The FTelettronica Pedals Dystopian Fuzz is a handmade fuzz pedal from FTelettronica Pedals, built as a clone of the BOSS FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz in a smaller, more modern enclosure1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it "a tribute to the infamous BOSS Hyper Fuzz," a remake of a classic pedal in a compact gray housing2. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as designed to produce a high-quality, octave fuzz sound with a robust and compact design1.
Where it came from
The pedal it remakes, the BOSS FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, was released by BOSS in 19933. According to Aion FX, the FZ-2 circuit is a near-exact replica of the Univox Superfuzz, which brings the thick distortion and octave-up fuzz stage3. The Dystopian Fuzz carries that circuit over into a smaller footprint: Pedal of the Day reviewed it on 1 February 2025 as a remake of the classic pedal in a smaller, more modern housing2.
The three modes
The Dystopian Fuzz has three fuzz/drive modes, an EQ section and a large amount of output volume, according to Pedal of the Day's reviewer2.
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz 1 | A basic fuzz sound that places emphasis on the harmonics2 |
| Fuzz 2 | A more full-bodied fuzz sound that places emphasis on the lower frequency range2 |
| Gain Boost | Boosts gain rather than producing fuzz; useful for pushing other pedals or an amp2 |
The Gain knob changes its job depending on the mode. In Fuzz 1 or Fuzz 2 it adjusts the depth of the fuzz: the distortion depth increases and sustains lengthen as the knob moves right2. In Gain Boost mode it adjusts the amount by which the gain is boosted, increasing the more the knob moves right2.
In the original FZ-2 circuit, Gain Boost mode disables the volume control, which causes a large volume jump when switching between fuzz and boost, according to Aion FX3. Players moving between modes on the Dystopian Fuzz should be aware this behavior comes from the circuit it clones.
Can it oscillate?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that oscillation could be produced if the depth is increased too much, adding, "which I strongly encourage you to try"2. Since depth is set with the Gain knob in the fuzz modes, that is the control to push.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's reviewer came away favorable, writing that "this gray beast seeks to destroy everything in its sonic path"2. On price, the reviewer's view was that the Dystopian Fuzz delivers the original Hyper Fuzz sounds at about a quarter of the price of originals, since prices of original Hyper Fuzz pedals are wildly high2.
Videos
FTelettronica Handmade Pedals
Pedal of the Day
ToneMorph Dan
Questions
Is the FTelettronica Dystopian Fuzz a copy of the BOSS Hyper Fuzz?
Yes. FTelettronica's own product description calls it a handmade fuzz pedal that is a clone of the BOSS FZ-2, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer described it as a tribute to the infamous BOSS Hyper Fuzz, remade in a smaller, more modern footprint. The original FZ-2 was released by BOSS in 1993 and itself draws on the Univox Superfuzz circuit.
Can the Dystopian Fuzz oscillate?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that oscillation could be produced if the depth is increased too much, and encouraged players to try it. The depth is set with the Gain knob when Fuzz 1 or Fuzz 2 mode is selected, so pushing that control far to the right is where the oscillation appears.
What does Gain Boost mode do on the Dystopian Fuzz?
Gain Boost mode turns the pedal into a booster rather than a fuzz. The reviewer describes it as ideal for boosting the power of a guitar with limited output power, such as one with single-coil pickups, or for increasing distortion from distortion-type effects or a guitar amplifier. In this mode the Gain knob sets how much the gain is boosted.
Is the Dystopian Fuzz handmade?
Yes. FTelettronica's product description, published on the RockBoard PedalPedia, describes the Dystopian Fuzz as a handmade fuzz pedal, built as a clone of the BOSS FZ-2 with a robust and compact design.
Sources (3)
- Dystopian Fuzz by FTelettronica, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- FTelettronica Pedals Dystopian Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2025-02-01
- Hypercube Fuzz Distortion / BOSS® FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz, Aion FX, 2021-05-28
