The Fuzzrocious 420 Fuzz is a limited edition dual fuzz pedal from Fuzzrocious, first unveiled by Reverb.com in April 20181. The idea behind it is simple and unusual: instead of one fuzz voice, you get two different fuzz circuits in one enclosure, each with its own character, that you can use on their own or blend together into a single combined sound1.
Both circuits come from the same chip. The pedal is based on an EL5420csz quad op-amp, which creates the two different fuzz circuits that you can blend together1. The V2 version released in 2020 kept that same architecture2.
Two fuzzes that can be blended
The two halves of the pedal are deliberately voiced to contrast with each other. Delicious Audio's product page described them like this1:
| Circuit | Voicing |
|---|---|
| Fuzz 1 | A highly sustaining fuzz and distortion with a tone stack that growls heavily in the lows and lower mids1 |
| Fuzz 2 | A plume of mids-heavy gated fuzz, described as capable of grinding up your tone from thick nugs to slick chugs1 |
Guitar.com's 2020 coverage described the same split in plainer terms: the first circuit is a high-sustain fuzz with a tone stack that growls heavily in the lows and lower-mids, while the second circuit is more of a mid-scooped and heavy gated fuzz2. So one side leans toward thick, sustaining low end and the other toward a gated, aggressive grind, and the point of the pedal is what happens when you stack them.
"you have two fuzzes that each sound different from one another and can be used by themselves or blended together however"
A gated fuzz like Fuzz 2 cuts the signal off when it falls below a threshold, which gives notes a choppy, sputtering decay rather than a smooth sustain. Players who want that texture without losing body can dial in Fuzz 1 underneath it.
The controls
The control that defines the pedal is the central hybrid control, which blends the two fuzz circuits together2. Guitar.com described the blended result as "a complete doom-tinged wall of fuzz"2, which fits the doom and stoner territory where Fuzzrocious pedals often turn up.
The V2 added two things the original did not have2:
- A clean blend, which guitar.com said allows you to keep the harshness to acceptable levels. Mixing your unaffected signal back in is a common fix for fuzz that swamps a bass or thinns a guitar, and it makes the pedal more usable for players who need their base tone to stay audible.
- A 9V/18V toggle switch. At the higher voltage setting the pedal is given a headroom boost, meaning less compression and more clarity in the resulting signal2. Run at 18V the fuzz cleans up and opens up; at 9V it compresses harder, closer to the original's behavior.
First run, second run and V2
The 420 Fuzz arrived in April 2018 as a limited edition Reverb exclusive, with the first run limited to 42 units1. That first run also came with a free "Pineapple Kush" scented candle from Uncle Ron's Candle Company, a fitting extra for a pedal named 4201.
The first run was limited to 42 units and sold as a Reverb exclusive1, so original 2018 units are a used-market find rather than a current product. The V2 returned in 2020 and was available on Reverb2.
Cosmetically, no two first run pedals looked alike. Each enclosure has a different pattern in the handshaken faux keef/shake powdercoat, so no two powdercoats were the same1.
In October 2020, following its initial launch in April 2018, the pedal came back as a V2 version in brand new colourways2. The second version kept the same EL5420csz quad op-amp with dual fuzz circuits, and added the clean blend and the 9V/18V toggle2. The colourways depended on the retailer you went with, including Reverb's own neon green, as well as black sparkle, hot pink, orange and more2.
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Questions
How many Fuzzrocious 420 Fuzz pedals were in the first run?
The first run was limited to 42 units, a number that plays on the pedal's name. It was unveiled by Reverb.com in April 2018 as a limited edition, Reverb exclusive release from Fuzzrocious.
What chip does the Fuzzrocious 420 Fuzz use?
Both the original and the V2 are built around an EL5420csz quad op-amp. That single chip creates the two different fuzz circuits, which you can then blend together into one combined sound.
What does the 9V/18V switch on the 420 Fuzz do?
The V2 has a 9V/18V toggle switch. At the higher voltage setting the pedal gets a headroom boost, which means less compression and more clarity in the resulting signal. Run at 9V it behaves the way the original did.
Was the 420 Fuzz a Reverb exclusive?
The first run in April 2018 was a Reverb exclusive, sold through Reverb.com. The 2020 V2 was still available on Reverb, but it also appeared in different colourways depending on the retailer, including Reverb's own neon green.
Can the two fuzzes in the 420 Fuzz be used separately?
Yes. The two fuzzes each sound different and can be used by themselves or blended together. A central hybrid control blends the two circuits, and guitar.com described the blended result as a complete doom-tinged wall of fuzz.
Does every 420 Fuzz look the same?
No. First run pedals wore a handshaken faux keef/shake powdercoat, and each enclosure had a different pattern, so no two powdercoats were the same. The V2 came in a variety of colourways that depended on the retailer.
Sources (2)
- Fuzzrocious 420 Dual Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2019-03-07
- Fuzzrocious reignites the 420 Fuzz, guitar.com, 2020-10-26
