The Hello Sailor Effects Leia Rebel-Rebel is a germanium fuzz pedal1.
The Leia Rebel-Rebel runs on a 9V battery only. Guitar Pedal X reports there is no power socket for a power supply connection, so it cannot be added to a standard pedalboard power chain1.
Circuit and controls
The Leia Rebel-Rebel uses a two-transistor germanium circuit built around Newmarket NKT CV7001 transistors, which Karlsson noted are MilSpec equivalent to the NKT275. The vintage parts extend to the capacitors: he wrote that he loves the over-sized green Sangamo capacitors onboard1.
There are just two external controls, Level and Fuzz. Karlsson said he mostly runs the Level control maxed out1.
How it sounds and how it compares
Karlsson described the voicing as a pretty distinct two-transistor sound, and not really that reminiscent of a Fuzz Face, despite the shared two-transistor germanium layout. On low end, he found a lot less low-end in this circuit, calling it very finely balanced and somewhat focused somehow1.
"All-round a fantastic experience, and a great milestone for my Hello Sailor Effects Capsule Collection."
Within the Hello Sailor Effects range, the Leia Rebel-Rebel is the Vox Tone Bender entry of the Dirty Dozen. Karlsson found it sufficiently distinct from his other two-transistor HSE fuzzes, the Xenomorph and the Hybrid Abbey Road Fuzz1. The maker's fuzz line also includes the Monmouth Octave Fuzz, the Spirit in the Sky Fuzz and the ShipWreck Fuzzstortion, which sits between fuzz and distortion. For more on the effect type, see Fuzz Pedals.
Questions
Is the Hello Sailor Effects Leia Rebel-Rebel based on a Tone Bender or a Fuzz Face?
It is based on the Vox Tone Bender. Guitar Pedal X described it as a high fidelity Vox Tone Bender with Sangamo capacitors and Newmarket NKT CV7001 transistors, and noted that its two-transistor voicing is not really reminiscent of a Fuzz Face, even though both are two-transistor germanium circuits.
What transistors does the Leia Rebel-Rebel use?
It uses Newmarket NKT CV7001 germanium transistors. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson noted that these are MilSpec equivalent to the NKT275, the transistor type associated with classic two-transistor germanium fuzzes.
Can the Leia Rebel-Rebel run on a power supply?
No. Guitar Pedal X reports that it is a 9V battery only unit, with no power socket for a power supply connection. Players who run pedalboard power supplies will need to plan around the battery.
Does the Leia Rebel-Rebel have a lot of low end?
Less than a Fuzz Face, according to Guitar Pedal X. The reviewer described the circuit as having a lot less low-end, very finely balanced and somewhat focused, which sets it apart from the fuller low end of Fuzz Face style fuzzes.
How is the Leia Rebel-Rebel different from the Xenomorph?
Both are two-transistor Hello Sailor Effects fuzzes, but the reviewer found the Leia Rebel-Rebel sufficiently distinct from his other two-transistor HSE fuzzes, the Xenomorph and the Hybrid Abbey Road Fuzz. The Leia Rebel-Rebel is the Vox Tone Bender take in the maker's Dirty Dozen collection.
Sources (1)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-07-15
