The Stomp Under Foot Tri-Dirty Booster is a handmade fuzz built on a Muff circuit, the same family of designs behind the fuzz pedal lineage that runs from the Triangle era through the Ram's Head. Stomp Under Foot takes its circuit from the Hohner Tri-Dirty Booster, a Muff-style pedal Hohner released in the mid 1970s, and derives it from a late 1972 to 1973 transitional Triangle circuit that the maker says is very close in design to the early 1973 Ram's Head models1.
What it does to your sound
Stomp Under Foot describes the Tri-Dirty Booster as a Muff fuzz with a low end that stays full without turning boomy or muddy, and low notes that carry just enough grit to add texture. On lead lines, the maker says the pedal blooms with rich harmonics that come across as sweet, fluid, and expressive1. In other words, it aims at the fuller, more open side of the Muff family rather than the compressed, scooped character some later Muff versions are known for.
"The low end is perfectly balanced, full without ever becoming boomy or muddy. The low notes have just enough grit to add..."
Where the circuit came from
The pedal's story runs through two names:
- Hohner, which released the original Tri-Dirty Booster in the mid 1970s. Stomp Under Foot calls it "what I believe is the finest Muff circuit ever made"1.
- The Triangle-to-Ram's Head transition of late 1972 to 1973. Stomp Under Foot states the Tri-Dirty Booster was derived from a transitional Triangle circuit from that period, one very close in design to the early 1973 Ram's Head models1.
"The Tri-Dirty Booster is not just a clone. It is something better."
So while the pedal sits squarely in the Muff family, the maker positions it as a reworking of a specific vintage circuit rather than a straight copy of any single Big Muff version. Players who want other points along that lineage can compare it with Stomp Under Foot's other Muff-based pedals, such as the Ram's Head, the Green Russian, the '72 Tri Muff v6 Fuzz, or the Op-Amp Fuzz1.
Power, bypass and build
The Tri-Dirty Booster runs on a 9V battery or a 2.1mm 9V adapter only, and Stomp Under Foot lists no other power options1. It is True-Bypass, so when the pedal is off your signal passes through untouched1. The build uses NOS (new old stock) through-hole components, and each pedal is handmade in the USA1.
The maker specifies a 2.1mm 9V adapter only. If your power supply uses a different barrel size or voltage, it is not listed as compatible.
Questions
Is the Stomp Under Foot Tri-Dirty Booster true bypass?
Yes. Stomp Under Foot lists the Tri-Dirty Booster as True-Bypass on its product page, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal straight through when it is switched off, with no buffering in the chain.
Does the Tri-Dirty Booster run on a battery?
Yes. Stomp Under Foot specifies a 9V battery or a 2.1mm 9V adapter only, so you can run it on either. Note that the adapter must be a 2.1mm 9V supply, and the maker lists no other power options.
What was the Hohner Tri-Dirty Booster?
The Hohner Tri-Dirty Booster was a Muff-style fuzz pedal released by Hohner in the mid 1970s. Stomp Under Foot's Matthew Pasquerella describes it as what he believes is the finest Muff circuit ever made, and the modern Stomp Under Foot pedal takes its circuit from that design.
Is the Tri-Dirty Booster a Big Muff clone?
Stomp Under Foot says it is not just a clone. The circuit is derived from a late 1972 to 1973 transitional Triangle design, very close to the early 1973 Ram's Head models, and the maker describes the pedal as something better than a straight copy.
Where is the Stomp Under Foot Tri-Dirty Booster made?
The Tri-Dirty Booster is handmade in the USA by Stomp Under Foot, and the maker lists NOS through-hole components among its build features.
Sources (1)
- Tri-Dirty Booster, Stomp Under Foot, 1970
