The MXR Classic 108 Fuzz is a fuzz pedal made by MXR, built around the silicon BC-108 transistor for what the maker calls "a round and dirty crunch"12. Its most familiar form today is the Classic 108 Fuzz Mini, model M296, which MXR says gives you "all the same vintage fuzz tones in a much smaller footprint" as the larger original32.
What it does
The pedal is a straightforward vintage fuzz. Two knobs do the work: the Output knob controls overall effect volume, and the Fuzz knob controls fuzz intensity1. MXR's own instruction is simply to "crank the Volume and Fuzz controls to your liking and start riffing"3.
A third control sits on the side. The Buffer switch "removes high-end roll off and oscillation caused by some wah pedals," which MXR sums up as a way to "make the fuzz play nice with wah pedals"1. For a player running a wah into a fuzz, that switch is the practical difference between this and a bare two-knob fuzz.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Controls overall effect volume1 |
| Fuzz | Controls fuzz intensity1 |
| Buffer switch | Removes high-end roll off and oscillation caused by some wah pedals1 |
Where the circuit comes from
The Classic 108 is not an original design so much as a repackaging of a famous one. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that "while not a Fuzz Face in name, the Classic 108 Fuzz (Mini) is essentially the same circuit that's in Dunlop's Jimi Hendrix" Fuzz Face, a silicon Fuzz Face circuit4. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson puts it the same way: "So the 108 is simply the Type II Silicon half of that pedal," meaning the BC-108 transistor version of the Fuzz Face53.
That lineage explains the sound description MXR leans on, the round and dirty crunch of a vintage silicon fuzz, and it places the pedal alongside other MXR takes on the format, such as the MXR Hybrid Fuzz, which combines silicon and germanium transistors in one Fuzz Face based circuit.
The Mini version
The M296 Classic 108 Fuzz Mini carries the same circuit as its larger predecessor, loaded with the silicon BC-108 transistor1. It was shown at NAMM 2018, where Delicious Audio filmed a video of it6. MXR also offers a Classic 108 Fuzz Mini parts listing under the M173-PARTS designation2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the Mini in June 2023 and found "a nice range of silicon Fuzz Face tones," concluding4:
"Factor in the convenience of the mini enclosure and the Classic 108 adds up to a very sweet, and sweetly fuzzy, deal4."
Premier Guitar, June 20234
Videos
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jimdunlopusa
TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow
Questions
What does the MXR Classic 108 Fuzz do?
It is a fuzz pedal that delivers vintage fuzz tones with what MXR describes as a round and dirty crunch, thanks to its silicon BC-108 transistor. Two knobs, Output and Fuzz, set the effect volume and fuzz intensity, and a buffer switch on the side lets it sit happily in front of a wah pedal.
What circuit is the Classic 108 Fuzz based on?
According to Premier Guitar, it is essentially the same silicon Fuzz Face circuit found in Dunlop's Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face, just not carrying the Fuzz Face name. Guitar Pedal X likewise describes it as the Type II silicon half of that pedal, built on BC-108 transistors.
How does the Classic 108 Fuzz Mini differ from the original?
The Mini, model M296, packs the same vintage fuzz tones and the same BC-108 silicon transistor circuit into a much smaller enclosure. Premier Guitar found the mini format convenient and called the pedal a very sweet deal overall.
Sources (6)
- M296.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2022
- MXR® CLASSIC 108 FUZZ MINI, Jim Dunlop (www.jimdunlop.com)
- MXR® CLASSIC 108 FUZZ MINI, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Quick Hit: MXR Classic 108 Fuzz (Mini) Review, Premier Guitar, 2018-06-21
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-04-26
- MXR Classic 108 Fuzz Mini, Delicious Audio, 2023-05-19
