The Leprechaun FX Paddy Whacker is a high gain distortion pedal in a mini enclosure, designed in collaboration with Dr Scientist's Ryan Clarke and hand painted by Leprechaun FX. It came out of a collaboration between Leprechaun FX and Dr Scientist Sounds and became available from the Leprechaun FX webstore in March 2024 at $199 CAD, which Guitar Pedal X equates to circa $150 USD12.
Controls and sound
Guitar Pedal X describes the pedal as having what the reviewer calls a really smart four knob control layout: Gain, Volume, Contour, and a Dry>Wet Mix1. The reviewer described the pedal's character as verging on fuzz at times, which he called a somewhat subtle distinction from distortion1. He was not sold on every control choice, writing:
"so the Mix knob is kinda sorta surplus to my requirements here. I would have probably preferred a second tone control"
Versions and swirl finishes
Each Paddy Whacker is finished in a dipped paint process in the Landgraff style swirly paint jobs, and no two batches look alike. The versions Guitar Pedal X has covered21:
- Mostly green: the original examples1
- Mostly blue: seen in the release coverage2
- Red and black swirl on a silver sparkle enclosure: the example in the reviewer's own follow up1
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson wrote of the paintwork:
"I'm quite the fan of those Landgraff style swirly paint jobs - which skill Leprechaun's Patrick has very evidently maste"
The dipped paint finish can be uneven and, per Guitar Pedal X, "The finish is also not as robust as UV Printing or powder coating"2. Players who gig hard should treat the enclosure accordingly.
Availability
The Paddy Whacker is not a pedal you can order any day of the week. Guitar Pedal X reported it available from the Leprechaun FX webstore at launch in March 20242, and by June 2024 described it as sporadically available, made in very small batches of roughly a handful of pedals each, advising that "you need to react quickly whenever you see that more have materialised"1.
Videos
colji
Dr. Scientist Sounds
Disembodied Studio
Questions
Who designed the Leprechaun FX Paddy Whacker?
The Paddy Whacker was designed in collaboration with Dr Scientist's Ryan Clarke, working with Leprechaun FX. Guitar Pedal X reports that Leprechaun FX collaborated with Ryan and Neil at Dr Scientist Sounds on the pedal, which Leprechaun FX hand paints in swirly finishes.
How much does the Paddy Whacker cost in US dollars?
Guitar Pedal X lists the Paddy Whacker at $199 CAD, which the publication equates to circa $150 USD. That figure dates from the pedal's 2024 release coverage, and availability has been sporadic since.
Is the Paddy Whacker hard to find?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X describes it as sporadically available, made in very small batches of roughly a handful of pedals each, and advises reacting quickly whenever new stock appears on the Leprechaun FX webstore.
Are the swirl paint jobs durable?
Guitar Pedal X notes that the dipped paint process used for the Landgraff style swirl finishes can be uneven and is less robust than UV printing or powder coating. The reviewer still counts himself a fan of the swirl paint jobs, a skill he says Leprechaun's Patrick has evidently mastered.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-17
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-21