The Chaosmic Fuzz is an octave fuzz stompbox from Rabbit Hole FX, a maker based in North Carolina. It is a modern take on the obscure Scrambler guitar pedal design, and it puts its own spin on that circuit with a Chaos knob that reshapes the fuzz as you turn it. Delicious Audio's review called it "a flexible octave fuzz stompbox" and noted that while most fuzz pedals tend to be one trick ponies, this one offers a wide range of sounds1. Pedal of the Day described it as the flagship pedal from Rabbit Hole FX2.
Controls
The pedal carries five controls, and each does a distinct job:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | A nice range of distortion and fuzz, from semi-mild to big and heavy2 |
| Chaos | Changes the fuzz sound, morphing from dynamic growling fuzz tones to searing upper-octave inter-modulating sounds1 |
| Input Gain | Standard input gain control1 |
| Output Level | Standard output level control1 |
| Clean | A blend between "wet" and "dry"1 |
Note that the pedal has both a Gain knob and an Input Gain knob: Gain shapes the character of the fuzz itself, while Input Gain is the standard drive control feeding the circuit12.
The Chaos knob is the heart of the pedal. Rabbit Hole FX's own description, quoted by Delicious Audio, says it "morphs from dynamic growling fuzz tones all the way to searing upper-octave inter-modulating madness"1. The Clean knob is what keeps that madness usable: it lets you dial in the original guitar, bass guitar, or keyboard tones when less extreme and more musical results are needed, so the pedal works as a blended octave fuzz rather than an all-or-nothing effect1. That blend approach also makes it a candidate for bass players looking at octave and pitch pedals who want to keep low end intact.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's Mike B was struck by the pedal's range: "it is a true fuzz beast that throws chaos around without a second thought, and can get into some terrifying and almost spacey territory with ease"2.
Delicious Audio's reviewers, Brandon Stoner and Paolo De Gregorio, framed the pedal's appeal as flexibility rather than a single sound, contrasting it with fuzz pedals that offer one trick and little else1.
Practical details
A few points worth knowing before it goes on a board:
- Power is the industry standard 2.1mm, 9V DC center negative arrangement2, so it suits a normal fuzz pedal power setup.
- Input, output and power jacks are all top mounted2, which helps on crowded boards.
- The enclosure has a small footprint1.
- LED brightness is adjustable, which Delicious Audio notes means you will never misstep on stage1.
The Chaosmic Fuzz comes from Rabbit Hole FX, a maker based in North Carolina1.
Videos
Lance Seymour
Pedal of the Day
Lance Seymour
Questions
Is the Rabbit Hole FX Chaosmic Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's review lists true bypass switching among the pedal's features, alongside top-mounted input and output jacks and a small footprint. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is taken out of the signal path entirely when switched off, so your clean tone passes through unchanged.
What does the Chaos knob do?
Chaos is the pedal's signature control. Delicious Audio describes it as changing the fuzz sound, morphing from dynamic growling fuzz tones all the way to searing upper-octave inter-modulating sounds. It is where the pedal's character lives, taking it well beyond a standard one-knob fuzz.
What does the Clean knob do on the Chaosmic Fuzz?
The Clean knob serves as a blend between the effected wet signal and the dry signal. That lets you dial in your original guitar, bass or keyboard tone underneath the fuzz, which is useful when you want less extreme and more musical results than the full octave fuzz on its own.
What power does the Chaosmic Fuzz need?
It runs on 9V DC through an industry standard 2.1mm center negative connector, the same arrangement most pedals use, so it will work with a typical pedalboard power supply.
Sources (2)
- Rabbit Hole FX Chaosmic Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2019-06-21
- Rabbit Hole FX Chaosmic Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-21