The Hooligan is a fuzz pedal from J Rockett Audio Designs, announced in August 2016 as the latest entry in the company's Tour Series of pro touring artist-designed pedals1. It is a downsized version of Rockett's WTF Fuzz, built to be simple in every way: three knobs, a bypass footswitch, and top-mounted jacks that let it sit on a crowded pedalboard123.
Guitar Interactive Magazine described it as "the Tour Series version of the WTF Fuzz but with some tonal tweaks and made to be simple in every way"4. The maker's own description of the sound, quoted at launch:
"We feel like we have dialed in the perfect warmth versus the typical, strident sound of a fuzz pedal. The Hooligan is very musical and fun to play!"
What it is and what it does
The Hooligan is a fuzz box aimed at modern guitarists rather than vintage purists. MusicRadar's review put it plainly: "Basically, this is a fuzz box for modern guitarists, not the mods"6. As a compact version of the WTF Fuzz, MusicRadar found it "as brutal-sounding as its name suggests"6.
At launch, MusicRadar reported that the pedal promises tones from "Rat-type overdrive" to "Trombetta horn sounds", with "the perfect warmth"1. That range means the Hooligan can cover ground from a crunchy overdrive-adjacent fuzz through to thick, horn-like distortion textures. In their later review, MusicRadar and Total Guitar highlighted the effect's "thick synth-like tone" on bottom-string riffs6.
The controls: Level, Gain and Gunk
The Hooligan keeps its control set to three knobs plus a bypass footswitch52. Every source covering the pedal lists the same three controls.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume of the pedal |
| Gain | Sets the amount of fuzz |
| Gunk | Shapes the character of the fuzz, from cleaner Rat-type overdrive tones toward thick, horn-like fuzz542 |
| Footswitch | True bypass on/off15 |
The Gunk knob is the one that sets the Hooligan apart from a basic two-knob fuzz. Rather than just controlling intensity, it moves the pedal across the tonal range the maker describes, from Rat-type overdrive territory into the Trombetta-style horn sounds1. Between Gain and Gunk, a player can dial in how hard the fuzz pushes and how thick or strident its character becomes, while Level balances it against the clean signal.
Power, bypass and layout
The Hooligan runs on a 9V power supply and uses true bypass switching1. Input and output jacks are top-mounted, which gearnews.com noted lets the pedal sit on a crowded pedalboard without side jacks eating up horizontal space3. Premier Guitar's launch coverage likewise described the I/O jacks sitting at the head of the pedal5.
The Hooligan's 9V operation is via power supply, and press coverage does not mention a battery option. Plan on a 9V supply with the right polarity for your board.
Where it came from
The Hooligan is part of J Rockett Audio Designs' Tour Series, a line of pedals designed with pro touring artists1. It is a stripped-back, compact version of the company's WTF Fuzz, with tonal tweaks and a simplified layout142. Guitar.com's review of the Tour Series pedals described it as "A stripped-back version of the J Rockett WTF"2.
The pedal launched in August 2016. MusicRadar reported it available now at £159/$174.99 on 15 August 20161, and Premier Guitar gave the US street price as $174.99 on 12 August 20165. Gearnews.com listed the same $174.99 RRP3.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar and Total Guitar reviewed the Tour Series Hooligan and came away positive, highlighting the thick synth-like tone on low-string riffs6. Asked what reasons there were to avoid it, their answer was short:
"- Very few."
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis reviewed the pedal as part of his Tour Series coverage, listing it as a fuzz pedal made in the USA with Level, gain and gunk controls and a bypass footswitch2.
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J. Rockett Audio Designs
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Questions
What kind of pedal is the J Rockett Audio Designs Hooligan?
It is a fuzz pedal, part of J Rockett Audio Designs' Tour Series of pro touring artist-designed pedals. It is made in the USA and built as a compact, simple three-knob fuzz for modern players rather than a vintage-style copy.
Is The Hooligan based on the WTF Fuzz?
Yes. The Hooligan is a downsized, stripped-back Tour Series version of the J Rockett WTF Fuzz, with some tonal tweaks and a simplified control set. Reviewers describe it as a compact version of the WTF that keeps the same brutal character.
Is The Hooligan true bypass?
Yes. The Hooligan uses true bypass switching, so with the pedal off your signal passes through without buffering. It runs on a 9V power supply.
What is the gunk knob on The Hooligan?
Gunk is the third control alongside Level and Gain. It shapes the character of the fuzz, letting you move between cleaner Rat-type overdrive tones and thicker, horn-like fuzz sounds, rather than just setting the amount of distortion.
How much does The Hooligan cost in the US?
The Hooligan launched in August 2016 at $174.99 in the US, with a UK price of £159. Multiple press sources at launch quoted the same $174.99 figure.
Sources (6)
- J Rockett Audio Designs releases The Hooligan fuzz pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-08-15
- J Rockett Tour Series Tranquilizer, Blue Note, Lenny & Hooligan review, Guitar.com, 2016-08-30
- J Rockett Audio Hooligan fuzz pedal, gearnews.com, 2016-08-15
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Unveils the Hooligan Fuzz Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-08-01
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Unveils the Hooligan Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2016-08-12
- J Rockett Audio Designs Tour Series The Hooligan review, MusicRadar, 2016-07-27
