The ThorpyFX EAO is a germanium fuzz pedal built on the Burns Buzzaround circuit, which ThorpyFX calls "one of my favourite germanium circuits ever, the venerable Burns Buzzaround"1. The name stands for Explodes All at Once2, and the maker describes it as "a massive sounding fuzz using three NOS Germanium PNP transistors", along with a NOS germanium diode and an on-board transformer1. The pedal has appeared in three editions: a large V1 in late 2024, a smaller V2 Pink in 2025, and a compact V3 in 20263.
The circuit: a Burns Buzzaround take
The EAO's circuit is based on the Burns Buzzaround, the vintage British fuzz that ThorpyFX cites as a favorite germanium design1. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, places it in a broader family: he notes "aspects of this EAO that remind me a touch of my PigDog JuJu Fuzz which is a somewhat related circuit", the JuJu being based on the Tone Bender MKIII3.
The signal path uses three NOS germanium PNP transistors, a NOS germanium diode and an on-board transformer1. The V3 edition uses mil-spec germanium CV type transistors, and Karlsson describes it as "one of the easiest fuzzes to dial in - almost every setting yields superior sounds"3.
The earlier EAO PINK version was built with old school turret construction inside reproductions of the classic folded steel mkI TB style enclosures, finished in pink powdercoat with teal graphics4.
Controls
The EAO carries four controls3:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | Sets the amount of fuzz sustain |
| Tone | Shapes the frequency balance; Karlsson's favorite setting has it dialled all the way back3 |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Bias | External control for adjusting the bias of the germanium transistors3 |
The Bias knob is the practical difference for players used to vintage germanium fuzzes, where bias is usually fixed or set with an internal trimmer. Karlsson describes the range: "You can of course go for the more full sear, or back off the Bias for more starved and slightly more brittle tones"3.
V1, V2 Pink and V3 editions
The EAO has been released in three editions, each smaller than the last3:
| Edition | Date | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | Late Christmas Special, December 2024 | 130 x 270 x 46mm vintage style enclosure | Around 10 made3 |
| V2 Pink | Around September 2025 | 102 x 204 x 51mm | Only a handful made3 |
| V3 compact | 2026 | Under a quarter of the V1's surface area | Limited to around 200 units3 |
ThorpyFX built the first hardwired units at Christmas 2024 and, in the maker's words, "loved this circuit so much I had to put it into a standard Thorpy enclosure"5. The V2 Pink edition added the pink powdercoat and teal graphics on folded steel enclosures4, while the V3 carries vibrant graphics with alternating pink and blue knob colors3.
The V2 Pink edition is a battery only pedal, according to the maker4. The V3's run is limited to around 200 units because of the scarcity of the CV type germanium transistors it uses3.
Price and availability
The compact V3 edition is listed at £329.00 on the ThorpyFX site1. Guitar Pedal X reported in October 2026 that it is "now also at international dealers - for $399 / €399"3. The earlier V2 Pink edition was listed at £449.002.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's review of the compact V3 edition is the main published coverage of the pedal. Karlsson found it exceptionally easy to get good sounds from, calling it "one of the easiest fuzzes to dial in - almost every setting yields superior sounds", and his favorite setting had the Tone knob dialled all the way back3.
"This 3 x mil-spec Germanium CV type Transistor Fuzz is one of the easiest fuzzes to dial in - almost every setting yields superior sounds"
Videos
Jackson Brooksby
Questions
What circuit is the ThorpyFX EAO based on?
The EAO is built on the Burns Buzzaround circuit, which ThorpyFX describes as one of its favourite germanium circuits. A reviewer also notes aspects of the pedal that recall the Tone Bender MKIII family via the related PigDog JuJu Fuzz.
What transistors does the ThorpyFX EAO use?
It uses three NOS germanium PNP transistors, plus a NOS germanium diode and an on-board transformer. The V3 edition uses mil-spec germanium CV type transistors, and the run is limited to around 200 units because those transistors are scarce.
How many ThorpyFX EAO pedals were made?
Around 10 of the original V1 were made as a late Christmas Special in 2024. The V2 Pink edition of September 2025 was only a handful. The compact V3 of 2026 is limited to around 200 units due to transistor scarcity.
How much does the ThorpyFX EAO cost?
The compact V3 edition is listed at £329.00 on the ThorpyFX site, and Guitar Pedal X reported it at international dealers for $399 / €399 in October 2026. The earlier V2 Pink edition was listed at £449.00.
What does the Bias knob do on the EAO?
The Bias knob is an external control for adjusting the bias of the germanium transistors. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer describes backing off the Bias for more starved and slightly more brittle tones, versus the fuller setting with it turned up.
Sources (5)
- EAO | Fuzz, ThorpyFX
- EAO PINK version, ThorpyFX
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-10-06
- EAO PINK version, ThorpyFX
- EAO | Fuzz, ThorpyFX, 2024
