The Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz is a compact, all-analog fuzz pedal that recreates the circuit of Dirty Boy's boutique Afro Fuzz in a pedalboard-friendly format. Dirty Boy partnered with Warm Audio to faithfully recreate the acclaimed Afro Fuzz circuit, which Warm Audio describes as a boutique reimagining of the legendary British "circular" fuzz that paired rich sustain and touch-sensitive response1. It launched in July 2026 as one of three "Jr." pedals, alongside the Jr. Booster and Jr. Overdrive, each priced at $16921.
Where a classic two-knob fuzz gives you Volume and Fuzz and nothing else, the Jr. Fuzz adds a six-position Frequency selector that reshapes the circuit's overall voice. Warm Audio says to expect everything from thick, low-end-heavy saturation to sharp, more cutting textures1.
The controls: Volume, Fuzz and Frequency
The pedal keeps the classic two-knob fuzz layout and adds one signature switch. Warm Audio says dedicated Volume and Fuzz controls pair with the six-position Frequency selector to reshape the circuit's overall voice1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Sets the gain, from lightly ragged breakup to full-on fuzzy saturation3 |
| Level | Sets the output volume3 |
| Frequency | Six-position selector that shifts the voicing from Thick/Heavy to Sharp/Cutting4 |
Guitar World's reviewer, Charlie Wilkins, found the Frequency selector is what turns this from a basic two-knob fuzz into something more: "The six-position Frequency selector is really doing the work of turning this from a basic two-knob fuzz into something w"3. He also noted the trade-off in the design: "Six-position switch means stepped, not sweepable voicing changes." In other words, you get six distinct voices rather than a continuously variable tone control3.
Germanium, silicon and how it compares to a Fuzz Face
The Jr. Fuzz sits in the British fuzz tradition that the Fuzz Face made famous, but its transistor complement differs. GuitarPlayer's review notes the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz uses one germanium and one silicon transistor, in place of the original Fuzz Face's dual-germanium design5. The original Afro Fuzz, by contrast, used vintage germanium transistors throughout4.
That mix shows up in the range of tones reviewers found. GuitarPlayer's review staff wrote that the pedal can "Avail subtle-to-massive germanium flavors and nastier, more saturated silicon fuzz. Very useful six-position freq knob"5. MusicRadar's coverage of the launch put the comparison plainly: "It sounds a little like a good vintage Fuzz Face that cleans up nicely."2
Cleanup is a big part of that. Guitar World found the pedal "cleans up beautifully with guitar volume," and that it "responded to pick attack in a way that rewards playing dynamics rather than just compressing everything into saturation"3. Warm Audio makes the same claim for the circuit itself, describing premium all-analog circuitry that delivers rich sustain, dynamic cleanup, and touch-sensitive response1.
Power and connections
The Jr. Fuzz runs on a 9V DC center-negative power supply, which is not included with the pedal3. Its connections are simple: a 1/4-inch instrument input and a 1/4-inch amp output3. There is no MIDI, USB, expression pedal input, effects loop or Bluetooth3.
The power supply is not in the box, so plan on a 9V DC center-negative adapter or a pedalboard power supply with a matching output. Warm Audio has not published a current draw figure for this pedal3.
From the Dirty Boy Afro Fuzz to the Jr. Series
The Jr. Fuzz traces back to the Dirty Boy Afro Fuzz, a boutique pedal built by Alex Saraceno5. Warm Audio partnered with Dirty Boy to faithfully recreate the Afro Fuzz circuit in the smaller Jr. housing1. GuitarPlayer's review describes the Jr. series as putting the circuits from Saraceno's Afro Fuzz, Preamp and Ball Buster pedals into housings roughly half the size of the originals5.
The Junior Series puts the circuits from Alex Saraceno's Afro Fuzz, Preamp and Ball Buster pedals into housings roughly half the size of the originals5. The Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz is based on the Afro Fuzz circuit, which Warm Audio recreated in partnership with Dirty Boy1. Each Jr. Series pedal carries an MSRP of $1691.
