The Red Witch Fuzz God III is an all analog fuzz pedal from Red Witch Pedals, the follow-up to the Fuzz God II. It comes in a super compact enclosure1, and Red Witch describes it as "all analog, true bypass Fuzz Deity"2. The first run of 100 pieces was hand built, hand numbered and signed by Ben Fulton21.
The pedal's trick is a six way DIP switch inside the enclosure. Two of those switches change the gain structure and four change the tonal structure, so one small box can cover a wide range of fuzz voices. Red Witch founder Ben Fulton put it this way234:
"I've designed a box that, in essence, gives guitarists access to 64 analog fuzz pedal"
The Red Witch product page lists the Fuzz God III as Sold Out2. The first run of 100 units was hand built, hand numbered and signed by Ben Fulton2, so finding one now generally means the secondhand market.
Where it came from
The launch pricing was tiered. The first 100 hand-signed units carried an introductory price of $129.9921, with press reports at the time giving figures of $12956 and $129.9913 for that run; once those sold, the regular price was set at $139.991, with MusicRadar reporting $139 after the first 1005. The Red Witch product page lists the pedal at 140 USD2.
The controls
The Fuzz God III keeps the control set simple on the outside and hides the depth inside. Three dials sit on the top surface, and the DIP switch bank is reached by opening the pedal up23.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the fuzz level21 |
| Volume | Sets the output volume level21 |
| Sputter | Sets the amount of sputter, the gated, spluttering fuzz character2 |
The Sputter control carried over from earlier Fuzz Gods. Delicious Audio described it in characteristically colorful terms3:
"The front panel's original Sputter control remains intact to exact holy wrath upon your tone, amp and audience."
The internal DIP switches
Inside the pedal is a 6 way DIP switch2. The breakdown:
- DIP switches 1 and 2: control different gain arrays2
- DIP switches 3 to 6: control different tonal structures2
- Combined: up to 64 different gain and tone combinations2
Delicious Audio summed up the switch bank as "two gain adjustments and four tonal tweaks" that "transform the God from merciful to vengeful"3. For a player, the practical effect is that the pedal's core voice can be reshaped substantially before the Fuzz and Sputter knobs even come into play, though changing switches means opening the enclosure rather than tweaking from the top panel.
How it differs from the Fuzz God II
The Fuzz God III is the follow-up to the Fuzz God II5, and its differences are mainly about size and range. It comes in a super compact enclosure1 where earlier versions were full sized, and the internal DIP switch bank is what gives it its 64 combinations. Delicious Audio called the III "the most versatile in the family despite its appearance"32.
On the earlier Red Witch fuzz circuits, Gearnews's Jef wrote:
"I have tried the previous versions of their fuzz circuits and found that they are pretty full on, in a good way."
He added of the new version: "I have high expectations for this new version. Especially with all those fuzz variations it has on offer."6
Power and bypass
The Fuzz God III runs only from an external 9 Volt DC supply, with no rechargeable battery1, so it needs a spot on a powered pedalboard. It is true bypass2, meaning the signal passes straight through when the pedal is off.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio's take on the pedal was sweeping:
"The Fuzz God III is the possibly the most versatile, compact and affordable Fuzz pedal ever made."
That view, published in May 2019, echoed Red Witch's own product page language5. Coverage at launch focused on the same selling points: MusicRadar highlighted the 64 fuzz sounds in a mini enclosure5, and Gearnews pointed to the fuzz variations as the reason for its high expectations6.
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Questions
Can the Red Witch Fuzz God III run on a battery?
No. The Fuzz God III runs only from an external 9 Volt DC supply and has no rechargeable battery, so it needs a power supply or a powered pedalboard to run. Players building a small board around it should plan for a 9V DC output rather than expecting battery operation.
Is the Fuzz God III true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch describes the Fuzz God III as an all analog, true bypass fuzz, so when the pedal is switched off the signal passes through without buffering. That suits players who want the pedal out of the chain entirely when it is disengaged.
What do the internal DIP switches on the Fuzz God III do?
Inside the pedal is a six way DIP switch. The first two switches select different gain arrays, while switches three to six control different tonal structures. Together they allow up to 64 different gain and tone combinations, which is how one small pedal covers so much fuzz ground.
Is the Red Witch Fuzz God III still available?
The Red Witch product page lists the Fuzz God III as sold out. The first run of 100 units was hand built, hand numbered and signed by Ben Fulton, and the pedal was originally sold directly through the Red Witch website. Availability now depends on the secondhand market.
What is the difference between the Fuzz God II and Fuzz God III?
The Fuzz God III is the follow-up to the Fuzz God II, in a super compact mini enclosure. Its main addition is the six way internal DIP switch bank, giving up to 64 gain and tone combinations, which Delicious Audio called the most versatile in the Fuzz God family despite its smaller size.
Sources (6)
- Red Witch Pedals Reveals the Fuzz God III, Premier Guitar, 2019-01-10
- FUZZ GOD III, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch Fuzz God III, Delicious Audio, 2019-05-13
- Red Witch Releases New Pedal! 64 Different Analog Fuzz Combinations in, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2019-01-10
- NAMM 2019: Red Witch's Fuzz God III packs 64 fuzz combinations into one mini pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-01-10
- NAMM 2019: Red Witch Fuzz God III with 64 fuzzes in one!, gearnews.com, 2019-01-10
