The ThorpyFX Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz Heritage Edition is a fuzz pedal that revives the original Rose Morris Duo Fuzz, recreated in collaboration with Rose Morris. It is an octave fuzz with two distinct voicings, Tone 1 and Tone 2, and it follows the wedge-shaped form factor of the original pedal, with a circuit board laid out just like the original units1. Rose Morris owns the Shaftesbury imprint and commissioned ThorpyFX to make authentic vintage style versions, working from an original Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz in its permanent collection2.
The pedal is fully handmade in the UK1, and Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen found both voicings "super responsive to picking dynamics and exhibit smooth volume knob clean-up"3.
Two fuzz voicings from a revived Rose Morris design
The Duo Fuzz combines two unique fuzz effect voicings, and both editions follow what Guitar Pedal X describes as "the authentic, lower-output silicon Super-Fuzz sound"2. Guitar World's review describes it as "octave fuzz with seemingly just the right proportion of the upper octave embedded in the fuzz," delivered in two distinct flavors, Tone 1 and Tone 23.
Tone 2 has a much more forward presence, with upper-mids pushing through with something of the resonance of a cocked-wah or ring modulator3. Trevor Curwen's verdict on the pedal lists "Two distinct tones" among its reasons to buy3.
"Both are super responsive to picking dynamics and exhibit smooth volume knob clean-up."
The original Duo Fuzz was released in the heyday of guitar effects pedal inventions and distributed by Rose Morris, and the originals have been used by legendary guitarists from the likes of Genesis and The Who, according to ThorpyFX1.
The controls: Balance, Expander and Tone
The Heritage Edition keeps the original control set, with a Tone 1/2 switch and a bypass footswitch alongside the two knobs3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Balance | Controls the pedal's output volume, either to match your level to the bypass signal, or push the front end of your amp harder for extra grit1 |
| Expander | Adds more gain and saturation to the fuzz sound, for a thicker, sustained tone1 |
| Tone | A slider that drastically changes the sound from bright and cutting to wooly and warm1 |
| Tone 1/2 switch | Selects between the two fuzz flavors, Tone 1 and Tone 23 |
| Bypass footswitch | Engages and bypasses the pedal3 |
The Tone control is where the Duo Fuzz gets its name. On the Heritage Edition it is a slider, while on the standard pedal it is a footswitch, a feature ThorpyFX says was never before seen on a Duo Fuzz1.
Heritage Edition and compact versions
The pedal is available in both its original big box glory and in a more pedalboard friendly compact enclosure1. The two editions differ in more than size:
| Heritage Edition | Compact Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Folded steel, period-correct sizing2 | Aluminum2 |
| Tone control | Slider1 | Footswitch, flat / scooped2 |
| Diodes | Pair of NOS germanium diodes1 | Pair of near identical Schottky diodes153 |
| Reproduction | Fully period-correct, same circuitboard and sizing as the original2 | Smaller, pedalboard friendly1 |
Both editions have vintage specs and slightly lower output profiles and volume, exactly in line with the originals2. Guitar World's review notes that the Standard Edition's size and footswitching flexibility will be the go-to for players adding this fuzz flavor to a rig, which points practical buyers toward the smaller version3.
The Heritage Edition is a period-correct reproduction with the same circuitboard and sizing as the original, so it is considerably larger than a typical modern pedal. Players with tight pedalboards may prefer the Compact Edition.
Origins and the original Duo Fuzz
The original Duo Fuzz dates from the heyday of guitar effects pedal inventions and was distributed by Rose Morris, which had a showroom in Shaftesbury Avenue, London, giving the pedal its name13. The pedal is also known under the Univox name1.
Rose Morris teamed up with ThorpyFX to bring back the Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz, in a Compact Edition and this Heritage Edition, the latter following the wedge-shaped form-factor of the original pedal31. The Duo Fuzz combines two unique fuzz effect voicings, and both editions follow the authentic, lower-output silicon Super-Fuzz sound2.
For more on the effect type, see fuzz pedals, and for the smaller version of this circuit, see the ThorpyFX Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Heritage and compact Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz?
The Heritage Edition is a fully period-correct vintage reproduction with the same circuitboard and sizing as the original, in a folded steel enclosure, with the Tone control as a slider. The Compact Edition is a smaller aluminium enclosure with the Tone control on a footswitch, switching between flat and scooped settings.
Is the Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz the same as the Univox Duo Fuzz?
The pedal is also known under the Univox name, according to ThorpyFX's product page. The circuit board is laid out just like the original units, and both the Heritage and Compact editions follow the authentic, lower-output silicon Super-Fuzz sound.
What kind of diodes does the Heritage Edition use?
The Heritage Edition uses a pair of NOS germanium diodes, according to ThorpyFX. Guitar World's review also notes that the pedal features germanium diodes. The Compact Edition instead uses a pair of near identical Schottky diodes.
What power does the Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz need?
It takes standard 9V power at 20mA, centre negative, according to ThorpyFX. Guitar World lists it as 9V battery or 9V adaptor, with the adaptor not supplied, so battery power is also supported.
Where is the Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz made?
The Heritage Edition is fully handmade in the UK by ThorpyFX. Guitar World's review also lists its origin as the UK.
What does the Tone slider do?
On the Heritage Edition the Tone control is a slider, and it drastically changes the sound of the pedal from bright and cutting to wooly and warm. It selects between two fuzz flavours, Tone 1 and Tone 2, with Tone 2 having a more forward upper-mid presence.
Sources (5)
- Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz Heritage Edition, thorpyfx.com
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-02-14
- Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz Heritage Edition review, Guitar World, 2025-08-06
- Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz, ThorpyFX
- Shaftesbury Duo Fuzz, ThorpyFX