The Jr. Fuzz, Jr. Booster and Jr. Overdrive
The three Jr. pedals launched together, all built by Warm Audio3, and each recreates a different Dirty Boy circuit:
| Pedal | Based on | Controls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jr. Fuzz | Afro Fuzz | Fuzz, Level, six-position Frequency | One germanium and one silicon transistor5 |
| Jr. Booster | Ball Buster | Gain, Treble, Bass, H-M-L Freq switch | Up to 10dB of clean gain before breakup6 |
| Jr. Overdrive | Dirty Boy Preamp | Gain, Tone, Volume, Variac | Speaker-emulated output for direct connection to mixers, interfaces and FRFR speakers7 |
The Booster moves from clean gain into British-style breakup and fuzz-inspired saturation as the gain rises6, while the Overdrive functions as an overdrive, preamp or standalone amp simulator7. GuitarPlayer's reviewers called the Overdrive "the standout, combining classic British amp tones with a Variac control and speaker-emulated output that can transform a clean amp," and said the Booster "adds muscular, harmonically rich drive"5.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Charlie Wilkins reviewed the Jr. Fuzz and judged it on value as well as sound: "Judged on its own merits, the Jr. Fuzz punches well above its $169 price tag."3 His summary of the pedal's character:
"A genuinely distinctive vintage fuzz voice that cleans up beautifully."
GuitarPlayer's review of the whole Jr. series found the pedals "bring welcome flexibility, particularly in high-end frequencies, while assuring simplicity of concept and execution"5. The same review highlighted the Fuzz's useful six-position frequency knob and its range from subtle germanium flavors to nastier silicon saturation5.
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Questions
Is the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz germanium or silicon?
It uses one germanium and one silicon transistor, where the original Fuzz Face design it draws from used two germaniums. GuitarPlayer's reviewers found this mix gave the pedal both subtle-to-massive germanium flavors and nastier, more saturated silicon fuzz, depending on how the Frequency selector and Fuzz control were set.
Does the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz clean up with the guitar volume knob?
Yes. Guitar World's reviewer found it cleans up beautifully with guitar volume, and Warm Audio describes the circuit as delivering dynamic cleanup and touch-sensitive response. The pedal also responds to pick attack in a way that rewards playing dynamics rather than compressing everything into saturation.
Is the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Warm Audio lists true bypass operation for the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz, along with rugged road-ready construction. With the pedal switched off, your dry signal passes through without buffering, which matters to players who keep long analog chains or want to avoid tone coloring from bypassed effects.
How is the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz different from a Fuzz Face?
The circuit is a reimagining of a British fuzz in the Fuzz Face tradition, but it uses one germanium and one silicon transistor instead of the Fuzz Face's two germaniums, and it adds a six-position Frequency selector that a standard two-knob Fuzz Face does not have. MusicRadar described it as sounding a little like a good vintage Fuzz Face that cleans up nicely.
What is the difference between the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz, Booster and Overdrive?
The three Jr. pedals launched together at $169 each. The Fuzz recreates the Afro Fuzz circuit, the Booster recreates the Ball Buster circuit with Gain, Treble and Bass controls plus an H-M-L Freq switch, and the Overdrive recreates the Dirty Boy Preamp with Gain, Tone, Volume and Variac controls plus a speaker-emulated output.
Does the Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz come with a power supply?
No. It runs on a 9V DC center-negative power supply, which is not included in the box, so you need to supply your own adapter or pedalboard power. There is no battery option, MIDI, USB, expression pedal input, effects loop or Bluetooth on this pedal.
Sources (7)
- Warm Audio Dirty Boy “Afro Fuzz” Style Pedal, Warm Audio
- Warm Audio teams up with Dirty Boy for the Junior Series, MusicRadar, 2026-07-21
- Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz review, Guitar World, 2026-08-11
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-07-22
- Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive, Fuzz and Booster review, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2026-09-15
- Warm Audio Dirty Boy “Ball Buster” Style Booster Pedal, Warm Audio
- Warm Audio Dirty Boy “Preamp” Style Overdrive Pedal, Warm Audio
