The Skreddy Cognitive Dissonance MkIV is a vintage-style, four-silicon-transistor distortion, fuzz and sustain stompbox. Skreddy Pedals describes it as "silky classic yet modern sustain/distortion": powerful and high gain while remaining tight and articulate, with excellent string separation in chords and playing nuances retained at all gain levels, and a design that works with both single-coil and humbucker pickups1.
The pedal sits in the Big Muff lineage. Premier Guitar's announcement of the MkIV says, "You will hear the distinctive character of the Big Muff style fuzz," and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff itself is the distortion/sustainer that circuit family takes its name from23.
Controls and features
The MkIV's headline control is a midrange switch. The Scoop/Flat switch shifts the midrange content from lightly mid-scooped to just enough more mids to fill in the vocal frequency range, without altering the pedal's fundamental character1. That matters on a Big Muff style circuit, where the mid scoop is the most recognizable part of the voicing: the switch lets a player keep the classic scooped sound or push the mids forward so the pedal sits with a band, without changing what makes the fuzz itself.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Scoop/Flat switch | Shifts the midrange from lightly mid-scooped to just enough more mids to fill in the vocal frequency range, without altering the pedal's fundamental character1 |
Beyond the switch, Skreddy Pedals' description of the pedal comes down to a short list of traits1:
- Four-silicon-transistor vintage-style circuit1
- Powerful, high gain, yet tight and articulate1
- Excellent string separation in chords1
- Playing nuances retained at all gain levels1
- Works with both single-coil and humbucker pickups1
Power and battery
The MkIV runs on a regular 9v negative ground supply with no special power requirements, and all Skreddy Pedals accept the industry-standard 9v DC plug, 5.5mm barrel by 2.1mm center coax with a negative tip1. A 9v battery can be used, but one is not included, and the battery is disconnected by the power supply or by unplugging the input1.
The MkIV is built to order. Skreddy Pedals lists a delivery lead time of about 2 weeks, with the wait running approximately 2 weeks to 1 month1.
Where the MkIV came from
The Cognitive Dissonance line has a gap in it. The previous version, the MkIII, was discontinued in 2015. On October 9, 2018, Skreddy Pedals brought the design back as the MkIV, once again available under a new moniker2.
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| Cognitive Dissonance MkIII | Discontinued in 20152 |
| Cognitive Dissonance MkIV | Released October 9, 2018, described by Premier Guitar as a re-issue of the MkIII2 |
Premier Guitar put the return plainly:
"actually a re-issue of the MkIII"
Price and availability
Skreddy Pedals lists the Cognitive Dissonance MkIV at $275, with the maker's product page showing a sale price of $247.50 as of October 25, 202615. Because the pedal is built to order rather than stocked, the price on the maker's page is the figure to go by, and the preorder status means an order enters a build queue rather than shipping immediately1.
Videos
Tinkercity Music
Questions
Is the Skreddy Cognitive Dissonance MkIV based on a Big Muff?
Yes. Premier Guitar's 2018 announcement says listeners will hear the distinctive character of the Big Muff style fuzz in the MkIV. The pedal is a vintage-style, four-silicon-transistor distortion, fuzz and sustain stompbox, and it is a re-issue of the earlier Cognitive Dissonance MkIII under a new name.
Does the Cognitive Dissonance MkIV take a battery?
It can run from a 9v battery, but Skreddy Pedals does not include one with the pedal. The battery is disconnected when the pedal is powered from a supply or when the input is unplugged. The pedal otherwise runs on a regular 9v negative ground supply with no special power requirements.
How long is the wait for a Skreddy Cognitive Dissonance MkIV?
The pedal is built to order. Skreddy Pedals lists a lead time of about 2 weeks, with the wait running approximately 2 weeks to 1 month depending on when your order lands in the queue.
How much does the Skreddy Cognitive Dissonance MkIV cost?
Skreddy Pedals lists the Cognitive Dissonance MkIV at $275, shown on the maker's product page as of late October 2026 at a sale price of $247.50.
What happened to the Cognitive Dissonance MkIII?
The MkIII, the previous Cognitive Dissonance, was discontinued in 2015. In October 2018 Skreddy Pedals brought the design back as the MkIV, which Premier Guitar described as a re-issue of the MkIII available under a new moniker.
Sources (5)
- Big Muff variants, Skreddy Pedals
- Skreddy Pedals Issues the Cognitive Dissonance MkIV, Premier Guitar, 2018-10-09
- Interview: Mike Matthews (Electro-Harmonix founder), MusicRadar, 2012-05-28
- Big Muff variants, Skreddy Pedals
- Overdrive, Skreddy Pedals
