The MayFly Le Habanero is a combination boost and fuzz pedal, designed to work well together in one enclosure. MayFly announced it in October 2024, designed with input from Trevor May and Lucas Haneman of LH Express, at a MAP price of $1851. The two sides can be used independently or stacked, and the pedal is described as very responsive to guitar volume and the player's touch1.
What it does
MayFly describes the boost side as designed to ride the edge between clean and grit, with Treble, Bass, Volume, and Drive controls1. The fuzz side is tuned to match the tonality of the boost side and offers a load of sustain and harmonics1. With Lucas Haneman's input, the pedal was tweaked to give a ton of tonal options, from clean to scream, by just using your fingers1.
Controls
The fuzz features a unique two-pole filter circuit and Deep switch to help match it with single coils or humbuckers1. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the Deep switch adds a little extra desert-rock woof, especially with humbuckers2. On the boost side, the reviewer noted the treble and bass controls extend the boost's voice from thick and smoky to lacerating at hotter settings2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review of the Le Habanero came away favorable on the pairing itself2:
"the characteristics of both effects make it a particularly effective one here, and the relative flexibility and utility"
The reviewer suggested the combination has more potential staying power than the often fickle boost and fuzz pairing2. For context on how a boost alone shapes a rig, see Boost Pedals, and for the other half of the circuit, see Fuzz Pedals.
Videos
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Questions
Can you use the boost and fuzz sides of the Le Habanero at the same time?
Yes. MayFly designed the Le Habanero so the boost and fuzz can be used independently or stacked together. The fuzz side is tuned to match the tonality of the boost side, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found the characteristics of both effects made the combination particularly effective, with more staying power than many boost and fuzz pairings.
What does the Deep switch do on the Le Habanero?
The Deep switch sits on the fuzz side of the pedal. Premier Guitar's review described it as adding a little extra desert-rock woof, especially with humbuckers. Along with the two-pole Tone filter, it helps match the fuzz to single coils or humbuckers.
Is the MayFly Le Habanero true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses full bypass with relays, and includes MayFly's Failsafe circuitry, according to the press release announcing the pedal.
Who designed the MayFly Le Habanero?
The pedal was designed by MayFly with input from Trevor May and Lucas Haneman of LH Express. With Haneman's input, the pedal was tweaked to give a wide range of tonal options, from clean to scream, using the player's fingers and guitar volume.
Does the Le Habanero work with single coils and humbuckers?
Yes. The fuzz side features a unique two-pole filter circuit and a Deep switch specifically to help match it with single coils or humbuckers, so players can dial the fuzz in for either pickup type.
Sources (2)
- MayFly Audio & Lucas Haneman Unveil Le Habanero Boost/Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2024-10-03
- MayFly Le Habanero Review, Premier Guitar, 2025-04-25