The Tru-Fi Red October is a fuzz pedal made in the USA by Tru-Fi. It is the maker's take on the Electro-Harmonix Red Army Muff, the rare Russian-built Big Muff variant that appeared in the late 1980s and that Tru-Fi describes as hailed as the best of that family1. For a player, that places it in the Big Muff lineage: a sustain-heavy fuzz with the dark, low-heavy character of the early Russian units rather than the brighter triangle and ram's head designs.
Controls
The Red October keeps things simple with two controls:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | Sets the amount of fuzz and sustain. Tru-Fi's own guidance is to keep it dimed and adjust the tone to taste, no matter which guitar is plugged in1 |
| Tone | Shapes the voice of the fuzz. Tru-Fi notes you can "dial in the wool with the tone control"1 |
That two-knob layout matches the original Red Army Muff approach and makes the pedal quick to set: Sustain wide open, then use the Tone control to place the fuzz in the mix12.
Where it comes from
Tru-Fi describes the Red October as "a take off of the super rare EH Red Army Muffs that came out in the late 80s"1. The maker also connects the design to the Civil War and Red Army Muff pedals of that era2. To follow the early circuit, Tru-Fi says it imported KT3102E transistors from Russia and used 430 pF capacitors, as in the early Red Army pedals1.
The maker draws a distinction between the two editions of the original pedal that players hunt for1:
- First edition Red Army pedals: a very dark sound, thunderous lows, and a smooth and clear tone1
- Second edition Red Army pedals: a slightly grittier tone, noticeably less smooth1
The Red October follows the early, first edition character of the Red Army Muff, including the 430 pF caps from those early pedals, so it sits on the darker, smoother, low-heavy side of the Big Muff family rather than the grittier second edition sound1.
Practical details
The pedal runs on a battery or a standard 9V negative-tip supply, so it works with a normal pedalboard power supply or on its own1. It is true bypass, ships in Tru-Fi's unique packaging, and carries a 1 year warranty1.
Questions
Does the Tru-Fi Red October run on a battery?
Yes. Tru-Fi says the Red October runs on a battery or a standard 9V negative-tip supply, so it can be powered either way on a pedalboard or on its own.
Is the Red October true bypass?
Yes. The maker states the pedal is true bypass, in its own words 'Of course it is Tru-Bypass', so the pedal is removed from your signal chain when it is switched off.
What is the difference between first and second edition Red Army Muffs?
According to Tru-Fi, first edition Red Army pedals have a very dark sound, thunderous lows, and a smooth and clear tone. Second editions have a slightly grittier tone that is noticeably less smooth. The Red October follows the early first edition design, including the 430 pF caps used in the early Red Army pedals.
What transistors does the Red October use?
Tru-Fi says the Red October uses KT3102E transistors imported from Russia, matched with 430 pF capacitors as found in the early Red Army pedals.
Where is the Tru-Fi Red October made?
The Red October is made in the USA, according to the maker's product page, and ships in Tru-Fi's own unique packaging with a 1 year warranty.
Sources (2)
- Tru-Fi Red October Guitar Pedal, tru-fi.com
- Ultra Tremolo Guitar Pedal, tru-fi.com