The Handy FX Muskrat Distortion Booster is a 2-in-1 pedal that puts a distortion circuit and a treble booster in one enclosure. The left side is a distortion based on the legendary black distortion pedal from the 1980s; the right side is a booster based on the Rangemaster Treble Booster. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal in March 2022, called it "a powerful 2-in-1 that oozes tone and grit, adding a much-needed punch to any rig."1
The two sides and how they work together
The Muskrat's two circuits can be used on their own or stacked. The link between them is the booster side's single control, the Musk knob: it sets the amount of boost, and Pedal of the Day notes that it "will really rev up the Distortion when these sides are stacked together."1 In practice, that means the Musk knob does double duty: on its own it is the boost level, and with both sides engaged it determines how hard the treble booster pushes the distortion.
Controls
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Distortion | Distortion | Sets the amount of distortion, part of fine tuning your distorted sound1 |
| Filter (Tone) | Distortion | Tone control for the distorted sound1 |
| Volume | Distortion | Volume control for the distorted sound1 |
| Musk | Booster | Controls the amount of boost, and revs up the Distortion when the sides are stacked1 |
| Clipping switch | Distortion | Toggles between three clipping options1 |
| Tone switch | Booster | Cycles through 3 different input capacitors that affect different tone ranges1 |
The Distortion, Filter (Tone) and Volume knobs, in Pedal of the Day's words, "let you fine tune and create your perfect distorted sound as well."1
The clipping switch and the eye
The clipping switch toggles between three clipping options, giving the distortion side three different flavors of clipping. In the middle, LED setting, the eye on the pedal lights up as your guitar signal passes through the circuit, so it doubles as a visual indicator of the signal path.1
Where it comes from
The Muskrat is made by Handy FX, and each pedal is hand wired and packaged in New Hampshire. Pedal of the Day described it as "the next gem in their lineup" when it reviewed the pedal on 26 March 2022.1
For other pedals in the same family of sounds, see the site's pages on Distortion Pedals, Boost Pedals and Overdrive Pedals.
Videos
Handy FX
Handy FX
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What is the Handy FX Muskrat based on?
The Muskrat is a two-sided pedal. The left side, the distortion, is based on the legendary black distortion pedal from the 1980s. The right side, the booster, is based on the Rangemaster Treble Booster. Pedal of the Day describes the result as a powerful 2-in-1 that oozes tone and grit, adding a much-needed punch to any rig.
Can the Muskrat's distortion and booster sides be stacked?
Yes. The Musk knob controls the amount of boost, and Pedal of the Day notes that it will really rev up the Distortion when the two sides are stacked together. That makes the Musk knob the link between the pedal's halves: turn it up and the booster pushes the distortion side harder.
What does the Musk knob do?
The Musk knob is the booster side's only control. It sets the amount of boost, and when the distortion and booster sides are run together it drives the distortion harder, so it shapes how much the two circuits interact.
Where is the Handy FX Muskrat made?
The Muskrat is hand wired and packaged in New Hampshire, according to Pedal of the Day's 2022 review of the pedal.
What does the clipping switch do?
The Muskrat's clipping switch toggles between three clipping options. In the middle, LED setting, the eye on the pedal lights up as your guitar signal passes through the circuit.
Sources (1)
- Handy FX Muskrat Distortion Booster, Pedal of the Day, 2022-03-26