The Holy Grit from OKKO FX is a hand-built pedal from Germany that the maker describes as a gritty overdrive, low gain fuzz and vintage preamp all at once. Its circuit is based on the classic Fuzz Face/Tone Bender but, in the maker's words, heavily tweaked into something else, using a set of matched low gain silicon transistors voiced between germanium warmth and silicon presence1. The intuitive controls, Okko says, let you dial in anything from a cleanish boost with a little grit to full-blown vintage "amp on 11" sounds1.
Controls
The Holy Grit has four knobs and a three-position bias toggle1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FUZZ | Level of distortion. Set low for boosting overdriven amps or dirt pedals and work your way up. |
| LEVEL | Output volume. Plenty of volume on tap, even with the Fuzz knob set to minimum. |
| BASS | A pregain control, so more bass equals more fuzz. |
| TREBLE | Rolls off highs post gain at variable frequencies. |
| BIAS toggle | Selects one of three bias settings, individually set for each pedal. |
The BASS control is the one that shapes the character most: because it works as pregain, adding bass pushes the circuit harder into fuzz. The TREBLE knob then trims the top end after the gain stage1.
The BIAS and BUFFER toggles
The BIAS toggle's three positions, as described by the maker1:
- UP: high headroom setting, least amount of fuzz and compression, tight and precise
- MIDDLE: the "almost too low" bias, dirty, buzzy, can get into velcro fuzz territory
- DOWN: "the golden middle"
On the back of the case sits a second toggle, BUFFER, which changes how the pedal sits in your signal chain1:
- UP (buffered mode): no need to worry about placement in the signal chain; the maker says the pedal's special buffer gives a little extra edge and presence in the mix
- DOWN (unbuffered mode): connect the guitar straight to the pedal for a slightly darker, more resonant tone and better cleanup with the guitar volume
In unbuffered mode the Holy Grit needs to be first in the chain. If you want the pedal anywhere else on your board, use the buffered setting1.
Circuit and power
The transistors are matched low gain silicon types, and the maker notes that part numbers may differ from one unit to another1. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the circuit type as analog, running on 9V DC, center negative, with a current draw of 5mA2. That draw is low enough that the pedal fits comfortably alongside everything else on a standard overdrive and fuzz board power plan.
Where it fits
Okko positions the Holy Grit as flexible on both sides of the gain spectrum: set low, it boosts overdriven amps or dirt pedals; set high, it reaches full vintage amp-on-the-edge sounds1. The maker also describes it as working for guitar, bass, keys or whatever you want to spice up, plugged into a clean or driven amp or stacked with boosters, overdrives or fuzz pedals1. Players looking at related territory might also compare it with dedicated preamp, boost or bass pedals.
Videos
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Questions
What does the bias toggle do on the Okko Holy Grit?
It selects one of three bias settings, individually set for each pedal. UP is a high headroom setting with the least amount of fuzz and compression, described as tight and precise. MIDDLE is the almost too low bias, dirty and buzzy, able to get into velcro fuzz territory. DOWN is described by the maker as the golden middle between the two.
Is the Okko Holy Grit a Fuzz Face clone?
No. Okko FX says the circuit is based on the classic Fuzz Face/Tone Bender but heavily tweaked into something else. It uses a set of matched low gain silicon transistors, voiced between germanium warmth and silicon presence, and adds EQ, bias and buffer controls those vintage circuits did not have.
What power supply does the Okko Holy Grit need?
The Holy Grit runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 5mA. That low draw means almost any standard pedalboard power supply output can run it.
Does the Okko Holy Grit work with bass?
Yes. The maker describes it as working for guitar, bass, keys or whatever you want to spice up, and says you can plug it into a clean or driven amp or stack it with boosters, overdrives or fuzz pedals.
Can the Holy Grit be used unbuffered?
Yes. A Buffer toggle on the back of the case switches between buffered and unbuffered modes. Unbuffered gives a slightly darker, more resonant tone and better cleanup with the guitar volume, but the pedal then needs to be first in the signal chain.
Is the Okko Holy Grit analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the circuit type as analog.
Sources (3)
- HOLY GRIT, OKKO FX
- Holy Grit by Okko FX, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- OKKO FX Holy Grit Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2022-10-03