The KMA Minos is a germanium fuzz pedal from KMA Machines, built as a modern take on the old-fashioned three-stage germanium fuzz sound. The company describes it as derived from and inspired by the legendary Tonebender MKII and the unique, but now hard-to-find Superfuzz pedals1. In a 2019 interview with Guitar.com, KMA's Enrico Preuss called it "a hybrid between a classic Tone Bender MkII and a Supa Fuzz"2.
The Minos is a legacy product and is listed as DISCONTINUED on KMA Machines' product page as of October 20261.
What it does to your sound
KMA's pitch for the Minos is range as much as raw fuzz. The maker says you can "sweep through any shades of dirty tone, from raunchy low gain distortion to thick angry fuzz"1. Paolo De Gregorio of The Pedal Zone, in a Delicious Audio demo, put it the same way: "Our attempt of the tonebender-ish style pedal has a broader range of gain structures"3. He added that "its versatility gives you a tool for different style of fuzz sounds and music"3.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| INPUT | Dials in the amount of pre-gain and bass input. Turned left it gives a gritty and crisp overdriven tone; turned up it gives a thick and woolly fuzz1 |
| Tone-cut | Tames the brightness on full gain3 |
| Three-way switch | Sets the bass response at the output, choosing between lo-fi jangle, punchy low mid or deep and boomy fuzz3 |
| Internal trim-pots (x2) | Set the bias of the second and third transistor, changing the overall character of the fuzz3 |
The INPUT control is the heart of the pedal's range. KMA says it lets you "dial in the perfect amount of pre-gain and bass input"1, and De Gregorio described the same sweep from "a gritty and crisp overdriven sound" counter-clockwise to "a thick and whooly fuzz sound" turned up3. The two internal trim-pots are worth knowing about before buying a used unit: they set the bias of the second and third transistor, which is where much of a germanium fuzz's character lives3.
Where it came from
The Minos was KMA Machines' modern approach to the three-stage germanium fuzz sound, a circuit topology with roots in the Tonebender MKII and Superfuzz designs1. De Gregorio's demo called it "KMA Audio Machines' modern approach of the old fashioned and beloved three stage germanium sound"3. KMA has since gone in other directions with fuzz, including the silicon Fuzzly Bear 2 and the Chief Disruptor, but the Minos remains the company's germanium entry in the fuzz field.
Videos
KMA Machines
The Pedal Zone
Eirik Stordrange
Questions
Is the KMA Minos discontinued?
Yes. KMA Machines lists the Minos as a legacy product and marks it DISCONTINUED on its product page as of October 2026. It was a germanium fuzz pedal, so any used unit will depend on the condition and consistency of its germanium transistors, and KMA's newer fuzz designs such as the Chief Disruptor and Mandrake Octo Shrieker have taken different approaches.
Is the KMA Minos true bypass?
Yes. KMA Machines specifies True Bypass for the Minos, so the signal passes straight through when the pedal is off, with no buffering in the bypass path.
Is the KMA Minos analog?
Yes. KMA Machines lists the circuit as ANALOG. It is a three-stage germanium fuzz, a fully analog design with no digital processing.
What power supply does the KMA Minos need?
The Minos runs on 9 V DC with a negative centre polarity and draws 45 mA, according to KMA Machines' product page. There is no battery option listed, so plan a supply with enough current headroom rather than sharing a low-current daisy chain output.
What circuits is the KMA Minos based on?
KMA Machines describes the Minos as derived from and inspired by the legendary Tonebender MKII and the now hard-to-find Superfuzz pedals. In a 2019 interview with Guitar.com, KMA's Enrico Preuss called it a hybrid between a classic Tone Bender MkII and a Supa Fuzz.
Sources (3)
- Minos - DISCONTINUED | KMA Machines, KMA Machines
- Interview: Enrico Preuss of KMA Audio Machines, guitar.com, 2019-03-11
- KMA Audio Machines Minos Germanium Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2019-08-16
