices at or above its price1. At $99 street, he called the Lizard Queen a bargain1.
For other takes on the octave fuzz idea from the same maker, see the Electro-Harmonix Octavix, or browse the site's Fuzz Pedals and Octave & Pitch Pedals pages.
Videos
JHS Pedals
EHX
Philip Czarnecki
Questions
Does the Lizard Queen take a battery?
Yes. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that the Lizard Queen runs on a 9V DC barrel-type power supply or, as he put it in a salute to the past, a battery. It draws only 5 mA, so a battery lasts a long time and the pedal is easy on any power supply.
Is the Lizard Queen analog?
Yes. Premier Guitar described it as a silicon-transistor-based octave-up fuzz, and Pedal of the Day called it a unique analog octave up circuit. There is no digital processing in the signal path.
Who designed the Electro-Harmonix/JHS Lizard Queen?
The pedal was created by JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott and artist Daniel Danger. After JHS built a half-dozen units in 2022 and presented one to Electro-Harmonix's Mike Matthews, it became an official Electro-Harmonix and JHS Pedals collaboration.
What is the Lizard Queen based on?
Premier Guitar wrote that it was created in an effort to conjure a mythical lost EHX fuzz pedal from the 1970s. Gearnews described it as a loving tribute to the historic sound and design of the iconic Electro-Harmonix effects of the 1970s and 1980s.
Does the Lizard Queen have a gain knob?
No. The pedal has Octave, Balance and Volume controls and no gain knob. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that the pedal's gain is fixed at a nicely clipped, low level, and that the very potent volume knob controls the master output without affecting pedal gain.
How much current does the Lizard Queen draw?
Premier Guitar's reviewer measured a draw of 5 mA at 9V DC. That is low enough for any standard pedalboard power supply, and the pedal can also run on a battery.
Sources (3)
- EHX/JHS Lizard Queen Review, Premier Guitar, 2023-08-29
- Electro-Harmonix / JHS Pedals Lizard Queen Octave Fuzz Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2024-07-06
- JHS EHX Lizard Queen: The octave fuzz distortion inspired by the '70s, www.gearnews.com, 2023-04-11
