The MMK Electrics Pavlof Fuzz is an analog fuzz pedal offered in two circuit topologies: a Darlington Electra and a Silicon Fuzz Face. Both are built around two knobs, two transistors, and two footswitches, with a cleanup function toggled at a footswitch click. Pedal of the Day reviewed both iterations on 6 September 2025, calling them "TWO incredible new fuzzes"1.
The two versions
The Pavlof Fuzz comes in two different iterations, each with its own character1:
- Darlington Electra: This Darlington circuit has a fuzztortion characteristic, running from a treble boost character to full bodied fuzz. Players who like the edge between an overdrive and a fuzz will find that territory covered here; for related flavors, see Overdrive Pedals and Distortion Pedals.
- Silicon Fuzz Face: A usable fixed fuzz and bias, described as like having the "fuzz" control on your Fuzz Face slightly dialed back. It cleans up to a classic glassed, smooth bluesy tone.
"Two Knobs, two transistors, two footswitches, these Pavlofs are easy to use analog fuzzes, with a rad cleanup function"
Controls and features
Both versions share the same layout: two knobs on top and two footswitches below. A click of the cleanup footswitch toggles the cleanup function, and an internal trim sets your desired cleanup amount, so the second voice is dialed in before you play rather than adjusted on the fly1.
The feature list, as reviewed by Pedal of the Day1:
- Bourns Audio transformer
- High pass filter
- Internal thumb adjustable trimmer
Build and where it is made
MMK Electrics pedals are hand-built, with steel enclosures that are bent, powder coated, and hand-screened1. The Pavlof Fuzz is a hand-built pedal offered in two models, one with a Fuzz Face foundation and one with a Darlington Electra foundation2.
The Pavlof Fuzz is a hand-built pedal from a small builder. The Silicon Fuzz Face version uses a fixed fuzz and bias rather than an external bias knob, so the cleanup trim inside the pedal is the way to shape its response.
For another fuzz from the same builder, see the MMK Electrics Norris Fuzz3. More circuits of this kind are collected on the Fuzz Pedals page.
Videos
R.J. Ronquillo
Sasha Ivantic
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What are the two versions of the MMK Pavlof Fuzz?
The Pavlof Fuzz comes in two circuit topologies: a Darlington Electra and a Silicon Fuzz Face. The Darlington version has a fuzztortion character, running from a treble boost flavor to full bodied fuzz, while the Silicon Fuzz Face version is a fixed fuzz and bias design that cleans up to a classic glassed, smooth bluesy tone. Both are easy to use analog fuzzes with two knobs and two footswitches.
What transistors does the Pavlof Fuzz use?
The Silicon Fuzz Face version of the Pavlof is a fixed fuzz circuit built with Fairchild 2N2222A transistors. The Darlington Electra version, as its name suggests, uses a Darlington circuit topology instead. Both versions use two transistors, matching the pedal's two-knob, two-footswitch layout.
What does the internal trim do on the Pavlof?
The internal trim on the Pavlof Fuzz sets your desired cleanup amount. It is a thumb adjustable trimmer mounted inside the pedal, so you set how far the cleanup function pulls the fuzz back, then use the cleanup footswitch to toggle it while playing. The circuit also includes a Bourns Audio transformer and a high pass filter.
What does the cleanup footswitch do?
The Pavlof Fuzz has two footswitches, and a click of the second one toggles the cleanup function. How much the signal cleans up is set beforehand with the internal trim, so you can jump between full fuzz and a cleaner, more open voice without touching a knob.
Where is the MMK Electrics Pavlof Fuzz made?
MMK Electrics pedals are hand-crafted in Alaska. The steel enclosures are broken, powder coated, and hand-screened on the Kenai Peninsula, so each Pavlof Fuzz is built and finished by hand in the maker's home state.
Sources (3)
- MMK Electrics Pavlof Fuzz (Darlington Electra & Silicon Fuzz Face), Pedal of the Day, 2025-09-06
- New Pedal: MMK Electronics Pavlov Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2025-07-22
- MMK Electrics Norris Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2023-08-27
