The Hot Water is a fuzz pedal from Mask Audio Electronics, released in July 2025 as part of the maker's new budget line. Its hook is the circuit: the maker says it takes the same number of transistors normally found within a Big Muff and gets four times the amount of gain out of them1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, announcing the pedal, described it as "Big Muff-inspired circuitry with a surprising twist," noting that engineers "managed to extract four times the gain" while using the same transistor count as the classic fuzz2. The Big Muff itself, made by Electro-Harmonix, is one of the touchstone fuzz designs, and it is the usual starting point when players talk about classic fuzz tones3.
What it does to your sound
Mask Audio Electronics describes the Hot Water as "heavy, synthy, and compressed, but still has enough dynamic range that your original signal will shine through" when gain or volume is pulled back1. The maker also notes that the higher the gain, the more compressed the fuzz gets1. Delicious Audio frames its range at both ends of the dial: effective for adding subtle grit to cleaner tones, and "delivering full-throttle fuzz for stoner and doom genres" at full settings2.
The controls
MAE keeps operation simple with just two knobs2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| MORE | Traditional gain control, gives you more of what you want; higher gain makes the fuzz more compressed1 |
| LOUD | Master volume, turn up for more loud1 |
Delicious Audio's read of the same two knobs matches: LOUD adjusts output volume, and MORE controls gain saturation, with increasing compression at higher settings2. The pedal also carries a big LED, which the maker calls part of "an interesting pedal with a big LED for not a lot of money"1.
Power
The Hot Water uses a standard Boss style power supply: 9V DC through a 2.1mm center negative connector1. Delicious Audio adds one wrinkle worth knowing: while the pedal is capable of operating at 18V, MAE specifically recommends 9V operation for optimal tone2.
The pedal runs at 18V, but the maker recommends 9V for the best sound. A standard 9V center negative supply is the intended setup12.
Where it sits in the MAE range
The Hot Water is the budget entry in a maker with a deep fuzz bench. Elsewhere in the line, the Black Math takes its cue from the Big Muff NYC Reissue, the YES! is another two-knob fuzz, and the Cascader came out of Mask Audio Electronics' collaboration with Collector//Emitter2. For a wider look at the type, see the site's Fuzz Pedals page.
Videos
Mask Audio Electronics
collector//emitter
Questions
What power supply does the Mask Audio Hot Water use?
Mask Audio Electronics says the Hot Water uses a standard Boss style power supply: 9V DC through a 2.1mm center negative connector. Delicious Audio adds that the pedal is capable of running at 18V, but that MAE specifically recommends 9V operation for optimal tone, so a standard 9V center negative supply is the safe choice.
Is the Hot Water based on a Big Muff?
Yes, in spirit. The maker says the Hot Water takes the same number of transistors normally found within a Big Muff and gets four times the amount of gain out of them. Delicious Audio describes it as Big Muff-inspired circuitry with a surprising twist, using the same transistor count as the classic fuzz while extracting four times the gain.
What polarity is the Hot Water's power jack?
The Hot Water uses a standard center-negative power supply, the same polarity as Boss pedals and most modern pedalboard supplies. Combined with its 9V DC, 2.1mm connector requirement, it will work with a typical daisy chain or isolated supply built for standard 9V pedals.
How much does the Hot Water cost in the UK?
On the Mask Audio Electronics product page, as of 26 October 2026, the Hot Water is listed at £103.00. It is part of MAE's new budget line, positioned alongside the Trust Yourself pedal as an affordable option.
Sources (3)
- Hot Water, Mask Audio Electronics
- New Pedal: Mask Audio Hot Water Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2025-07-07
- That Pedal Show, That Pedal Show, 2016-11-11
