The Sona Fuzz is MAS Effects' extreme, high gain fuzz pedal, which the maker describes as an "Extreme, High Gain Fuzz Pedal with a Touch of Class."1 It is a four-transistor silicon design: Premier Guitar describes it as an "extremely high-gain fuzz... designed for simple biasing and predictable, stable behavior," which puts it on the stable side of the silicon versus germanium divide.231 The pedal is currently listed as sold out on the MAS Effects store.1
Designer and circuit lineage
Premier Guitar's reviewer calls the Sona Fuzz "the brainchild of pedal builder Mark A. Stratman, a former software engineer."5 On the maker's own page, MAS Effects credits the circuit as a group effort, naming Doug Hammond, Gus Smalley and Aron Nelson as the primary contributors.2
Where the circuit came from is part of its story too. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley reported that "the pedal evolved out of a much-shared DIY fuzz circuit," which helps explain the collaborative credit list.6
Controls and switching
The pedal keeps its control set simple. The Fuzz knob, in MAS Effects' own words, "sets the amount of gain, distortion, fuzz, sustain, or whatever you want to call it."2
The footswitch does more than turn the pedal on and off. It is a soft-touch switch with three behaviors2:
- Tap to switch between true bypass and engaged
- Hold to temporarily bypass when engaged, or temporarily engage when bypassed
- Hold while connecting power to toggle the pedal's power-on state2
Because bypass is handled by a relay rather than a mechanical switch, the soft-touch footswitch works quietly and the pedal remembers its state between power cycles.2
Power
The Sona Fuzz runs on 9V DC through a 2.1mm center negative connector and draws 19mA. The power supply is not included.2
There is no internal battery clip, so the Sona Fuzz needs an external 9V DC supply.2
Finishes
MAS Effects offered the Sona Fuzz in three powder coats: the standard Natural finish, plus special limited Sparkle and Sunshine finishes.4 Premier Guitar's reviewer described the Sunshine version as a "sunshine yellow enclosure (one of three available finishes), and gold knobs."5 The store's product gallery has also shown a Silver variant alongside Sparkle, Sunshine and Natural.1
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away impressed by how early the sustain arrives on the control: "Sustain is already excellent at this level, especially with the body switch on."5 That points to a pedal that does useful work well below full fuzz settings, not only at its extreme end.
Related MAS Effects fuzz pedals
MAS Effects builds fuzz across a wide range of formats, from the full-size StompFuzz and Wendigo Scrambler to the compact PicoFuzz, Ridiculously Tiny Fuzz and the long-running Tiny Fuzz series. The Sona Fuzz sits at the high-gain, feature-rich end of that range.2
Videos
AndyDemos
R.J. Ronquillo
Mike Hermans
Questions
Is the MAS Effects Sona Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. The Sona Fuzz uses relay switched true bypass. The soft-touch footswitch taps to switch between true bypass and engaged, and holding it temporarily bypasses or engages the pedal. Holding the switch while connecting power toggles the pedal's power-on state.
Does the Sona Fuzz take a battery?
No. MAS Effects states the Sona Fuzz has no internal battery clip, so it runs from an external power supply only. The supply is not included with the pedal.
What power supply does the Sona Fuzz need?
The Sona Fuzz needs a 9V DC supply with a 2.1mm center negative connector, drawing 19mA. The power supply is not included, so you will need to add one if you do not already have a suitable supply on your board.
Is the Sona Fuzz a silicon or germanium fuzz?
It is a silicon fuzz. Premier Guitar describes it as a four-transistor, silicon, extremely high-gain fuzz designed for simple biasing and predictable, stable behavior, which sets it apart from the touchier germanium fuzz designs.
What finishes does the Sona Fuzz come in?
Three powder coats have been available: the standard Natural finish, plus special limited Sparkle and Sunshine finishes. The Sunshine version is a yellow enclosure with gold knobs, and the product gallery has also shown a Silver variant.
Who designed the Sona Fuzz?
Premier Guitar calls the Sona Fuzz the brainchild of pedal builder Mark A. Stratman, a former software engineer. MAS Effects lists Doug Hammond, Gus Smalley and Aron Nelson as the primary contributors to the circuit.
Sources (6)
- Sona Fuzz by MAS Effects, MAS Effects (shop.mas-effects.com)
- Sona Fuzz, MAS Effects
- Sona Fuzz by MAS Effects, MAS Effects
- MAS Effects Introduces the Sona Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2022-04-04
- Sona Fuzz Guitar Fuzz Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2022-09-04
- Mas Effects promises extreme high-gain with “a touch of class” from its new Sona Fuzz, MusicRadar, 2021-11-30
