The Keeley Holy Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Keeley Electronics, built around a germanium OC75 transistor. It has been sold in limited production runs: the first run ended when Keeley's supply of the OC75 ran out, and the pedal was later relaunched for another limited run, with Keeley saying production will again stop when the parts run out1. The relaunched version was made in a run of only 86 copies2.
The sound and the Gate control
The Holy Fuzz's signature feature is its Gate control, which sits on the front of the pedal and is used to produce what players call the Velcro sound: a ripped, velcro-like stuttering tone. gearnews.com's Jef described it this way1:
"It's a term used frequently with fuzz pedals, the Velcro sound is available here"1
That stuttering, gated character is a texture associated with vintage-style fuzzes, and the Gate control puts it on a knob rather than leaving it to chance1.
A related idea appears on other fuzz designs: the Vein-Tap Holy Ghost Fuzz and Boost, for example, uses a Limit control to rein in the input from especially hot pickups, tightening the sound and giving the fuzz a vintage character3. The comparison shows the family of controls fuzz builders use to shape how the circuit reacts to the signal fed into it.
A limited run, and what reviewers made of it
The limited-run approach is not just marketing: the OC75 germanium transistor is in limited supply, and Keeley says each incarnation of the Holy Fuzz will stop being produced when that supply runs out1. That makes availability unpredictable from run to run.
Not every commentator was convinced by the format. gearnews.com's reviewer raised a reservation about the relaunch1:
"My only issue with this pedal is that it’s another ‘limited run’, but doesn’t really offer anything that isn’t already out there on the market today."1
The same reviewer noted that the pedal had been sold in at least one earlier production run, and possibly more, before the relaunch1.
Beyond guitar
Keeley's Holy Fuzz is aimed at guitarists, but gearnews.com suggested it need not stop there: "You'll be able to use the Holy Fuzz on guitars, but routing your other gear through this might be a lot of fun, too"1.
Other Keeley fuzzes
Keeley has built several fuzzes around different circuits and ideas, including the Keeley Moon Fuzz, the Keeley Octa Psi Transfigurating Fuzz with pitch shifting and octave generation, the Keeley Black Glass British Fuzz, the Keeley Loomer and the Keeley Suns Ultravoid Fuzz. The Holy Fuzz's distinguishing feature among them is its germanium OC75 circuit and its Gate control for the Velcro stutter effect12.
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Questions
What transistor does the Keeley Holy Fuzz use?
The Holy Fuzz is built around a germanium OC75 transistor. According to gearnews.com, the first production run ended when Keeley's supply of that transistor ran out, and the same limitation applies to later runs: production stops when the parts run out.
How many copies of the new Holy Fuzz were made?
The relaunched version of the Holy Fuzz was a limited run of only 86 copies, according to Delicious Audio. gearnews.com notes the pedal had been sold in at least one earlier production run before the relaunch, and possibly more.
How much does the Keeley Holy Fuzz cost?
gearnews.com listed the Keeley Holy Fuzz at an RRP of $229 plus shipping and taxes, as of February 2017.
What does the Gate control do on the Holy Fuzz?
The Gate control on the front of the Holy Fuzz is used to produce a ripped, velcro-like stuttering tone. The Velcro sound is a term used frequently with fuzz pedals, and gearnews.com describes it as available on the Holy Fuzz through this control.
Why is the Holy Fuzz a limited run?
The pedal depends on germanium OC75 transistors, which are in limited supply. According to Keeley, production stops when that supply runs out, which is why each run of the Holy Fuzz is limited.
Can the Holy Fuzz be used with instruments other than guitar?
Yes. gearnews.com suggests that while the Holy Fuzz works on guitars, routing other gear through it might be a lot of fun too.
Sources (3)
- Keeley resurrects and relaunches limited edition Holy Fuzz (again!), www.gearnews.com, 2017-02-05
- Keeley Electronics Holy Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2017-07-07
- Holy Ghost Fuzz and Boost Pedal, Vein-Tap.com, 2026-09-01
