The KittycasterFX Mohair Fuzzstortion is a high-gain fuzz pedal that pairs a fuzz circuit with a treble booster, both in one enclosure. MusicRadar describes the fuzz side as close to the Ram's Head Big Muff style of fuzz, with a footswitchable Rangemaster-style booster circuit placed in front of it1. It sits in the fuzz family, but the built-in boost is what sets it apart from a straight Muff-style pedal.
Circuit and design
The Mohair uses five silicon transistors in a circuit put together from discrete, through-hole components, and it comes in a wedge-style enclosure1. The booster half is Rangemaster-inspired, and MusicRadar reports that designer Howard Gee, who is not a fan of Muff-style fuzz, made one anyway: sticking the treble booster in front of the fuzz, and making it footswitchable, was, in the article's telling, the answer to making the circuit work for him1.
The Mohair Fuzzstortion is built around five silicon transistors in a circuit that kittycasterFX describes as being put together from discrete, through-hole components. It comes in a wedge-style enclosure and, according to the maker, is available now2.
Controls and footswitches
The Mohair keeps things simple: two oversized dials for Volume and Sustain, where Volume sets the output level and Sustain shapes the fuzz1. Two footswitches activate the pedal and the boost respectively, so a player can move between the non-boosted fuzz and the treble-boosted version of it without touching a knob1.
"A luxurious and refined take on a classic circuit"
What it sounds like
MusicRadar's write-up describes the Mohair as taking a player from "early '70s classic rock leads to later '70s treble-boosted overdriven amp riffs to '90s shoegaze walls of sound"1. In practical terms, the fuzz alone covers the Ram's Head territory, and engaging the Rangemaster-style boost in front of it pushes the circuit toward brighter, more overdriven textures. The reviewer's overall verdict was a luxurious and refined take on a classic circuit with super-versatile performance1.
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Questions
Who designs KittycasterFX pedals?
KittycasterFX pedals are designed by Howard Gee, described by MusicRadar as the KittycasterFX mastermind. Gee is a former Catalinbread designer who formed kittycasterFX in July 2020 with a founding team including Scott Miller, Steve Hamari, Boris Lutskovsky and Jean Mastaler. The company debuted in April 2022 with the Tremdriver preamp/harmonic tremolo and the Groovy Wizard Fuzz Driver.
Is the Mohair Fuzzstortion based on a Big Muff?
MusicRadar describes the Mohair's fuzz circuit as close to the Ram's Head Big Muff style of fuzz. Notably, Howard Gee is not a fan of Muff-style fuzz but made one anyway, pairing it with a Rangemaster-inspired treble booster placed in front of the fuzz circuit.
What does the boost footswitch do on the Mohair Fuzzstortion?
The Mohair Fuzzstortion has two footswitches: one activates the pedal and the other activates the boost. The boost is a Rangemaster-style treble booster circuit placed in front of the fuzz, and making it footswitchable lets players switch between boosted and non-boosted modes on the fly.
Where is the Mohair Fuzzstortion made?
The Mohair Fuzzstortion is designed and built in Portland, Oregon, according to MusicRadar's report on its launch.
How much does the Mohair Fuzzstortion cost?
The Mohair Fuzzstortion was priced at $299 in the United States (and £243 in the UK) when it launched on April 30, 2024, and was available at that time.
Sources (2)
- “A luxurious and refined take on a classic circuit”: KittycasterFX reimagines the Muff with the Mohair Fuzzstortion, pairing fuzz with a treble booster circuit for super-versatile performance, MusicRadar, 2024-04-30
- Howard Gee's kittycasterFX makes its debut with Tremdriver preamp/harmonic tremolo and Groovy Wizard fuzz pedals, guitarworld.com, 2022-04-14
