The Buzzmaster is a fuzz pedal from Jack Deville Electronics, hand built in Portland, Oregon. The company announced it as its latest release in February 2010, describing it as born from classic germanium fuzz circuit topology with a discrete germanium design1. Premier Guitar's reviewer, writing in September 2026, put its street price at $2502.
What it does
Jack Deville's own description of the circuit is broad: tones ranging from raunchy vintage overdrive to contemporary chewy-fur, even venturing into tight metal and doom territory, all while maintaining touch sensitivity, note attack, and natural decay1. Premier Guitar's reviewer heard it much the same way: "The Buzzmaster packs a lot of fuzz flavors in a single box," and found the heavy octave sound at high-gain settings was perhaps the pedal's strongest point2.
The reviewer traced the different voices to recognizable ancestors: "heavy low-octave traces that offered more than a hint of vintage Univox Super Fuzz," a high-gain voice that "roared almost like a vintage Big Muff," and other settings familiar to fans of Mark I Tone Benders and old Maestros2.
"But if you need the kind of fuzz that can punish with personality and cut through any mix, the Buzzmaster is more than up to the task."
Controls and construction
The review describes a bold, gold text and matte black box with what the reviewer called "a utilitarian, let's-get-down-to-the-biz-of-heavy-rocking look"2. Inside the casing there is a small bias trim knob that helps you fine-tune the pedal's first stage and can assist in overcoming the inherent instability of germanium transistors in varying climates, a familiar concern with germanium fuzz2.
The footswitch is a clickless, true-bypass switch of Deville's design that eliminates popping, particularly at super high-gain settings. The reviewer notes you can also buy that switch as an aftermarket product for other pedals2.
How it was reviewed
Premier Guitar's reviewer got to know the Buzzmaster through a blackface Fender Bassman driving a 2x12 cab, a 50-watt Ampeg SuperJet 1x12 combo, and a Marshall 1987 Plexi, with a Fender Jaguar, a Rickenbacker 330, and a Guild Starfire with DeArmond humbuckers2.
A few of the reviewer's practical findings:
- It is likely to work best in front of a clean amp; things can get hectic fast in front of hotter Marshall circuits2.
- At max gain it is not suited to sustained power chords, but works well for faster single-note picking2.
- The overall verdict: buy it if you like a bossy, multi-voiced fuzz; skip it if you have begun to embrace subtlety in your ripping leads2.
Videos
Premier Guitar
eclecticsoundspdx
TheToneShack
Questions
Is the Jack Deville Buzzmaster true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review describes the footswitch as a clickless, true-bypass switch of Deville's own design, which eliminates popping, particularly at super high-gain settings. The reviewer notes that the switch is also sold separately as an aftermarket product for other pedals.
Where is the Jack Deville Buzzmaster made?
Jack Deville Electronics builds the Buzzmaster by hand in Portland, Oregon, according to the company's announcement of the pedal.
What is the bias trim knob on the Buzzmaster for?
Inside the casing there is a small bias trim knob that lets you fine-tune the pedal's first stage. Premier Guitar's reviewer notes it can also help overcome the inherent instability of germanium transistors as climates and temperatures change, which is a common consideration with germanium fuzz circuits.
Is the Buzzmaster a germanium or silicon fuzz?
It is a germanium fuzz. Jack Deville Electronics describes the Buzzmaster as born from classic germanium fuzz circuit topology, with a discrete germanium design, and Premier Guitar's review places it alongside germanium-era circuits such as the Tone Bender Mark I and early Maestro fuzzes.
Is the Buzzmaster based on a Big Muff?
Not exactly, though Premier Guitar's reviewer heard familiar traces. At high-gain settings the pedal roared almost like a vintage Big Muff, and its heavy low-octave character carried more than a hint of the vintage Univox Super Fuzz, while other voices recalled the Mark I Tone Bender and old Maestro fuzzes.
Sources (2)
- Jack Deville Announces Buzzmaster Fuzz Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2010-02-16
- Jack Deville Buzzmaster Fuzz Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-10-20