The Grizzly Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Stonefly Effects, based on the classic Baldwin Burns Buzzaround circuit and sold in a limited run of 12 units1. It uses three NKT213 germanium transistors and a germanium diode for clipping, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer described its character as "Heavy but melodic, warm but biting, this orange box will push the limits of fuzzdom to the edge"1.
The Buzzaround circuit it comes from
The Baldwin Burns Buzzaround was a British fuzz pedal from the mid to late 1960s. TONEHOME calls the 1960s original "among the most sought after and insanely rare fuzz pedals" and notes that the circuit is extremely close to the 3-knob Tone Bender design3. Guitar Pedal X traces the lineage a step further back, writing that "Baldwin Burns then somewhat copied the circuit for their own Buzzaround Fuzz" from the Harmonic Generator circuit4. fuzzboxes.org adds that a single "Baldwin" fuzz box found in the United States is believed to be a prototype for an American version, running from a lower supply voltage but based on the British schematic5.
Stonefly's take keeps the Buzzaround's three-germanium topology and its unusual control set, which GuitarPlayer lists on the original as "Sustain, Balance, and Timbre"6.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | The reviewer found it does exactly what it says: "this thing sustains for days, almost uncontrollably"1 |
| Balance | Acts as a bias control, shaping the germanium transistors' behavior1 |
| Timbre | A combined volume/tone control1 |
"The only way to tame the beast is to PLAY YOUR GUITAR"
That quote sums up how the reviewer framed the pedal overall: one of the fuzziest, quirkiest, glitchiest fuzzes he had come across, with playing rather than knob settings doing most of the taming1.
Enclosure and power
The Grizzly Fuzz comes in what the reviewer called "A big old orange box, uniquely shaped and designed, with big fat control knobs on the top of the pedal," with "wicked, almost sci-fi graphics from David Paul Seymour on the front plate, in the background of the footswitch"1.
The Grizzly Fuzz has no power input and runs on battery only1. It cannot be connected to a pedalboard power supply or daisy chain, so battery access matters for anyone mounting it on a board.
Availability
With only 12 units sold in the limited run1, the Grizzly Fuzz is a scarce pedal. Stonefly Effects has since built other fuzzes, including the Stonefly Effects Alien Sasquatch, which a later Pedal of the Day review grouped with "devices such as the Grizzly Fuzz" as part of the maker's output2.
Videos
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Thomas Jäger
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Questions
What circuit is the Stonefly Grizzly Fuzz based on?
The Grizzly Fuzz is based on the Baldwin Burns Buzzaround, a British fuzz from the mid to late 1960s. The original Buzzaround is among the most sought after and rare fuzz pedals, and its circuit is extremely close to the 3-knob Tone Bender design. Stonefly Effects rebuilt that circuit with three NKT213 germanium transistors and a germanium diode.
Does the Stonefly Grizzly Fuzz use germanium transistors?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day's review, the Grizzly Fuzz uses three NKT213 germanium transistors along with a germanium diode for clipping. Germanium components are a defining part of the Buzzaround-style circuit the pedal recreates.
Can the Grizzly Fuzz run on a power supply?
No. Pedal of the Day's review states there is no power input: the Grizzly Fuzz runs on battery only. That means it cannot be powered from a standard pedalboard supply or daisy chain, so players need to plan for battery changes.
How many Stonefly Grizzly Fuzz pedals were made?
Twelve. Pedal of the Day reported that only 12 units were sold in a limited run, which makes the Grizzly Fuzz a scarce pedal on the used market.
What does the Balance knob do on the Grizzly Fuzz?
On the Grizzly Fuzz, the Balance knob acts as a bias control. Bias shapes how the germanium transistors behave, which affects the pedal's fuzz character, gating and glitchiness. The reviewer found the pedal's overall character is tamed more by playing than by the knobs.
Sources (6)
- Stonefly Effects Grizzly Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2015-03-19
- Stonefly Effects Alien Sasquatch Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2020-01-25
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-28
- Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround • Fuzzboxes, fuzzboxes.org, 2021-05-13
- Five Rare British Vintage Fuzzboxes (That Aren't Tone Benders or Fuzz Faces!), GuitarPlayer, 2021-08-31
