The Skreddy BC239 Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Skreddy Pedals built on the late "rams head" era Big Muff circuit, with BC239 transistors in place of the usual choices. Skreddy describes it as an "extra edgy & cutting sustainy fuzz": a clear, cutting top end, velvety distortion, meaty grind even in high notes, and great sustain1. It is sold as a preorder, built to order, at $259 + shipping USD1.
The BC239 transistor and the rams head circuit
The pedal is a throwback to the late "rams head" era of the Big Muff, the four-transistor fuzz circuit that shaped generations of sustain-heavy lead tones. Skreddy's twist is the transistor choice. As the maker puts it: "The BC239 transistor will tend to render less bass, resulting in a more biting and articulate muff tone"1.
The other era detail is in the capacitors. Skreddy notes that later rams heads employed plastic film capacitors instead of the ceramic discs used earlier, and that this gives the BC239 Fuzz its clear, cutting top end rather than the softer, grittier tone of the ceramic disc versions1.
The mid hump toggle and tone stack
The BC239 Fuzz carries a mini toggle that changes the pedal's voicing. Flipped to the right, it engages a midrange hump mode. Skreddy's own description: "when you flip the mini toggle to the right, you'll get a midrange hump that will propel your solos through the loudest b[and mix]"1. For players working with a loud band, that is the difference between a fuzz that sits under the mix and one that carries a lead line over it.
The tone stack is likewise period-inspired. "For the tone stack, I copied the era that used a milder mid scoop than most," Skreddy says1. A milder mid scoop means the pedal keeps more of the guitar's middle frequencies than many Big Muff style circuits, which is part of why it can cut through while still sounding like a muff.
Power and connections
The BC239 Fuzz is straightforward to power and connect:
- Power: Regular 9v negative ground, with no special power requirements1
- Connector: Industry-standard 9v DC plug, 5.5mm barrel x 2.1mm center coax, negative tip, on a Boss style power jack1
- Battery: A 9v battery can be used but is not included; the battery is disconnected when a power supply is plugged in or the input cable is unplugged1
- Bypass: True bypass with LED1
The pedal is built to order as a preorder, with Skreddy listing a current wait time of approximately 2 weeks to 1 month1.
The enclosure is smaller than the original Big Muff box, with Skreddy's own angry demon face graphic1, so it takes up less pedalboard space than the vintage-style footprint.
Related Skreddy fuzzes
Skreddy has built a range of Big Muff derived pedals, and the BC239 Fuzz sits alongside the Skreddy Giant Meat Pie BC239, which the maker describes as a classic sustaining fuzz with extra sweetness2. The Giant Meat Pie grew out of a thought experiment: what if David Gilmour's famous Big Muff from the Animals and The Wall projects had been equipped with BC239 transistors3. It is also built to order, with the same approximately 2 weeks to 1 month wait time3. Elsewhere in the lineup, the Skreddy Rust Rod and the Skreddy Lady also draw on 1970s rams head era Big Muffs, and the Skreddy Cognitive Dissonance MkIV continues the maker's muff lineage. For the wider picture, see the site's Fuzz Pedals page.
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Questions
Is the Skreddy BC239 Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Skreddy Pedals lists the BC239 Fuzz with true bypass switching, an LED indicator, and a Boss style power jack, all in an enclosure smaller than the original Big Muff box. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from your signal path entirely when it is off, so it only shapes your tone while engaged.
Does the Skreddy BC239 Fuzz run on a battery?
It can. The pedal accepts a 9v battery, though a battery is not included with the pedal. The battery is disconnected when a power supply is plugged in or when the input cable is unplugged, which is the usual way of keeping the battery from draining while the pedal is not in use.
What does the BC239 transistor change in a Big Muff circuit?
According to Skreddy Pedals, the BC239 transistor tends to render less bass than other transistor choices, resulting in a more biting and articulate muff tone. The pedal is otherwise a throwback to the late rams head era Big Muff, with a tone stack copied from that era using a milder mid scoop than most.
What does the mini toggle on the Skreddy BC239 Fuzz do?
The mini toggle switches between voicings. When flipped to the right, it engages a midrange hump mode that Skreddy says will propel your solos through the loudest band mix. It is a way to cut through a dense mix without changing the pedal's basic fuzz character.
How long is the wait for a Skreddy BC239 Fuzz?
The pedal is sold as a preorder and built to order. Skreddy Pedals lists the current wait time as approximately 2 weeks to 1 month, as of the maker's product page dated October 2026.
What is a rams head Big Muff?
The rams head refers to an era of the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff fuzz identified by the rams head graphic on its enclosure. The Skreddy BC239 Fuzz is a throwback to the late rams head era specifically, and Skreddy notes that later rams heads used plastic film capacitors instead of ceramic discs, giving a clear, cutting top end rather than a softer, grittier tone.
Sources (3)
- Big Muff variants, Skreddy Pedals
- Big Muff variants, Skreddy Pedals
- Big Muff variants, Skreddy Pedals
