The KO Amps Rhino Mini Fuzz is a compact fuzz pedal from KO Amps, built around the Skreddy Mayonaise circuit in its MKII variety, which is itself a take on the Triangle Big Muff. It appeared in Guitar Pedal X's 2022 selection of mini fuzz pedals, listed at $1501. For players after a Big Muff style fuzz in a small enclosure, it sits alongside other compact options covered on the Fuzz Pedals type page.
What it does
As a Big Muff derived fuzz, the Rhino takes its character from the Triangle Big Muff lineage: the early, low-gain-leaning version of that circuit that the Skreddy Mayonaise reinterprets. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described the Mayonaise as "a fantastic take on the Triangle Big Muff", and the Rhino carries that circuit into a mini pedal format1. Players comparing it with other KO Amps compact fuzzes can also look at the KO Amps Ko. 31 Fuzz - Orange and the KO Amps KO Sound Mini Fuzz.
The Mayo to Rhino rename
The pedal was not always called the Rhino. According to Guitar Pedal X, Kevin O'Reilly originally labeled it the Mayo, and had built several pedals with that label, but was nervous about the name at the time and renamed it the Rhino1. The rename is a naming change only: the circuit behind the pedal is the same Mayonaise based design either way1.
Questions
Why is it called the Rhino and not the Mayo?
Kevin O'Reilly of KO Amps originally built the pedal under the Mayo label, and had made several with that name, but he was nervous about using it and renamed the pedal the Rhino. The circuit itself did not change with the new name.
What circuit is the Rhino Mini Fuzz based on?
Guitar Pedal X describes the Rhino as based on the Skreddy Mayonaise, in its MKII variety, which is itself a take on the Triangle Big Muff. That places it in the Big Muff family of fuzzes, in a mini pedal format.
Sources (1)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-04-26
