The Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise is an experimental fuzz and gate pedal, announced in September 2012 as an addition to the Canadian maker's line of sound-modifying pedals1. Where a conventional fuzz pedal aims for a warm, consistent tone, the Unpleasant Surprise is built around an unusual circuit whose character Fairfield describes in its own words:
"The fruit of an oddball circuit, hanging there awkwardly by some parasitic effect. Tweaked, bended and shoe-horned to optimize it's stench, it's unpleasance. Time has come to turn all dynamics to shit. Strangely, it feels very natural."2
In practical terms, the pedal offers what the launch press release called "a distortion palette ranging from seemingly infinite sustain to sputtery farts; from velcro-like, ripping fuzz to ear-wrenching compression"1. The built-in gate is not an afterthought but half the design, and the two halves interact: Delicious Audio's reviewer found it "possible to create wild growling fuzz distortions with gated dynamic reactions"3.
Controls and how the gate works
The pedal keeps its control set small, but each control shapes both the fuzz and the gate:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOLUME | Continuous control of output level1 |
| ONSET | Continuous control of gate threshold1 |
| Amplifier bias switch | Toggles between "open" and "saturated"; saturated aids wild settings, open allows a more functional fuzz3 |
| Treble cut switch | Allows a more useful fuzz sound at higher gain settings, and pairs well with a compressor engaged3 |
The ONSET knob is where the pedal's personality lives. Because the gate threshold and the fuzz character are calibrated together, Fairfield notes that each unit is different and there is "a careful balancing act at calibration"4. With the ONSET knob below 12 o'clock, the two "G" settings can sound different enough that the gating threshold ends up high, and lower-output guitars can have a hard time pushing through the gate at those lower onset positions4.
If the gate chokes your signal at low ONSET settings, Fairfield's own remedy is to hit the pedal with a stronger signal: place a clean boost, a compressor, or anything with a master volume before it4.
Where it came from and how it differs from other fuzzes
Fairfield Circuitry announced the Unpleasant Surprise on September 9, 2012, describing it as the newest addition to its "fast growing collection of robust and unique sound modifiers," available through participating dealers or directly through fairfieldcircuitry.com1. Guitar Interactive Magazine carried the announcement the following day5.
The pedal sits in an unusual spot in the Fairfield Circuitry lineup. Delicious Audio's reviewer, Shane O'Connor, compared it to the company's Barbershop overdrive, calling the Unpleasant Surprise "like the druggie stepbrother to the functional and dependable Barbershop"3. Where a typical overdrive or a conventional fuzz aims at usable, predictable gain, this pedal is designed around an oddball circuit with a parasitic effect that was, in the reviewer's paraphrase of Fairfield's description, tweaked, bended and shoe-horned into its final form3.
The company's later fuzzes took a different direction: alongside the Unpleasant Surprise, Fairfield Circuitry's lineup includes pedals such as the Four Eyes, and players comparing Fairfield fuzzes today will find the Unpleasant Surprise's gated, calibration-dependent behavior sets it apart from more conventional designs4.
What reviewers said
Published coverage of the pedal has been consistent about its character. The 2012 press materials emphasized its range, from "seemingly infinite sustain to sputtery farts" and "velcro-like, ripping fuzz to ear-wrenching compression"1, and Guitar Interactive Magazine repeated the same description in its release news5.
Delicious Audio's review, published in February 2024, noted that the box "is marketed as a fuzz pedal" but that its real draw is the combination of fuzz and gating, with the reviewer finding it possible to create "wild growling fuzz distortions with gated dynamic reactions"3. The same review highlighted the two switches as the key to making the pedal usable: the amplifier bias toggle between "open" and "saturated," and the treble cut that tames the fuzz at higher gain settings3.
Power, interfacing and availability
The pedal uses a typical 9V input1, and Fairfield's support documentation is firm on the point: the Unpleasant Surprise "will not function with anything other than 9V DC"4. For interfacing, it has high input and low output impedance, which the launch materials described as optimal for connecting to other pedals and amps1.
As of late 2026, Fairfield Circuitry's product page lists the Unpleasant Surprise as sold out, at a regular price of $310 CAD2. At its 2012 launch it carried a retail price of $1751. Players looking for a current Fairfield fuzz may find the company's other fuzz offerings more readily available.
Videos
Fairfield Circuitry
Noise Generator
Dennis Kayzer
Questions
Is the Fairfield Unpleasant Surprise true bypass?
Yes. Both the original 2012 press release from Premier Guitar and Guitar Interactive Magazine's announcement list the Unpleasant Surprise as true bypass, so your clean signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off.
What power does the Unpleasant Surprise need?
It runs on a typical 9V input. Fairfield Circuitry's own support documentation states that the Unpleasant Surprise will not function with anything other than 9V DC, so plan on a standard 9V supply rather than a higher voltage.
How much does the Unpleasant Surprise cost?
At its 2012 launch it carried a retail price of $175. Fairfield Circuitry's current product page lists it at a regular price of $310 CAD, though the pedal is currently sold out there.
Is the Unpleasant Surprise still available?
Fairfield Circuitry's product page shows the Unpleasant Surprise as sold out as of late 2026. At launch in 2012 it was available through participating dealers and directly through the fairfieldcircuitry.com website.
Does the Unpleasant Surprise have a noise gate?
Yes, gating is a core part of the design. The ONSET knob controls the gate threshold continuously, and at lower settings lower-output guitars can have trouble pushing through the gate without a boost or compressor in front.
Sources (5)
- Fairfield Unveils New Experimental Fuzz/Gate Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2012-09-09
- The Unpleasant Surprise, Fairfield Circuitry
- Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-01
- FAQ - Fairfield Circuitry, Fairfield Circuitry
- Fairfield Circuitry Releases The Unpleasant Surprise Experimental Fuzz/Gate, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-09-10
