The Gigahearts MK2 Small Cheese is a fuzz pedal built on the Lovetone Big Cheese, the Dan Coggins designed silicon fuzz that Guitar.com notes was "made in collaboration with original designer Dan Coggins"12. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, reviewing the MK2 in June 2026, called it "a potent Lovetone Big Cheese derivative" and set it apart by its options: "with Gating, Tone Bypass, Mid Boost and Mid Scoop options"2.
Where the circuit comes from
The Big Cheese lineage matters for what the Small Cheese does. RockBoard's Pedalpedia describes the original's range as "tighter distortion sounds as well as heavily gated and spluttering fuzz textures"3. Aion FX's project notes describe the circuit as "a silicon transistor fuzz resembling a Fuzz Face or Tone Bender" followed by diode clipping and a Big Muff style tone control, with intentional misbiasing in the vein of the Zvex Fuzz Factory or Cornish NG-3, and a fourth "Cheese" mode that "changes the bias on the transistor fuzz, delivering gated 'amp death' t[ones]"4. The original Big Cheese has documented use by U2, My Bloody Valentine, Radiohead, Pavement, Wilco and Dinosaur Jr.5.
Karlsson placed the Small Cheese among the Big Cheese derivatives he owns: "This is my 3rd Lovetone Big Cheese derivative to date, and the most expansive / granular of the 3", comparing it with the JHS Cheese Ball and the ThorpyFX Field Marshal2.
The controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level2 |
| Curds | Fuzz / Sustain2 |
| Tone | Tilt EQ2 |
| Trim | Gating threshold for the left FTSW mode2 |
| FTSW Mode | Gating to left / Tone Bypass to right2 |
| EQ Profile | Mid Boost / Heavy Mid Scoop / Mid Scoop2 |
The two switches are what give the Small Cheese its flexibility. FTSW Mode chooses between the gating function, whose threshold Trim sets, and tone bypass, which takes the tone stack out of the circuit. EQ Profile then sets the mid character in three steps, from a mid boost through a heavy mid scoop to a mid scoop, on top of the Tone knob's tilt EQ2.
MK2 compared with the original
The MK2 is a labeling revision rather than a circuit change. Karlsson wrote that "Original demos remain near enough comparable; the MK2 labels are clearer", and noted that "There are no new demos out yet of the MK2 edition" as of his June 2026 review2. Players comparing the two can therefore rely on footage of the original Small Cheese for a sense of the MK2's sound.
Questions
What is the Gigahearts MK2 Small Cheese based on?
It is a derivative of the Lovetone Big Cheese, the Dan Coggins designed silicon transistor fuzz. The Big Cheese itself resembles a Fuzz Face or Tone Builder style silicon fuzz with a Big Muff style tone control and intentional misbiasing, and the Small Cheese carries that lineage into a compact pedal with added gating and mid shaping options.
What does the Curds knob do on the Small Cheese?
Curds is the fuzz and sustain control. Alongside Volume, Tone and Trim, it is one of the four knobs on the pedal, setting how much fuzz intensity and sustain the circuit delivers.
What does the FTSW mode switch do?
The FTSW Mode switch selects between two functions: gating to the left and tone bypass to the right. The Trim knob sets the gating threshold when the switch is in the left, gating position.
What does the EQ Profile switch change?
The EQ Profile switch offers three mid settings: Mid Boost, Heavy Mid Scoop and Mid Scoop. Together with the Tone knob's tilt EQ and the tone bypass option, it shapes where the pedal sits in the mix.
How much does the Gigahearts MK2 Small Cheese cost in US dollars?
As of the June 2026 Guitar Pedal X review, the price was £135, which the reviewer gave as approximately $180.
What is different about the MK2 compared with the original Small Cheese?
The MK2 edition has clearer labels than the original, and the reviewer noted that demos of the original remain near enough comparable. No new demos of the MK2 edition had appeared as of the June 2026 review.
Sources (5)
- The best fuzz pedals for all styles and budgets, Guitar.com, 2026-01-14
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-06-04
- Big Cheese by Lovetone, RockBoard (www.rockboard.de), 2026
- Monolith Silicon Fuzz / Lovetone Big Cheese, Aion FX, 2021-07-02
- JHS Pedals Cheese Ball Distortion Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2019-10-19
