The TX Pedals Animalizzer is a distortion and fuzz pedal for guitar and bass, built around a Big Muff-style circuit but extended well beyond a standard Muff. Designed by Ricardo "Rikk" Cabecas of TX Pedals (also known as Tone Electronix), a one-man pedal builder from Portugal, it was officially launched in May 2020 and covers boost, overdrive, distortion and multiple Big Muff-style fuzz voicings in a single unit12.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it "pretty much definitely the most shapable of all the different Muff types out there in wild - certainly at this size of enclosure"1.
A Big Muff-style fuzz with nine controls
The Animalizzer is what Guitar Pedal X calls an "extended-range MufferFuzzer": a Big Muff-style fuzz whose gain structure is broken into stages the player can shape individually. It carries nine controls, including Volume, Fuzz, Pre-Gain, Depth and a 3-band EQ, with three large Bass, Middle and Treble knobs on the top row of the pedal13. Components are described as premium quality, with distinct milled aluminum knobs1.
The signal path works in three parts:
- A pre/boost section, driven by the Pre-Gain and Depth knobs.
- The gain stages, set by the Fuzz control and the two clipping-stage switches.
- A post-gain section with the 3-band EQ and master Volume, which tweaks and refines the output1.
Because the gain is distributed this way, the pedal is not limited to fuzz. Delicious Audio notes it can even sound like mild overdriven tones in some settings2.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | The main gain, sustain and saturation control1 |
| Pre-Gain | Can be viewed as a front-end boost feeding the gain stages1 |
| Depth | Sets how much low frequency is fed into the circuit before the clipping stages, a sort of pre-gain EQ14 |
| Bass | Cuts below 60Hz when starting at noon1 |
| Treble | Cuts above approximately 2kHz when starting at noon1 |
| Middle | Part of the 3-band post-gain EQ13 |
| Volume | Master volume in the post-gain section1 |
| Stage 1 Clipping | Selects the clipping character of the first stage1 |
| Stage II Clipping | Selects the clipping character of the second stage1 |
The Depth knob is the one that most changes the pedal's character. Pedal of the Day explains that Depth controls how much the low frequencies are allowed to pass before the clipping stages, changing the pedal's character completely4. Feeding more bass into the clipping stages makes them work harder and thickens the fuzz; feeding less thins the signal out.
The Pre-Gain knob works with it. Guitar Pedal X found that when both Depth and Pre-Gain are dialled down and the Fuzz control sits before the mid-way point, you get overdrive tones rather than full fuzz1. That is the setting players reach for when they want the Animalizzer to behave as an overdrive or a light boost instead of a distortion box.
Two clipping stages
Where a classic Big Muff has fixed clipping, the Animalizzer splits its clipping into two switchable stages1:
- Stage 1 clipping: open or diode options, with LED, Open and Silicon positions15.
- Stage 2 clipping: includes Germanium diodes, with Open, Ge, LED and Si positions15.
The two stages can be combined. You can run either stage open with the other using diodes, or combine both sets of diodes for even more clipping options1. Running a stage open means that stage does not clip the signal itself, letting the other stage, or the amp, do the work.
One detail Guitar Pedal X highlights about the diodes Rikk selected is that they have minimal impact on output volume1. In many fuzz pedals, swapping clipping diodes changes the loudness noticeably and forces you to rebalance the volume each time; here the voicing changes without a big level jump.
The MufferFuzzer and where it stands today
The Animalizzer's tone shaping continues after its gain stages, in a Post-Gain section with a 3-band EQ and Master Volume that tweaks and refines the output1. The Treble knob cuts above ~2kHz when starting at noon1. Build details include distinct milled aluminum knobs, and the pedal is priced at €190 plus delivery of circa €15/€251.
"Not just one of the most versatile Big Muffs of all time, but one of the most versatile Multi-Gain and Multi-Fuzz pedals"
The full control set as listed in that roundup: Bass, Mid, Treble, Volume, Stage 1 Clipping (LED / Open / Si), Depth (Pre-Boost), Fuzz, Stage II Clipping (Open / Ge / LED / Si) and Pre-Gain (Pre-Boost)5.
Who makes it, and where
TX Pedals, also written as Tone Electronix or T.X Pedals, is a one-man pedal builder from Portugal2. Each Animalizzer is carefully assembled by hand in Figueira da Foz, Portugal, by Rikk himself1, and Delicious Audio describes it as a unique pedal, handmade one by one2. As of March 2021 it was priced at €190 plus delivery of circa €15/€251.
Videos
Eirik Stordrange
TheGuitarGeek
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Who designed the TX Pedals Animalizzer?
The Animalizzer was designed and officially launched in May 2020 by Ricardo "Rikk" Cabecas of TX Pedals, a one-man pedal builder based in Portugal. Each pedal is carefully assembled by hand by Rikk himself in Figueira da Foz, Portugal.
Can the Animalizzer be used as an overdrive?
Yes. It is a fuzz, boost, overdrive and distortion pedal in one. With Depth and Pre-Gain dialled down and the Fuzz control set before the mid-way point, it produces overdrive tones, and Delicious Audio notes it can even sound like mild overdriven tones in some settings.
What does the Depth knob do?
Depth controls how much of the low frequencies are allowed to pass into the circuit before the clipping stages. Guitar Pedal X describes it as the amount or degree of low frequencies you feed into the circuit, a sort of pre-gain EQ, and Pedal of the Day notes it changes the pedal's character completely.
Where is the Animalizzer made?
It is made in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Each pedal is carefully assembled by hand by its designer, Ricardo "Rikk" Cabecas, and Delicious Audio describes it as handmade one by one.
What is the Animalizzer MufferFuzzer?
MufferFuzzer is the term Guitar Pedal X uses for the Animalizzer's extended-range design, covering boost, overdrive, distortion and multiple Big Muff-style fuzz voicings. In a 2026 roundup the site called it one of the most versatile Big Muffs of all time and one of the most versatile multi-gain and multi-fuzz pedals.
What diodes can the Animalizzer use?
Stage 1 clipping offers LED, Open or Silicon options, and Stage II clipping offers Open, Germanium, LED or Silicon. You can run one stage open with diodes assigned to the other, or combine both sets of diodes. Guitar Pedal X notes the selected diodes have minimal impact on output volume.
Sources (5)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2021-03-09
- Tone Electronix Animalizzer Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-08
- The Animalizzer, gearnews.com, 2020-12-16
- Tone.ElectroniX Animalizzer Distortion Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2021-03-15
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-08-28