The Gigahearts Mashed Voltaire Deluxe is a fuzz pedal from UK builder Gigahearts FX, introduced in 2026. Its design is rooted in the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff: Premier Guitar's review describes the circuit as based on a fuzz of some renown, the Big Muff, while Gigahearts' own press material calls it a wildly expanded take on the Violet Rams Head circuit, one of the Big Muff's many versions12. On top of that foundation, Gigahearts adds a three-band EQ (high pass, band pass, low pass) feeding a dual-mode, synthesizer-style resonant filter, which the maker says offers unlimited tonal variation1.
What it does to your sound
The core is the Big Muff-derived fuzz voice, but the Deluxe stretches well beyond it. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal can move from Big Muff tones to mid-gain drive associated with RAT or Distortion+ voices2. The three-band EQ feeding the resonant filter is what does much of that reshaping: high pass, band pass, and low pass outputs feed a filter with two modes, in the manner of a synthesizer filter1.
A carryover from the earlier version of the circuit is the saturation control. Premier Guitar noted that on the non-Deluxe original it reshaped the basic fuzz voice profoundly, and it returns on the Deluxe2. The gain toggle selects between high- and low-gain modes; switched to high, the reviewer found the same setup becomes even bigger, and much more aggressive2.
Controls and usability
Gigahearts specifies eleven external controls to fully sculpt and fine-tune your sound1. That depth cuts both ways. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the knobs are sensitive and the controls are highly interactive, so a player does not have to fiddle much to end up in a good tone zone, but also cautioned that a less patient user could get lost in the weeds or suffer option fatigue, and that with no presets, the dense interactivity could cause panic attacks2.
"The knobs are sensitive and the controls are highly interactive, so you don't have to fiddle much to end up in a tone zone."
Power and build
The pedal runs on 9-volt DC from an external power supply using a standard 2.1mm tip negative connector, and it has no battery compartment1. Build quality is specified as high quality dual-layer PCBs with all through-hole parts and hand soldering and wiring throughout1. Switching is true bypass mechanical switching1.
There is no battery compartment, so the Mashed Voltaire Deluxe runs on 9-volt DC from an external power supply using the standard 2.1mm tip negative connector1. The build uses high quality dual-layer PCBs with all through-hole parts and hand soldering and wiring throughout1.
Background and availability
The Deluxe in the name signals that this is not Gigahearts' first take on the circuit; an earlier, non-Deluxe iteration existed, and the saturation control carried over from it2. The pedal is UK-built, according to Premier Guitar's review2.
It is available directly from the Gigahearts website, shipping worldwide, with free UK shipping and DDP duties paid to the USA, at $239 USD / £175 GBP as of the May 2026 announcement1.
Questions
Is the Gigahearts Mashed Voltaire Deluxe based on the Big Muff?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review describes the Mashed Voltaire Deluxe design as rooted in the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, and Gigahearts' own press material calls it a wildly expanded take on the Violet Rams Head circuit, one of the Big Muff's many versions. The pedal moves from Big Muff tones into mid-gain drive voices the reviewer associated with the RAT or Distortion+.
Does the Mashed Voltaire Deluxe take a battery?
No. According to Gigahearts' press release, the pedal has no battery compartment. It runs on 9-volt DC from an external power supply using a standard 2.1mm tip negative connector, so a standard pedalboard power supply output will run it.
Is the Mashed Voltaire Deluxe true bypass?
Yes. Gigahearts states the pedal features true bypass mechanical switching, meaning the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is switched off.
What does the gain toggle do on the Mashed Voltaire Deluxe?
The gain toggle selects between high- and low-gain modes. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that switching to high made the same setup even bigger and much more aggressive, while the low setting stays closer to the pedal's Big Muff-rooted voice.
Where is the Mashed Voltaire Deluxe built and sold?
Premier Guitar's review describes the pedal as UK-built. It is sold directly from the Gigahearts website with worldwide shipping, free UK shipping, and DDP duties paid to the USA, at a list price of $239 USD as of May 2026.
Sources (2)
- Gigahearts FX Drops Voltaire & Hyper Soup, Premier Guitar, 2025-10-15
- Gigahearts Mashed Voltaire Deluxe Review, Premier Guitar, 2026-04-27
