The Reeves Electro Darlington Flyer Dual-Natured Fuzz Etched Edition is a limited fuzz pedal: a run of just 10 units, documented by Guitar Pedal X in March 2025, built around a single-transistor circuit that switches between two very different silicon transistors1. It is a variant of the Darlington Flyer Switchable Transistor Fuzz, itself an outgrowth of The Darlington Flyer, which Delicious Audio described as "a fuzz with two very different voices both leveraging a different silicon transistor"2.
The Etched Edition's distinction is cosmetic as much as circuit-based. Where the original Darlington Flyer wore a royal blue colourway artwork on its trapezoid enclosure, the Etched Edition is "simply and elegantly 3D etched" on the outside, with the inside painted an almost Prussian blue1.
The Daughterboard Series and the etched enclosure
The Darlington Flyer was the first release in Reeves Electro's PCB-based Daughterboard series, built entirely by Izzy Reeves and hosted in a trapezoid blue enclosure2. The Daughterboard Series pedals used to be of vintage PCB style construction31, and the original Darlington Flyer carried a royal blue colourway artwork3.
The Etched Edition sits inside that story as a one-off finish. Stefan Karlsson of Guitar Pedal X, who received one of the 10 units, noted that it replaced "the sort of royal blue colourway artwork of the original" with the etched treatment1. He also recalled that a pink edition of the Darlington Flyer, and perhaps one other, had existed before it1.
Because these pedals are totally hand built, Reeves Electro notes there may be slight cosmetic variation between each one, and each is played and signed off by the builder before it leaves2.
The original Darlington Flyer carried a royal blue colourway artwork3, and the Daughterboard Series pedals used to be of vintage PCB style construction31.
The two transistors and the two voices
The circuit is a single transistor fuzz that is switchable between two transistors, which is what gives the pedal its "Dual-Natured" description23. A toggle switch on the right selects between them2.
| Mode | Transistor | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington Flyer | 1979 Motorola MPSA13 Darlington | Smooth, compressed sustain; a little Fuzz-Face-y but smoother; gated feel31 |
| Bipolar Junction | Philips Silverface BC546 (Etched Edition) | More open, gritty and slightly gated; somewhat rougher, gated and gritty output31 |
The first transistor in the circuit is the same Motorola MPSA13 across the versions1. The second slot is where the editions differ: the very original Darlington Flyer used an early '70s Micro Electronics ME4003 for "a more open, gritty tone with a slightly gated character"2, while the 2025 edition and the Etched Edition substituted a 70's/80's Philips Silverface BC54631.
Controls
The control set is minimal, which Guitar Pedal X says belies its potency3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Transistor toggle (right) | Selects between the Darlington Flyer and Bipolar Junction transistors23 |
| EQ / Voicing toggle (left) | Fat Controller / Narrow Gauge (Skinny): two levels of fatness23 |
| Master Volume | Fixed fuzz / gain, set with the main dial3 |
On the voicing switch, the reviewer was clear about his preference:
"Perfect Settings are Fat Controller, Bipolar Juntion, and the main dial @ 3 o'c."
He much preferred the Fat Controller up position and the Bipolar Junction down mode, finding Narrow Gauge somewhat insubstantial1.
What the reviewer made of it
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, the only published reviewer to document the Etched Edition specifically, has covered the Darlington Flyer circuit across its versions. Of the circuit as a whole he wrote:
"It's a really great sounding versatile fuzz - whose simplicity belies its potency. One of my most favoured Reeves Fuzzes"
For overseas buyers, Guitar Pedal X notes that Reeves Electro takes care of all US and EU related tariffs3.
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Questions
How many Etched Edition Darlington Flyer pedals were made?
Only 10 were made. The Etched Edition was a limited run of the Darlington Flyer Dual-Natured Fuzz, documented by Guitar Pedal X in March 2025, and it replaced the original's royal blue colourway artwork with a 3D-etched exterior and a Prussian blue painted interior. It is no longer a generally available pedal.
What is the difference between the Darlington Flyer and Bipolar Junction modes?
The Darlington Flyer mode uses the 1979 Motorola MPSA13 Darlington transistor for smooth, compressed sustain, with a gated feel. The Bipolar Junction mode uses the second transistor, a Philips Silverface BC546 in the Etched Edition, for a more open, gritty and slightly gated character. A toggle switch on the right of the pedal selects between the two.
What transistor does the Darlington Flyer use first in the circuit?
The first transistor in the circuit is a Motorola MPSA13 Darlington, a 1979-dated part. It is the same transistor used across the Darlington Flyer versions, from the original Daughterboard release through the 2025 edition and the 2026 Point-to-Point variant, and it delivers the smooth, compressed side of the pedal's two voices.
What does the Fat Controller and Narrow Gauge switch do?
It is the EQ or voicing switch, on the left of the pedal, and it selects between two levels of fatness. Fat Controller is the fuller setting; Narrow Gauge, also called Skinny, is the leaner one. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer much preferred the Fat Controller position, finding Narrow Gauge somewhat insubstantial.
What did the Etched Edition cost?
It was priced at £259, the same as the regular edition according to Guitar Pedal X's reviewer. For comparison, the 2026 Point-to-Point variant of the Darlington Flyer Switchable Transistor Fuzz carried a £299 price tag, and Reeves Electro covers US and EU related tariffs for overseas buyers.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-03-27
- Reeves Electro Darlington Flyer Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2023-11-14
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X
