The Summer School Electronics Class Reunion is an Overdrive Fuzz Distortion pedal that combines all three effect types in one enclosure. It does this by wiring two of the maker's own circuits in parallel: their take on a 90's Russian Big Muff and their Trash Panda Overdrive Distortion, with master Volume and Blend knobs over the pair. Pedal of the Day reviewed it on its release in April 20241.
What it does to your sound
The two halves cover different ground. On the fuzz side, Pedal of the Day wrote that "The Muff side achieves classic distortion/fuzz tones", while "the Trash Panda gives you a crisp and refreshing overdrive"1. Blended together, the reviewer found the pedal "pretty bold and amp-crushing, but can get into lighter crunch territory as well, for a balanced and well-rounded effects unit"1.
Because the circuits run in parallel rather than in series, the Blend knob sets the mix between them rather than stacking one into the other. That makes the pedal flexible across the overdrive-to-fuzz range: run one side alone, or combine the two in whatever proportion the part calls for1.
The controls
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | Each side | Sets the drive amount for that circuit1 |
| Tone | Each side | Sets the tone for that circuit1 |
| Diode toggle | Each side | Switches the diode combination for that circuit1 |
| Blend | Master | Sets the mix between the two parallel circuits1 |
| Volume | Master | Sets the overall output1 |
Each side carries its own Drive and Tone controls, so the overdrive and fuzz halves are voiced independently before they meet at the master section1.
The diode switches
Each side also has a diode toggle switch, which changes the clipping diodes used in that circuit. Pedal of the Day summed up what this offers: "By blending the two circuits and making different diode combinations, The Class Reunion can open up a world of riff-writing possibilities"1.
How it fits in the range
The Class Reunion sits alongside other Summer School Electronics fuzz designs covered on this site, including the Stone Thrower Fuzz and the later Fuzz 101, a silicon Fuzz Face-style design. For the wider field, see Fuzz Pedals, Overdrive Pedals and Distortion Pedals.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal at release, rated it highly within the maker's catalog: "today's new pedal might just be their best one yet"1.
Videos
Summer School Electronics
60 Cycle Hum
B's Music Shop
Questions
What circuits are combined in the Class Reunion?
The Class Reunion puts two of Summer School Electronics' own circuits in one box: their take on a 90's Russian Big Muff and their Trash Panda Overdrive Distortion. The two are wired in parallel, with master Volume and Blend knobs setting how much of each circuit comes through, so the pedal can act as an overdrive, a fuzz, a distortion, or a mix of all three.
What does the Blend knob do on the Class Reunion?
The Blend knob is one of two master controls, alongside Volume, that sit over the parallel-wired circuits. It sets the mix between the Trash Panda overdrive side and the Big Muff-style fuzz side, letting you run one alone or combine the two in whatever proportion suits the riff.
Can the Class Reunion sound like a Big Muff?
Yes, on the fuzz side. That half of the pedal is Summer School Electronics' take on a 90's Russian Big Muff, and Pedal of the Day found it achieves classic distortion and fuzz tones. Blending in the Trash Panda side or changing the diode combinations shifts it toward other flavors.
What do the diode switches do?
Each side of the pedal has its own diode toggle switch. By making different diode combinations on the two circuits and blending them together, the pedal opens up a wide range of drive and fuzz voicings, which Pedal of the Day described as a world of riff-writing possibilities.
Is the Class Reunion an overdrive or a fuzz?
Both, and a distortion as well. It is sold as an Overdrive Fuzz Distortion, combining elements of all three effect types in one enclosure. The Trash Panda side gives a crisp overdrive, the Muff side covers distortion and fuzz, and the Blend knob mixes between them.
Sources (1)
- Summer School Electronics Class Reunion Overdrive Fuzz Distortion, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2024-04-23
