The Sabbadius Triple Trouble is an analog overdrive, boost and fuzz pedal in a single enclosure, made by Argentinean boutique builder Sabbadius. It packs three circuits, each with its own footswitch, that Sabbadius says are optimized to work with each other seamlessly1.
The original Triple Trouble was discontinued a few years ago, and in November 2021 Sabbadius announced the upcoming release of the V21.
The three circuits and their order
The signal chain inside the Triple Trouble runs in a fixed order: the silicon transistor fuzz is first, followed by the Tube Screamer-style overdrive, and then the boost1.
| Position | Circuit | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fuzz | Silicon transistor fuzz, Texas Square Face type by Cesar Diaz1 |
| 2 | Overdrive | Tube Screamer type with modifications for a warmer, late 80s classic sound1 |
| 3 | Boost | Clean boost, with a Jimi Mode option1 |
The fuzz section is based on silicon transistors in the Texas Square Face style of fuzz associated with Cesar Diaz, the gear guru and guitar tech who worked with Stevie Ray Vaughan during his career12. The overdrive section is a Tube Screamer type of overdrive with modifications for a warmer sound, and Sabbadius describes it as having a sharp overdrive with a versatile tone control that goes from the deepest bass to the thinnest treble1.
The boost side has a Jimi Mode, which activates a Germanium diode. Sabbadius notes it affects the tone only when the volume is between 8 and 101.
Using it with a wah pedal
Fuzz circuits are notoriously picky about what feeds them, and the V2 addresses this directly. It has a Wah Wah Trick knob, which allows you to tweak the fuzz's impedance to work with a wah pedal in front of it or after it1. That means a player can place the Triple Trouble anywhere relative to a wah on their board and dial in a stable fuzz response.
History: a tribute to SRV and the V2
The Triple Trouble dates back to 2012, when Sabbadius's owner and designer Nico built it in tribute to SRV and his Double Trouble rig. As he put it1:
"In 2012 I decided to make a pedal that is called 'Triple Trouble' in tribute to SRV (Double Trouble)"
The concept came from player Tommy Katona, who wanted three pedals in a single enclosure, modified to his preferences1. The original was discontinued a few years ago, and the V2 was announced in November 2021 as the upcoming replacement1.
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Questions
What order are the circuits in the Sabbadius Triple Trouble?
The silicon transistor fuzz is first in the chain, followed by a Tube Screamer-style overdrive, and then the boost. Each of the three circuits has its own footswitch, and Sabbadius says they are optimized to work with each other seamlessly.
Is the Triple Trouble overdrive based on a Tube Screamer?
Yes. The overdrive section is a Tubescreamer type of overdrive with modifications for a warmer sound, which Sabbadius describes as the late 80s classic sound. It has a versatile tone control that goes from the deepest bass to the thinnest treble.
Can you use a wah pedal with the Triple Trouble fuzz?
Yes. The V2 has a Wah Wah Trick knob that lets you tweak the fuzz's impedance so it works with a wah pedal placed either in front of it or after it. This addresses the impedance matching problems fuzz circuits often have with wahs.
Is the Sabbadius Triple Trouble true bypass?
Yes. Sabbadius describes the V2 as a triple analog pedal with independent 3PDT switches and 100% hand wired true bypass. Each of the three circuits switches independently.
Sources (2)
- Sabbadius Triple Trouble V2, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-03
- Strymon's new EC-1 was modeled after an iconic tape echo, Guitar World, 2025-02-26