The Tavysh Effects HARM is a compact multi-gain pedal that combines EQ, harmonics and saturation in what its designer, Ilya of Tavysh Effects, built as a "12 Degrees of Saturation" unit. Guitar Pedal X described it as covering clean boost, overdrive, crunch, fuzz, octave fuzz, distortion and high gain, all from one box1. Pedal of the Day reviewed the same pedal as the HARM Distortion, calling it a distortion pedal that can also serve as a boost, EQ, preamp, saturator, fuzz, octave fuzz and overdrive2.
Guitar Pedal X noted in February 2026 that the HARM was discontinued, so it is no longer in production3.
What it does
The HARM's range runs from pure clean to blasting hi-gain distortion, in Pedal of the Day's description, and the reviewer said it can recreate a whole bunch of vastly different distortion pedal sounds or let a player find their own distortion character. The same review said it can capture the essence of iconic distortion pedals like the Tube Screamer, Rat and Big Muff, and that it works with any instrument in any genre2.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, after road-testing the pedal for three weeks, wrote: "Now that I've been road-testing it for 3 weeks, I can absolutely vouch for its potency, versatility, and prowess." He placed its character on the textured and harmonic side, saying you can get some incredibly soft and smooth settings with the pedal, but the joy of it really is on the more textured side1.
Controls
Pedal of the Day counted 11 controls, "11 controls to rule them all"2. Guitar Pedal X split the topology into four control segments1:
| Segment | Controls |
|---|---|
| Main Gain | Gain, Master Volume, Clip: Hard / Off (OpAmp) / Soft1 |
| Mid Boost | Mid Boost controls1 |
| Fuzz / Harmonics | Gate (Fuzz Character): Some / Off / Lots; Overtone (Octave): Some / Most / More; Drive / Fuzz / Overtone Gain4 |
| EQ | EQ controls1 |
The Clip control selects one of three clipping types: hard, which Pedal of the Day described as heavy and compressed; soft, described as dynamic tube-like clipping; and no clipping, for high volume2.
Fuzz sounds and settings
The fuzz stage is highly versatile and dynamic-sensitive, in Pedal of the Day's words2. Guitar Pedal X worked through named fuzz settings including1:
- Tone Bender MKII
- Classic 60's Fuzz (Fuzz Face style)
- Octavia Fuzz
- Hyper Fuzz (Boss FZ-2 style Super Fuzz)
- Muff Fuzz (Russian Muff voicing)
- Synth Fuzz
Of the Tone Bender MKII setting, Karlsson wrote: "I would have liked to have gotten this a little softer, but it still sounds pretty grand!"1
The same article presents 18 example settings across three sheets: six fuzzes, six overdrives and distortions, and six mixed sounds1.
Reception
Pedal of the Day's verdict: "the HARM Distortion may be the most options-laden distortion pedal we've ever come across, and it sounds fantastic"2. In its December 2024 buying guide, Guitar Pedal X gave the HARM a GOLD award as a standout winner of the year, listing it at $2494.
Videos
tavysh effects
collector//emitter
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Tavysh Effects HARM discontinued?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X noted in February 2026 that the Tavysh HARM was discontinued, so it is no longer in production. Pedal of the Day reported in September 2024 that the HARM Distortion could be ordered directly from the Tavysh Effects website, but the pedal is no longer available new from the maker.
What fuzz sounds can the Tavysh HARM recreate?
Guitar Pedal X lists fuzz settings including Tone Bender MKII, Classic 60's Fuzz in the Fuzz Face style, Octavia Fuzz, Hyper Fuzz in the Boss FZ-2 style Super Fuzz vein, Muff Fuzz with a Russian Muff voicing, and Synth Fuzz. Pedal of the Day called the fuzz stage highly versatile and dynamic-sensitive.
What clipping types does the HARM have?
The HARM offers three clipping types selected on its Clip control: hard clipping, described by Pedal of Day as heavy and compressed; soft clipping, described as dynamic tube-like clipping; and no clipping, which gives high volume. The Clip control sits in the Main Gain segment alongside Gain and Master Volume.
How many controls does the Tavysh HARM have?
The HARM has 11 controls, which Pedal of the Day summed up as '11 controls to rule them all'. Guitar Pedal X grouped them into four control segments: Main Gain, Mid Boost, Fuzz/Harmonics and EQ.
What did the Tavysh HARM cost?
The HARM listed for $249. Guitar Pedal X gave that price in October 2024, saying it went for $249 on the Tavysh Effects webstore, and repeated the $249 figure in its December 2024 buying guide.
What is the difference between the HARM and the HARM Distortion?
They are the same pedal. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in September 2024 as the Tavysh Effects HARM Distortion, while Guitar Pedal X later covered it as the HARM Multi-Gain Machine. Both describe the same compact unit combining EQ, harmonics and saturation with 11 controls.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-10-09
- Tavysh Effects HARM Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2024-09-12
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-02-12
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-16
