The Fender Godzilla Opamp Distortion is a limited-edition distortion pedal made in collaboration with Japan's Toho Co, which owns the Godzilla copyright and rights. It is a variant of the Hammertone Distortion: an op-amp distortion with an active two-band EQ, dressed in wrap-around Godzilla artwork with LED eyes1.
What it is and how it relates to the Hammertone
MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley compared the pedal with Fender's Hello Kitty Fuzz and came down on the Godzilla's side: "Sonically - this is better than the Hello Kitty Fuzz - and probably has a little more all-rounder appeal"1. For a player choosing between the two limited-edition pedals, that verdict positions the Godzilla Opamp Distortion as the more flexible of the pair, with the Hammertone Metal sitting nearby in Fender's range as the conventional high-gain option.
The price difference is the licensing. Guitar Pedal X put it plainly: "It is listed at £145 ($149), versus $109 for the Hammertone Distortion", adding that "the details seem pretty identical - which means in that you're paying $40 for the artwork!"1. Since Toho owns the Godzilla property, there is a licensing fee built into the price1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Active Treble ± | Cuts or boosts treble, active rather than passive |
| Active Bass ± | Cuts or boosts bass, active rather than passive |
| Level | Sets output level |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion |
Because the Treble and Bass controls are active, they boost as well as cut, which is what gives the pedal its two-band EQ shaping. The internal mid trimmer sits on the circuit board rather than the top panel2.
Availability
This is a limited-edition pedal. As of May 2026, Guitar Pedal X reported that "the USA Fender Allocation is already gone, with the UK one running low"1.
MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley summed up the pedal's standing among Fender's limited editions this way: "Sonically - this is better than the Hello Kitty Fuzz - and probably has a little more all-rounder appeal"1. That assessment, published alongside the pedal's announcement, is what players weighing whether to seek one out have had to go on.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson heard it as "a pretty full-range and suitably throaty distortion - with a really pleasant core character", and judged it "better than the Hello Kitty Fuzz - and probably has a little more all-rounder appeal"1. He did note one wish about the artwork: "I would have preferred it if the eyes lit up also in the same colour of LED"1.
The Hammertone Distortion it is based on was rated 8/10 by Guitar.com's Samuel Roberts, who found it delivered a Goliath-like boom even with a single-coil neck pickup, with enough thump to rival pedals twice its price, though not as versatile as the Overdrive in low end and versatility3.
If the Godzilla version is out of reach, Fender's wider distortion range includes the Pugilist Distortion, the Full Moon Distortion and the MTG Tube Distortion, covered in our guide to Distortion Pedals.
Videos
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Leon Todd
Tapestry Music
Questions
How much does the Fender Godzilla Opamp Distortion cost?
Guitar Pedal X reported it listed at $149 in the US and £145 in the UK as of May 2026. That is $40 more than the $109 Hammertone Distortion it is based on, a difference the same report attributes largely to the licensing fee for the Godzilla property and the wrap-around artwork.
Is the Fender Godzilla Opamp Distortion the same as the Hammertone Distortion?
Circuit-wise, very close. MusicRadar notes the Hammertone Distortion shared the same EQ stage, internal trimmer and control setup as the Godzilla pedal, and the Hammertone Metal does as well. The Godzilla version's differences are the Toho licensing, the wrap-around Godzilla artwork with LED eyes, and the higher price.
What does the Active Treble control do on the Fender Godzilla pedal?
It is one of two active EQ controls on the pedal. Alongside the Active Bass control, it cuts or boosts treble rather than only rolling it off, letting you shape the distortion's top end both ways. The full control set is Active Treble, Active Bass, Level and Gain.
Is the Fender Godzilla Opamp Distortion limited edition?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X described it as a limited edition when it reported the pedal's release in May 2026, and noted that the US Fender allocation was already gone at that point.
Is the Fender Godzilla pedal sold out?
In the US, yes: Guitar Pedal X reported in May 2026 that the USA Fender allocation was already gone. In the UK, stock was described as running low rather than sold out, so availability depends on where you are and when you look.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-05-11
- Fender unveils the Godzilla Distortion pedal, MusicRadar, 2026-05-06
- The Big Review: Fender Hammertone Pedals, Guitar.com, 2022-07-21
