The Tomkat Pedals Violet Muffer Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from Tomkat Pedals.1
What it does to your sound
As a Muff-style fuzz, the Violet Muffer sits in the same family as the Electro-Harmonix Little Big Muff and other Big Muff descendants, a circuit type long used for thick, sustaining fuzz tones. The Lift toggle is what sets it apart from a straight Big Muff layout: it lets you take the first pair of clipping diodes out of the circuit without turning a knob, giving two distinct fuzz voices from one pedal.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Adjusts the pedal's overall output volume1 |
| Sustain | Controls the amount of fuzz injected into the signal; left gives slightly dirty, chunkier sounds, right produces distorted, buzzing walls of fuzz1 |
| Tone | Tone knob with a wide frequency range, from dirty low-end sounds to high-pitched fuzz squeals1 |
| Lift (toggle) | Down is the normal circuit; Up removes the first pair of clipping diodes for low-end, beefy sounds with extra bass and thump1 |
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's Mike B reviewed the Violet Muffer in February 2016 and came away impressed:
"the Violet Muffer is one of the nicest I've had the pleasure to play"1
He described it as one of the nicest Muff-style pedals he has played, with great fuzz sounds and a great range of sounds overall.1
The Violet Muffer Fuzz is a fuzz effect in the Tomkat Pedals range.1
Videos
Premier Guitar
gearmanndude
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Lift switch do on the Tomkat Violet Muffer?
The Lift toggle switch changes the clipping. In the Down position the circuit runs normally. In the Up position the first pair of clipping diodes is taken out of the circuit, which Pedal of the Day's reviewer found opens the pedal up for low-end, beefy sounds with extra bass and thump. It is a quick way to switch between a tighter fuzz voice and a fuller, heavier one.
Is the Tomkat Violet Muffer Fuzz based on the Big Muff?
Yes. Pedal of the Day described the Violet Muffer as a take on the Big Muff circuit, and Premier Guitar's Jason Shadrick, demoing it at Summer NAMM 2017, described its sound as classic Muff-style filth. It is a Muff-style fuzz rather than a copy, with its own Lift toggle for removing the first pair of clipping diodes.
What does the Sustain knob do on the Violet Muffer Fuzz?
Sustain controls the amount of fuzz injected into the signal. Turned to the left it gives slightly dirty, chunkier sounds, and turned to the right it produces distorted, buzzing walls of fuzz, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It works alongside the Tone knob, which the reviewer found had a wide frequency range.
Sources (2)
- Tomkat Pedals Violet Muffer Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-02-18
- SNAMM 2017: Tomkat Pedals Demo, Premier Guitar, 2017-08-11
