The ThorpyFX WOPR AtomIC Fuzz + Silicon RangeMaster is a fuzz pedal with a RangeMaster boost section built in, released as the fourth entry in ThorpyFX's Secret Project Series. It is a custom Thorpy circuit: a Silicon Veteran RangeMaster paired with a redesigned fuzz portion descended from the Fallout Cloud, ThorpyFX's Triangle-type Big Muff take, with the Fallout circuit re-designed around a more potent central OpAmp12. It sits in the wider Thorpy fuzz family alongside pedals like the EAO, the Boneyard and the Hanami.
The two sides
The pedal splits its work between two labeled sections. The AtomIC Fuzz side carries the gain, and the Silicon RangeMaster side carries the boost. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described the fuzz as having "quite a bit more gain than your typical Opamp Muff" and covering "Tone Bender, Harmonic and Doom Sludge Fuzz textures"1.
Controls
Each side has its own set of controls under its own label, a nod to the pedal's WOPR name21.
| Section | Label | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Silicon RangeMaster | TIC TAC TOE | Range, Boost1 |
| AtomIC Fuzz | GLOBAL THERMO NUCLEAR WAR | Sustain, Volume, Treble, Bass1 |
The Range control shapes the Silicon RangeMaster side's tonal focus, with the Boost control setting how hard that side pushes1. On the fuzz side, Sustain sets the amount of fuzz, Volume sets output level, and Treble and Bass shape the EQ, with the Treble control able to run at maximum in the reviewer's settings1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X reviewed the WOPR twice, at its August 2024 release and in a December 2024 roundup of the year's best new fuzz pedals. The reviewer's verdict on running the two sides together2:
"There is some discrepancy in output volume for each side - but they both combine beautifully for some truly rich and complex harmonics."
The same review called the combination versatile, delivering a decent sustaining liquid distortion as well as Tone Bender style voicings2. The noted output volume discrepancy between the two sides is worth knowing if you plan to switch between them on the fly.
The WOPR is part of the Secret Project Series and is currently mostly made to order, so it is not a pedal you will typically find sitting on a dealer's shelf1.
Videos
Fuzzed Drones
Metalhead Productions
Questions
What is the difference between the AtomIC Fuzz side and the Silicon RangeMaster side?
The AtomIC Fuzz side is the distortion engine, a redesigned fuzz descended from the Fallout Cloud, with Sustain, Volume, Treble and Bass controls. The Silicon RangeMaster side is a boost, with Range and Boost controls under the TIC TAC TOE label. Guitar Pedal X found the two sides combine beautifully for rich and complex harmonics, though with some discrepancy in output volume between them.
Does the ThorpyFX WOPR have more gain than a Muff?
According to Guitar Pedal X's review, the AtomIC fuzz section has quite a bit more gain than a typical Opamp Muff. The reviewer described the pedal as covering Tone Bender, Harmonic and Doom Sludge Fuzz textures, so it reaches well beyond standard Muff territory.
Is the ThorpyFX WOPR still in production?
As of August 2024, Guitar Pedal X reported that the WOPR is part of ThorpyFX's Secret Project Series (#4) and is currently mostly made to order, so it is available but not kept in stock in the usual way.
How much does the ThorpyFX WOPR AtomIC Fuzz + Silicon RangeMaster cost in the US?
Guitar Pedal X listed the WOPR at $319 in the US as of December 2024, with a UK price of £264.99.
What do TIC TAC TOE and GLOBAL THERMO NUCLEAR WAR mean on this pedal?
They are the control labels, a nod to the pedal's WOPR name and its WarGames-inspired theme. TIC TAC TOE covers the Silicon RangeMaster side's Range and Boost controls, while GLOBAL THERMO NUCLEAR WAR covers the AtomIC Fuzz side's Sustain, Volume, Treble and Bass controls.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-08-20
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-18
