The Jordan Buzz Tone is an analog fuzz pedal from the revived Jordan brand, built by Mahoney Guitar Gear. It is a remake of the 1967 Jordan Boss Tone, the small plug-in fuzz that originally hooked straight into a guitar's input jack, and it incorporates the exact circuit path found in the original vintage Jordan units, specifically the later PNP-NPN version built in Pasadena and Nashville12.
Controls and the Mods switch
The control set is deliberately minimal. All three pedals in the revived Jordan range share the same layout: a Volume (Level) knob, an Attack knob, and a single two-way Mods switch3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume / Level | Sets the output level |
| Attack | Sets the fuzz intensity; RockBoard's PedalPedia says high Attack settings give a smooth, creamy sustained fuzz, while low settings bring out ghostly octave-down ghost notes1 |
| Mods switch (2-way) | Selects between the stock circuit and a No Clipping option3 |
The No Clipping position on the Mods switch removes the clipping diodes from the signal path, giving a second, more open voice from the same box3. There is no bias control and no EQ; Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson noted that he would "typically want a more expanded feature set - say including a bias and some sort of variable EQ," but that he could understand the appeal of these simple devices3.
"I personally would typically want a more expanded feature set - say including a bias and some sort of variable EQ. But I"
History and versions
The original Jordan Boss Tone dates from the 1960s, and its simple circuit has made it a favorite for clones and DIY kits ever since; Guitar World notes that "thanks to its simple circuit, numerous clones and DIY kits abound"4. The pedal is also frequently associated with Randy California of Spirit5. In the mid '70s the Boss Tone was licensed to Sho-Bud, renamed the Sho-Sound Boss Tone and distributed by Gretsch4.
The Jordan name itself has a longer, tangled history. The Buzz Tone is a remake of the Jordan Boss Tone in pedal form, built by Mahoney Guitar Gear and incorporating the exact circuit path as found in the original vintage Jordan units1. Mahoney offers it in both the original-style plastic housing and a normal roadworthy stompbox format4.
The Buzz Tone name has its own lineage beyond Jordan. A Selmer Buzz Tone was sold in the 1960s, with original examples resurfacing in Germany and Switzerland, and there is a long-standing but unconfirmed rumor that Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd used one during his brief period with the group6. Höfner released its own version of the Buzz Tone in 19676. Separately, JHS released a limited edition Buzz Tone, a plugin recreation of the Boss Tone that Delicious Audio describes as "obviously nearly impossible to find"7.
The current Mahoney-built Buzz Tone is offered in two formats: the original-style plastic housing and a normal roadworthy stompbox format4.
How it compares to other Boss Tone builds
The Boss Tone circuit has been reinterpreted many times, and several other pedals carry the Buzz Tone name or the Boss Tone circuit:
- The BLAMMO! Electronics P2P Buzz Tone, a hand-wired version of the Jordan Boss Tone at $199.992
- The Jext Telez Buzz Tone, which adds a three-way voltage toggle from 3V to 6V to 9V8
- The DPE Pedals Buzz Tone, with a voltage selector switch offering two headroom settings9
- The PedalPCB Buzz Tone Fuzz, a DIY PCB at $8.0010
The Jordan Buzz Tone differs from most of these by keeping the original circuit path and control scheme rather than adding voltage or bias controls, and by carrying the Jordan name itself. Some players complain of the original Jordan Boss Tone being a little reedy, as Guitar World noted in its coverage of KMA Machines' Fuzzly Bear 2, another Boss Tone-derived fuzz11.
Videos
Leonard Griffie Blues
Mahoneyguitargear1
Shred Until Bed
Questions
Who makes the Jordan Buzz Tone?
The Buzz Tone is built by Mahoney Guitar Gear, the parent brand that reportedly acquired the Jordan trade mark around 2021 and revived the Jordan name with three contemporary fuzz builds: the Buzz Tone, the Spirit in the Sky Fuzz and the Acid Tone.
Is the Jordan Buzz Tone analog?
Yes. The Buzz Tone is an analog fuzz pedal that incorporates the exact circuit path found in the original vintage Jordan units, specifically the later PNP-NPN version built in Pasadena and Nashville.
What does the Mods switch do on the Jordan Buzz Tone?
The Mods switch is a single two-way switch. One position is stock; the other is a No Clipping option, which removes the clipping diodes from the circuit for a different, more open fuzz character.
Is the Jordan Buzz Tone based on the original Jordan Boss Tone?
Yes. It is a remake of the Jordan Boss Tone in pedal form, based on the later PNP-NPN version built in Pasadena and Nashville, and it uses the exact circuit path of the original vintage Jordan units.
Does the Jordan Buzz Tone have a bias control?
No. Its only controls are Volume (Level) and Attack, plus a two-way Mods switch. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer noted he would typically want a bias control and variable EQ, but understood the appeal of the simple format.
How much does the Jordan Buzz Tone cost?
The Jordan Buzz Tone was listed at $100 when the revived Jordan range was covered by Guitar Pedal X in April 2025, the same price as the Acid Tone, with the Spirit in the Sky Fuzz at $120.
Sources (11)
- Buzz Tone by Jordan, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- P2P Buzz Tone, BLAMMO! Electronics
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-04-17
- The Jordan Boss Tone fuzz is the original guitar plug-in, Guitar World, 2025-04-08
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-06-17
- Selmer Buzz Tone • Fuzzboxes, Fuzzboxes.org, 2021-05-13
- JHS Plugin Fuzz (Legends Of Fuzz Boss Tone Replica), Delicious Audio, 2023-02-27
- Jext Telez Buzz Tone Germanium Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2018-01-24
- DPE Pedals Buzz Tone Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2022-03-02
- Buzz Tone Fuzz, PedalPCB.com
- KMA Machines' take on the '70s cult Jordan Boss Tone fuzz, the Fuzzly Bear, returns, Guitar World, 2022-04-21
