The Red Witch Fuzz God IV is an all-analog fuzz pedal that puts three effects in one box: a twin-transistor fuzz, a switchable parasitic oscillation mode, and a dual-diode Octavia. Red Witch describes it as offering "an almost infinite number of amazing tones instantly, via its three easy modes: Fuzz, Oscillation and Octavia"1. It arrived in 2020 as the latest in a long line of Red Witch fuzz pedals, and it is built by hand in New Zealand in small batches213.
What it does
The Fuzz God IV covers three distinct effects. The core is an ultra-flexible twin transistor fuzz built from two NOS BC109 transistors, the type Red Witch notes was used in multiple classic early 70s fuzz pedals, with octave-inducing diodes for the Octavia mode1. The oscillation mode, called Wrath, lets the circuit feed back on itself for self-oscillating sounds. Red Witch's own framing of the pedal is bold: the company said it had released "the most dial-able fuzz on the planet"2.
MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley placed the pedal in context at its release: "The Fuzz God IV is the latest in a storied lineage of Red Witch Fuzz pedals"2. Each earlier version of the Fuzz God added features, and the IV distills them into one pedal1. Players comparing it with its predecessors can look at the Fuzz God II, the Fuzz God IIC and the Fuzz God III, as well as other Red Witch fuzzes such as the Euphorium Fuzz and the Zeus Bass Fuzz and Suboctave. For more on the effect type itself, see the site's guide to fuzz pedals.
Controls and switching
GuitarPlayer's Jackson Maxwell listed the pedal's "tonal controls for Volume, Fuzz, Wrath and Sputter"3. The Sputter control adjusts the first transistor's bias, which Red Witch says takes you from silky smooth singing fuzz to "germanium-fuzz-in-the-sun" 1969 outdoor festival tones1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Fuzz | Fuzz amount and tone shaping |
| Wrath | Oscillation mode control |
| Sputter | Adjusts first transistor bias, from smooth fuzz to dying-battery germanium-style tones1 |
Switching is handled by three true-bypass footswitches, which Red Witch says ensure the signal passes unimpeded through the pedal when not engaged1. The lightning bolt footswitch engages the oscillation, and the tiered footswitches engage Octavia or Wrath Oscillation1. A red LED indicates that the fuzz is engaged5.
Inside, an 8-way DIP switch invites you to customize tone and gain settings1, a feature that sets the pedal apart from a straightforward two-knob fuzz.
The pedal takes 9V DC power and draws 42mA of current2. The first batch was limited to 150 pieces, each hand-assembled, numbered and signed by designer Ben Fulton3, and the pedal is listed as Sold Out on Red Witch's site1.
Where it came from
Ben Fulton designed the original Fuzz God for himself because he wanted classic fuzz sounds plus the sonic delights of self-oscillation1. The Fuzz God IV returns to a horizontal enclosure design, akin to the Fuzz God II, according to Guitar.com's Daniel Seah5. Red Witch unveiled the pedal in September 20203, with presale units limited to 150, hand-built, numbered and hand-signed by Fulton2. The pedal carries Red Witch's 100% lifetime warranty1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, covering the pedal among mid-size Fuzz Face-style pedals, found that "This Silicon variety really delivers a wide range of tones with a very significant degree of variation," comparing it overall to a slightly stripped down Monterey6.
Videos
Red Witch Pedals
Red Witch Pedals
The Pedal Picassos
Questions
Is the Red Witch Fuzz God IV true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch specifies True Bypass switching, and the pedal uses three true-bypass footswitches so the signal passes unimpeded through the pedal when the effects are not engaged.
How much current does the Fuzz God IV draw?
The Fuzz God IV takes 9V DC power and draws 42mA of current, according to both Red Witch's product page and MusicRadar's coverage of the pedal's release.
What does the internal DIP switch do on the Fuzz God IV?
An internal 8-way DIP switch invites you to customize the pedal's tone and gain settings, letting you shape the character of the fuzz beyond what the external knobs offer.
Is the Fuzz God IV analog?
Yes. Red Witch describes the Fuzz God IV as an all-analog design built around two NOS BC109 transistors, the same transistor type used in multiple classic early 1970s fuzz pedals, plus octave-inducing diodes.
What are the Fuzz God IV's dimensions and weight?
Red Witch lists the Fuzz God IV at 93mm x 52mm x 118mm and 420 grams. It uses a horizontal enclosure layout, similar to the Fuzz God II.
Who designed the Red Witch Fuzz God?
Ben Fulton of Red Witch designed the original Fuzz God for himself because he wanted classic fuzz sounds plus the sonic delights of self-oscillation. The Fuzz God IV is the latest in that lineage, and its first batch was hand-signed and numbered by Fulton.
Sources (6)
- Fuzz God IV Pedal, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch says it has just released “the most dial-able fuzz on the planet“, MusicRadar, 2020-09-25
- Red Witch Unveils New Fuzz God IV Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2020-09-25
- XENIA Overdrive Engine, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch call its Fuzz God IV the “most dial-able fuzz on the planet", Guitar.com, 2020-09-24
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-11
