The VFE Fiery Red Horse is a fuzz pedal from VFE that deliberately sits on the border between fuzz and distortion. VFE calls the category "fuzzstortion" and describes the pedal as its most versatile fuzz, offering "over-the-top saturation and sustain, as well as big, dynamic fuzzstortion tones"1. The circuit traces back to the Triangle-era Big Muff, and the v2 version added variable compression, active EQ, and more dynamic range over the original2.
A fuzz that blurs into distortion
The v2 Fiery Red Horse came out of a long search by VFE's designer. In the v2 manual he wrote: "The v2 Fiery Red Horse ends my search for a fuzz pedal that blurs the line between distortion and fuzz." The v2 was developed after several prototypes, a pre-production run, and feedback from VFE customers, and it added active treble and bass EQ for more versatile uses and a lower noise floor2.
The controls cover the ground a fuzz usually does, plus a few this one does not:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Sets the gain sent into the dual distortion/fuzz stages1 |
| LEVEL | Controls the output of the fuzz1 |
| POWER | Sets the amount of power sent to the gain stages, up to 12V1 |
| MIDS | Sets the cutoff frequency of the filters in the tone circuit: UP is a mid scoop, MIDDLE is flat mids, DOWN is a mid boost1 |
| STAGES | Selects the number of gain stages, from 1 to 31 |
The Stages switch is the heart of the pedal's range. One stage gives a crunchy drive tone, two stages give a vintage Big Muff circuit, and three stages give extreme gain1. That makes the pedal usable as a straightforward overdrive-adjacent fuzz on one setting and a saturated, sustaining fuzz on another, which is where the "fuzzstortion" name comes from1.
The footswitch runs VFE's DUALMODE system. To activate or deactivate momentary mode, you wait 3 seconds, then press tap, tap, and hold for 3 seconds with the footswitch1.
Is it based on a Big Muff?
Yes. VFE states that this version "returns to the roots of the first Fiery Red Horse (based on the Triangle-era Big Muff)"1. The Big Muff lineage shows most clearly with the Stages switch set to two gain stages, which VFE describes as the vintage Big Muff setting1. The v2's clipping section uses four 1n34a or similar germanium diodes (two in series), two 1n5817 diodes, and one 2.7V Zener2.
Power: 9V in, up to 16V to the circuit
The pedal accepts the industry standard 9 VDC, negative-tip power supply1. What makes the Fiery Red Horse unusual is what happens after the jack: a charge pump built around an NE555 timer on the audio board raises the internal supply, so with a standard 9V power supply the v2 circuit is fed anywhere from 3V up to 16V2. The Power knob sets how much of that reaches the dual gain stages. The v2 manual sums it up: "POWER: Sets the power fed to the dual gain stages. More power = bigger, more dynamic distortion"2.
Because the internal charge pump feeds the circuit well above the 9V at the jack, the Power knob changes the character of the gain stages, not just their volume. It is a tone control as much as a supply setting12.
Availability
The Fiery Red Horse was listed on VFE's product page as of 26 October 2026, at a regular price of $199.00 USD and a sale price of $149.00 USD1.
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Questions
Is the VFE Fiery Red Horse based on a Big Muff?
Yes. VFE states that the Fiery Red Horse returns to the roots of the first version of the pedal, which was based on the Triangle-era Big Muff. The Stages switch leans into that heritage: with two gain stages engaged, the pedal is described as giving a vintage Big Muff circuit, while one stage gives a crunchy drive tone and three stages give extreme gain.
What does the Stages switch do on the Fiery Red Horse?
The Stages switch selects how many clipping gain stages are in the circuit, from 1 to 3. VFE's guidance is to use one stage for a crunchy drive tone, two stages for a vintage Big Muff circuit, and three stages for extreme gain. It is the pedal's main tool for moving between distortion and fuzz territory.
What power supply does the Fiery Red Horse need?
The pedal accepts the industry standard 9 VDC, negative-tip power supply. Internally, the v2 circuit uses a charge pump built around an NE555 timer on the audio board, so with a standard 9V supply the circuit itself is fed anywhere from 3V up to 16V, depending on the Power knob setting.
What does the Power knob do on the Fiery Red Horse?
The Power knob sets the amount of power sent to the dual gain stages, up to 12V according to the product page. The v2 manual puts it plainly: more power means bigger, more dynamic distortion. With a standard 9V supply, the v2 circuit is fed from 3V up to 16V.
Is the VFE Fiery Red Horse still available?
The pedal was listed as out of stock on VFE's product page as of October 2026, and VFE has stated it will close down at the end of 2026 while continuing to offer repair service indefinitely. The company has also made its design files available, so the circuit remains in the hands of the DIY community.
Sources (2)
- Fiery Red Horse, VFE Pedals
- VFE_FieryRedHorse.pdf, madbeanpedals.com, 2018