The Stone Deaf Fig Fumb is a fuzz pedal from UK builder Stone Deaf, described by the maker as a "Parametric Muff Style Fuzz with built in noise gate"1. It takes the classic Big Muff fuzz circuit and adds what most Muff variants leave out: a parametric EQ with a bandwidth control, so you can choose which frequencies get boosted or cut, plus a noise gate to keep the high-gain hiss under control. The name is a wink at its lineage: "Fig Fumb" is an anagram of "Big Muff"1.
Both the standard Fig Fumb and the limited Black Edition are listed by Stone Deaf as their last batch before discontinuation, with the standard version on pre-order as of October 202612.
What it does and how it works
The Fig Fumb is built on the Big Muff circuit, which Stone Deaf describes as "a long established circuit dating back from the 1970's when it was in its hey day"1. Where a stock Muff gives you a fixed tone stack, the Fig Fumb replaces that with a parametric filter: you set the frequency you want to affect, choose how wide or narrow that band is with the bandwidth control, then cut or boost it. That makes it closer in spirit to a filter pedal crossed with a fuzz than a straight Muff clone.
The built-in noise gate is the other half of the design. High-gain fuzz is noisy by nature, and the gate silences the signal when you stop playing, which Stone Deaf describes as "a musical noise gate for precise sound"1. The gate has its own control and an on/off footswitch, so you can pull it out of the chain entirely when you do not need it.
Stone Deaf says the pedal "delivers a wide range of gain" and works on bass, guitar, drums and synthesizers1. The maker also notes it "has been used on various recordings from Slipknot and countless studio sessions with Grammy award winning producers"1.
Controls
The control set, as listed in Guitar.com's review, is:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the gain amount |
| Frequency | Selects the center frequency the parametric EQ acts on |
| Bandwidth (five-way rotary) | Sets how wide the EQ band is, from narrow to broad |
| Cut/boost | Cuts or boosts the selected band |
| Balance | Sets the output level |
| Gate | Sets the noise gate threshold |
| Gate on/off footswitch | Engages or bypasses the noise gate |
| Bypass footswitch | True bypass switching |
Powering it
The Fig Fumb runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug3. Stone Deaf specifies an isolated power supply and warns against daisy chains and single wall-wart supplies1. The standard version draws 100mA1; RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the Black Edition at 55mA3.
Stone Deaf states that anything other than 9V center negative "may harm the product and will cause it not to work," and recommends an isolated supply rather than a daisy chain or single wall-wart21. Plan your pedalboard power accordingly.
The Black Edition
The Fig Fumb Black Edition is a limited version that grew out of customer feedback and component shortages during the pandemic3. Stone Deaf describes it as offering "a unique bark, tighter bass, smoother noise gate, and enhanced EQ versatility," with the ability to move from distortion to fuzz while keeping dynamic range2. Gearnews reported it in April 2023 as "a Muff-style fuzz with a different bark, a tighter bass response, an altered noise gate with a smoother feel and a wider usability in all extreme settings of the EQ"5.
The two versions differ in a few practical ways:
| Fig Fumb | Fig Fumb Black Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Parametric Muff Style Filter with Noise Gate1 | Parametric Muff Style Fuzz for Bass & Guitar2 |
| Current draw | 100mA1 | 55mA3 |
| Dimensions | 15.3 x 10.1 x 7cm1 | 12.5 x 6.5 x 6cm2 |
| Weight | 690 grams1 | 650 grams2 |
| List price | £160.00 (October 2026)1 | £160.00 (October 2026)2 |
Both are true bypass, both are designed and built in the UK, and both carry a one-year warranty covering defects from purchase, non-transferable, with no refunds under warranty12. The Black Edition is also listed as its last batch before discontinuation2.
Where it came from and what reviewers said
Guitar.com reviewed the Fig Fumb in July 2016, when it sold for £1754. Reviewer Richard Purvis found the range of tones impressive:
"a fair approximation of pretty much every classic fuzz tone you can imagine is in here somewhere"4
Richard Purvis, Guitar.com4
On That Pedal Show, the Fig Fumb appeared in the 2017 episode on Muff-style fuzzes, which compared EHX Big Muff-inspired fuzzes from four different manufacturers6.
Related pedals
If you are exploring this corner of the Stone Deaf range, the maker also offers the Rise & Shine fuzz/octave/tremolo pedal and the Kliptonite, which Gearnews covered alongside the Black Fig Fumb in 20235. For the broader category, see fuzz pedals, filter pedals and noise gate pedals.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Stone Deaf FX
Stone Deaf FX
Questions
Is the Stone Deaf Fig Fumb discontinued?
Yes. Stone Deaf lists both the Fig Fumb and the Fig Fumb Black Edition as their last batch before discontinuation, with the standard version on pre-order as of October 2026. Once this batch sells through, no further units are planned.
Is the Fig Fumb true bypass?
Yes. Stone Deaf specifies true bypass for both the standard Fig Fumb and the Black Edition, so the pedal passes your clean signal unaltered when switched off.
Does the Fig Fumb work on bass?
Yes. Stone Deaf says the Fig Fumb works on bass, guitar, drums and synthesizers, and the Black Edition is described as a parametric Muff-style fuzz for bass and guitar. The parametric EQ lets you dial the low end to suit your instrument.
What is the difference between the Fig Fumb and the Black Edition?
The Black Edition is a limited version born from customer feedback and pandemic component shortages. Stone Deaf describes it as having a different bark, tighter bass, a smoother noise gate and more EQ versatility, in a smaller enclosure drawing less current.
Is the Fig Fumb based on the Big Muff?
Yes. Stone Deaf calls it a variant of the Big Muff, a circuit dating to the 1970s, and the name Fig Fumb is an anagram of Big Muff. It adds a parametric EQ and noise gate to the classic Muff fuzz design.
Sources (6)
- Fig Fumb, Stone Deaf (stonedeaffx.com)
- Fig Fumb LTD, Stone Deaf
- Fig Fumb Black Edition by Stone Deaf Effects, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Stone Deaf Kliptonite, Fig Fumb, PDF-2 & Trashy Blonde pedal review, Guitar.com, 2016-07-06
- Stone Deaf FX Black Edition: Updated Fig Fumb, Kliptonite & Warp Drive, gearnews.com, 2023-04-09
- That Pedal Show, That Pedal Show, 2017-04-07
