Fortin Amps Fortin Zuul

The Fortin Zuul is a noise gate pedal made by Fortin Amps, built in the U.S.A. and listed at $214.99 USD¹. Fortin markets it around what the company calls Intelligent Reactive Guitar Noise Gate Technology, and its single most distinctive design idea is that the threshold knob does two jobs at once: it sets the level needed to open the gate, and it also controls the dynamics of the gate circuit itself¹.

A noise gate sits in your signal chain and mutes the signal when it falls below a set level, which is what kills amp hiss, pedal hum and handling noise between phrases. The Zuul approaches this with a reactive design rather than a simple fixed threshold, and Fortin states it will not color the tone of your amp or signal chain².

Controls and how the gate works

The Zuul keeps its control surface minimal. The Gate knob adjusts how much level is required to open the noise gate and allow a signal to pass through¹. Because the same knob also controls the dynamics of the gate circuit, turning it changes not just where the gate opens but how it behaves around that point¹.

A side switch, which was an internal jumper on early versions, changes the threshold range to compensate for different input signal levels¹. That matters if you run the Zuul after a hot pedal or a high-output pickup set, where the incoming level may sit far above or below what the default range expects.

Bypass, buffering and tone

The Zuul uses industry standard 3DPT true bypass mechanical stomp switching, so with the pedal disengaged the signal passes through without the gate circuit in the path¹. When the pedal is on, Fortin notes that the Zuul will buffer the signal, so if you are not already running a buffer you may feel like the Zuul inserts top end into your tone¹. That perceived brightness is a common effect of adding a buffer to a long unbuffered chain rather than a change the gate itself makes, and Fortin separately states the Zuul will not color the tone of your amp or signal chain².

Power

The Zuul runs on a 9 to 12V DC adapter with a center pin negative connection, fully regulated, drawing 40mA¹. The adapter is not included, so you need your own supply or a pedalboard power distribution system.

The Zuul family

Fortin sells the Zuul in several versions. The Mini Zuul carries all the same features as the original Zuul in a mini-form factor, with the same true bypass switching, 9-12V DC center pin negative power, U.S.A. construction and limited 1-year warranty, plus a specified dynamic range of 120dB². The Zuul+ adds a Key In / Key Thru connection so there is no need for an external splitter, letting the gate track your guitar's dry signal while gating elsewhere in the chain⁴. The Zuul+ Blackout is the blacked-out finish of that version, with the same 3DPT true bypass switching, 9-12V DC center pin negative power, U.S.A. construction and 1-year warranty⁴.

The Zuul Plus adds controls the original Zuul does not have. Where the original Fortin Zuul is a compact noise gate, the Plus version gives a player more shaping over how the gate closes. The original Zuul itself measures 4.4" x 2.38" x 1.06" (111.76mm x 60.4mm x 26.9mm) W/D/H, with a shipping weight of 250g, and runs on a 9-12vDC adapter at 40mA, center pin negative, which is not included¹.

Where it is made and warranty

Fortin builds the Zuul, the Mini Zuul and the Zuul+ Blackout in the U.S.A.¹²⁴. Each includes Fortin's limited 1-year warranty¹²⁴.

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