The Mad Professor FUZZ32 is a hand-wired germanium fuzz pedal, built in Finland and offered in a very limited run. It is aimed at players who want the character of a vintage germanium fuzz without the quirks that come with old circuits: Mad Professor designed it to make germanium fuzz more stable than vintage pedals, some of which have innate problems1. At launch the blue version was available for shipping, with the red and turquoise finishes still to come2.
A modern take on the germanium Fuzz Face
Germanium transistors are the heart of the classic fuzz sound, but vintage germanium pedals are notorious for behaving unpredictably. The FUZZ32 keeps the germanium transistors and the hand-wired construction while addressing that stability problem. Stefan Karlsson, writing in Guitar Pedal X, called it "a neat modern take on a Germanium Fuzz Face - combining vintage and modern circuit techniques"4. Mad Professor says the pedal "is not as delicate to temperature" than its vintage counterparts, according to gearnews.com1.
The High Output version of the FUZZ32 also brings practical benefits for a modern pedalboard: "so you get the vintage tones with more output volume and no need for an inverted polarity power supply"4. That means it can sit on a standard supply alongside your other pedals rather than needing special treatment.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level4 |
| Gain (Fuzz) | Knob controlling gain2 |
| Tone | Tone shaping4 |
| Boost mini-toggle | Engages the boost function, which ramps up the volume and gain for a searing lead tone2 |
The boost toggle is the pedal's extra gear. guitar.com described it as a mini-toggle that engages the boost, "which ramps up the volume and gain for a searing lead tone"2. Guitar Pedal X summed up the same control as "a Boost switch for even more push"4.
Limited run and finishes
The FUZZ32 was offered in a very limited quantity: only 96 pedals will be available1. The run is split across three finishes:
- Blue: the first batch of 32, available for shipping at launch21
- Red: following batch, not yet available at launch21
- Turquoise: following batch, not yet available at launch21
The blue version was the only one available for shipping when the pedal launched in February 2020; the red and turquoise finishes came later in the run2.
Price and availability
The FUZZ32 carried an RRP of EUR 290, with guitar.com listing the blue version at EUR 290 (EUR 233.87 for non-EU customers)21. Guitar World reported the blue version at EUR 290, approximately $3203. gearnews.com's writer noted that "the price is more affordable than many boutique hand-wired germanium fuzz pedals, which is nice"1.
Related
Mad Professor later returned to hand-wired germanium fuzz with the Mad Professor Milestone Handwired Germanium Fuzz, announced in September 2026. For the wider field, see the site's Fuzz Pedals page.
Videos
Mad Professor Amplification
Mad Professor Amplification
Questions
Is the Mad Professor FUZZ32 a germanium fuzz?
Yes. The FUZZ32 uses germanium transistors in a hand-wired circuit. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as a modern take on a Germanium Fuzz Face that combines vintage and modern circuit techniques, and Mad Professor says the design is not as delicate to temperature as vintage germanium pedals, which are known for inconsistent behavior.
How many FUZZ32 pedals will be made?
Only 96 pedals will be available, according to gearnews.com. The first batch of 32 are all blue, with following batches sporting red and turquoise finishes, which works out at 32 pedals in each of the three colors.
Does the FUZZ32 run on a battery or a power supply?
It can run on either. The pedal has a 9V input, so it can be run off a standard power supply instead of a battery. Guitar Pedal X also noted that the High Output version removes the need for an inverted polarity power supply, a common annoyance with vintage-style germanium fuzzes.
What does the boost switch do on the FUZZ32?
A mini-toggle engages the pedal's boost function, which ramps up the volume and gain for a searing lead tone, according to guitar.com. Guitar Pedal X listed the controls as Volume, Fuzz, Tone and a Boost switch for even more push.
Where is the Mad Professor FUZZ32 made?
The FUZZ32 is hand-built in Finland. gearnews.com reported that all of the pedals are hand-built there, and noted that hand-building takes time, which is part of why the run is small.
What colors does the FUZZ32 come in?
The FUZZ32 comes in three colors: blue, red and turquoise. The first batch of 32 pedals are all blue, with the red and turquoise finishes following in later batches. At launch, the blue version was available for shipping while the red and turquoise were not yet available.
Sources (4)
- Mad Professor FUZZ32: A (very) limited edition hand-wired germanium fuzz pedal, gearnews.com, 2020-02-06
- Mad Professor introduces the limited-edition Fuzz32, guitar.com, 2020-02-05
- Mad Professor's FUZZ32 is a hand-wired germanium fuzz “without the shortcomings”, Guitar World, 2020-02-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2020-12-18
