The Kuro Custom Audio 19 42 Fuzz and Filter is an analog pedal from the Italian maker Kuro Custom Audio that puts a gated square-wave fuzz and a synth-style filter in one box. Pedal of the Day describes it as "a square wave gated fuzz and a classic filter, like the ones found on '70s synthesizers," and notes that it "takes, well, a fuzz and a filter, and smashes them together"1. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson calls it a 4-in-1 fuzz, filter, envelope and FX loop pedal, designed by Giulio as "an analog Filter Fuzz with independently usable functions and warbly swell textures"2. It was reviewed and available for order at €349 RRP as of 31 January 20242.
What it does to your sound
The fuzz side is an expressive gated square-wave fuzz, the kind of circuit that chops your signal into a synth-like square wave with a gated, percussive attack. The filter side is what Guitar Pedal X calls an "Extended Range Variable Band Resonant Synth-style Filter"2, and it can be set to low-pass, band-pass or high-pass modes. Together they cover territory closer to a synth pedal than a conventional fuzz, and the envelope section adds auto-wah-style movement in the manner of a dedicated filter pedal.
Pedal of the Day's verdict: "This big beast is an absolute blast to experiment with," calling it "a magical, options-laden music box overall"1.
The controls
The 19 42 carries 11 controls across its four sections, each with its own footswitch3:
| Section | Controls |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Fuzz (gain), Volume, Fuzz footswitch |
| Envelope | ENV on/off, Attack, Send (sensitivity / trigger threshold), Decay, Sweep |
| Filter | Frequency, Resonance, Level, low-pass / band-pass / high-pass selector, Filter footswitch |
| FX Loop | Send, Return, Activate footswitch |
The envelope section gives you control over Sensitivity, Sweep, Attack and Decay, shaping how the filter responds to your picking dynamics1. The Frequency knob sets the filter's center point, with Resonance and Level alongside it2.
Using the sections separately and with expression
The fuzz and filter can be used individually or together, "giving you a broad spectrum of sounds to explore"1. Each has its own footswitch, so you can engage just the fuzz, just the filter, or both2.
The Exp/CV jack accepts an expression pedal, a CV source or an LFO to control the Filter Frequency. Guitar Pedal X reports that Kuro tested it with "classic" 10k linear taper expression pedals such as M-Audio and Roland units2. If you already own an expression pedal, it can sweep the filter hands-free.
The FX loop has its own Send and Return jacks and an Activate footswitch, so it is a switchable part of the pedal rather than a hardwired patch point2.
The name and how it compares
The unusual name "19 42" is not a reference to a year or date. Guitar Pedal X explains that it "signifies the immaculate interaction of two highly complementary elements," a nod to the pedal's principal fuzz and filter abilities2.
In Guitar Pedal X's December 2024 roundup of the year's fuzz pedals, Stefan Karlsson wrote that "this 19 42 is so much the better filter fuzz with vastly extended feature set" compared to the Collision Devices TARS, counting 11 controls all-in overall on the Kuro3.
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Questions
Can the fuzz and filter sections be used separately?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that the two sections can be used individually or together, giving a broad spectrum of sounds to explore. Each section has its own footswitch, so you can run the fuzz alone, the filter alone, or both stacked in the order the pedal provides.
Can I use an expression pedal or CV with the Kuro Custom Audio 19 42?
Yes. The pedal has an Exp/CV jack that accepts an expression pedal, a CV source or an LFO to control the Filter Frequency. Guitar Pedal X reports that Kuro tested it with classic 10k linear taper expression pedals such as M-Audio and Roland units.
Does the 19 42 have an effects loop?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X describes the 19 42 as a 4-in-1 fuzz, filter, envelope and FX loop pedal. The loop has Send and Return jacks and its own Activate footswitch, so it can be switched in and out as part of the pedal.
What does the name 19 42 mean?
According to Guitar Pedal X, the name is not a reference to a year or date. It signifies the immaculate interaction of two highly complementary elements, pointing to the pedal's principal fuzz and filter abilities.
How does the 19 42 differ from the Collision Devices TARS?
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, writing in December 2024, called the 19 42 so much the better filter fuzz with a vastly extended feature set compared to the Collision Devices TARS, counting 11 controls all-in overall on the Kuro.
Sources (3)
- Kuro Custom Audio 19 42 Fuzz and Filter, Pedal of the Day, 2024-03-09
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-01-31
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-18
