The NoiseKICK FX Diabeetus Tremolo Fuzz is a two-channel pedal that puts an optical tremolo and a silicon fuzz in one enclosure. Pedal of the Day, which featured it in May 2025, called it "a bold-looking and sounding effects unit" and described it as "getting down and dirty while taking you on a fun, modulated sonic adventure at the same time"1. It sits in the overlap between Tremolo Pedals and Fuzz Pedals.
Two channels, one box
The pedal is built as two effects side by side. The left channel activates the optical tremolo, a circuit that shapes volume with a light and sensor rather than a mechanical or digital gain change. The right channel activates the silicon fuzz, a clipping style associated with the classic, compressed and aggressive character of fuzz designs. The two channels can be used independently or stacked together, so the fuzz can sit under the tremolo's modulation1.
Controls
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Tremolo | Sets the rate of the tremolo's modulation1 |
| Depth | Tremolo | Sets how far the tremolo sweeps the volume1 |
| Shape | Tremolo | Toggle switch that goes from a smooth to a more choppy waveform1 |
| Fuzz (Volume) | Fuzz | Single knob controlling the fuzz channel's level1 |
The Shape switch is the control that sets the Diabeetus apart from a straightforward tremolo-plus-fuzz arrangement: it changes the feel of the modulation from a gentle swell to a harder, choppier pulse1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review was positive on both the design and the sound. On the pedal's character, the reviewer wrote1:
"this pedal checks all of those boxes as well"
On the sound itself:
"it really makes some amazing sounds"
Name and background
The pedal draws strong reactions from reviewers: Pedal of the Day's writeup describes it as unusual and intriguing, noting that "this pedal checks all of those boxes as well"1.
The Diabeetus is a small-shop handmade pedal.
Videos
Noisekick FX
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Can I use the tremolo and fuzz channels separately on the Diabeetus?
Yes. The left channel activates the optical tremolo and the right channel activates the silicon fuzz, and Pedal of the Day notes the two channels can be used independently or stacked together, so you can run tremolo alone, fuzz alone, or the fuzz modulated by the tremolo.
Is the NoiseKICK FX Diabeetus true bypass?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, the pedal is handmade and wired for true bypass, meaning the signal passes through untouched when the effect is switched off.
What does the Shape switch do?
The Shape toggle switch changes the character of the tremolo's modulation, allowing you to go from a smooth waveform to a more choppy one, per Pedal of the Day's review.
Is the Diabeetus Tremolo Fuzz handmade?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the pedal as handmade and wired for true bypass.
Why is it named after Wilford Brimley?
The name is a homage to the actor. Pedal of the Day's writeup opens with the line 'Summon the demon of Wilford Brimley with this custom Tremolo + Fuzz combo', a nod to the pedal's tongue-in-cheek branding.
Sources (1)
- NoiseKICK FX Diabeetus Tremolo Fuzz, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2025-05-03