The Warm Audio Fluff Drive is a limited-edition overdrive pedal developed in collaboration with Ryan "Fluff" Bruce, the YouTube creator behind Riffs, Beards & Gear, and it is Warm Audio's first signature pedal12. Warm Audio describes it as an amp-driving overdrive voiced around the screaming overdrive tones modern metal players rely on, built on a legendary '80s overdrive platform that Bruce helped refine into a focused tool for today's metal rigs1.
The starting point was unusual. Rather than the familiar green Tube Screamer circuit itself, the base pedal was a Japan-only Maxon ST9 Pro Plus Super Tube from the 1980s, which Bruce said had a low-end boost placed before the gain circuit that sounded "really terrible"34. The Fluff Drive keeps the classic three-knob layout players know from a Tube Screamer but adds a sweepable mid-enhance, a low boost, a variable noise gate and substantially more output, roughly two to three times that of a regular Tube Screamer by Bruce's own account453.
A Tube Screamer-style overdrive voiced for modern metal
Guitar World billed the Fluff Drive as "the perfect tube screamer for modern metal," noting that it takes the classic green scream recipe and bolsters its customization for high-gain metal and extended-range players5. In Warm Audio's press release, the framing was that the pedal "takes a legendary '80s platform and elevates it with amp-driving power, a modded mid-enhance circuit and low-boost control, and a high/low noise gate"6.
The design brief evolved as the project went on. Bruce explained in the Andertons demo video:
"Originally, it started out as wanting to tighten up a gained out amp, and then it kind of progressed from that to, okay, well, this is pretty good, but can we make it usable for bluesier tones into a clean amp, and can I use it for a bass guitar to grid it up a little bit if I want?"
That range of uses shows up in the modes Warm Audio lists for the pedal: riffs into a high-gain amp, a clean gain boost into a hot amp, and drive and saturation1. The pedal is built with premium analog components including JRC4558 op-amps, the same op-amp family associated with classic Tube Screamer circuits, plus discrete transistors and an internal voltage doubler1.
The controls
The Fluff Drive keeps the classic trio of Drive, Level and Tone controls, the same three controls as a big Tube Screamer53. Around that core sit the mods that set it apart.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of gain, as on a Tube Screamer3 |
| Level | Sets output volume; much more level than a normal Tube Screamer3 |
| Tone | Sets tonal balance, as on a Tube Screamer3 |
| Mid-Enhance | Sweepable boost from 150 Hz to 2500 Hz5 |
| Mid-boost position switch | Mini switch, Pre/Post/Off, placing the mid boost before or after the gain stage51 |
| Low-Boost/Classic | Mini switch engaging the modded low boost5 |
| Gate | Variable noise gate, high/low, with a top-mounted bypass switch65 |
| Voltage switch | Top-mounted switch selecting 18V or 9V operation53 |
The mid-enhance switch allows the boost to be placed before or after the gain stage for flexible shaping1. Placing a mid boost before the gain stage makes the amp or pedal clip harder in that region, a common trick for cutting through a dense mix; placing it after shapes the tone without changing how the gain stage reacts.
The low boost addresses a known limitation of Tube Screamer-style circuits, which roll off low end. Warm Audio says the modded low boost tightens bass response for extended-range guitars and modern tunings1, and Guitar World describes the low-boost circuit as tailored for seven- and eight-string players5. Bruce noted that plugging a bass guitar into the pedal adds a bunch of low end back3.
The noise gate is meant to be subtle yet functional rather than choke out notes, and it can be bypassed completely via a top-mounted switch5.
Power and the voltage boost
The Fluff Drive runs off 18V for increased headroom, and for a more streamlined setup it can be switched to 9V via its second top-mounted switch5. In the Andertons review video, Bruce described what the higher voltage does:
"For me it was um extended frequency like top end."
In other words, the voltage boost is heard as extended top-end frequency and more openness rather than simply more volume3.
History: Warm Audio's first signature pedal
Warm Audio announced the Fluff Drive ahead of NAMM, teaming up with YouTube creator Ryan "Fluff" Bruce to launch his signature pedal2. It was shown on Warm Audio's NAMM stand, with Bruce saying in an interview there that it "should be out in like a week"4. Guitar World, MusicRadar and Gearnews all covered the launch572.
The pedal is a limited edition, offered in Teal and White enclosures17. Both finishes do the same job and cost the same $1992. Warm Audio positions the Fluff Drive alongside its other overdrive releases, which include the Tube Squealer and the Throne of Tone.
Each unit is hand-tested and inspected by trained technicians in Austin, TX, and the pedal comes with Warm Audio's 5-year warranty61.
What reviewers said
In the Andertons Music Co review video from March 2026, Lee Anderton put the pedal through a range of settings and came away positive:
"I think we've definitely definitely put this pedal through its paces. I like it. I can absolutely see I could find some sounds in this that that would um I need to try and make some space on my board."
Anderton also found it worked well with a solid-state amp, saying that with more drive and low boost added from the pedal it "sounds great" into a Boss Katana 503. Guitar Pedal X called it "a very decent candidate for sure" in the amp-driving overdrive category, placing it alongside the Drunk Beaver Vatra, Frost Giant Mourningstar, Highwind Dire Wolf, KHDK Ghoul Screamer and Electric Eye Audio Mud Killer8.
Price and availability
The Fluff Drive carries an MSRP of $1991. In Europe it is listed at 219 € inc. VAT, and in the UK at £209 inc. VAT6. Gearnews reported a Thomann retailer price of $206.00 / £187.00 / 219.00 € for the Teal finish at launch2.
In the US, the pedal is available exclusively at Sweetwater, and at authorized retailers worldwide6.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Sweetwater and Riffs, Beards & Gear
Questions
Does the Fluff Drive work with seven- and eight-string guitars?
Yes. The low-boost circuit was tailored specifically for seven- and eight-string players, and Warm Audio describes the modded low boost as tightening bass response for extended-range guitars and modern tunings. In a demo video, Ryan Bruce also noted that plugging a bass guitar into it adds a bunch of low end back, so it handles low tunings beyond standard guitar ranges.
Can the Fluff Drive be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Warm Audio lists a clean gain boost into a hot amp as one of the pedal's intended modes, suggesting it as a boost into a heavily distorted amp. Its level control also offers much more output than a normal Tube Screamer, roughly two to three times more by Bruce's account, which supports that use.
What colors does the Fluff Drive come in?
The Fluff Drive is offered in two finishes: Teal and White. Both colors do the same job and cost the same $199, so the choice is purely cosmetic. The two finishes were available from launch.
Is the Fluff Drive a limited edition?
Yes. Warm Audio bills it as a limited-edition signature pedal, its first signature pedal, developed in collaboration with Ryan "Fluff" Bruce. It was announced at NAMM 2026 in January 2026, with release expected about a week after the show.
Where is the Fluff Drive sold in the US?
In the US, the Fluff Drive is available exclusively at Sweetwater. Outside the US it is sold through authorized retailers worldwide. It carries an MSRP of $199 and comes with Warm Audio's 5-year warranty.
Sources (8)
- Warm Audio Fluff Drive, Warm Audio
- Warm Audio Fluff Drive Signature Drive Pedal, gearnews.com, 2026-01-21
- Fluff's New Signature Pedal!, Andertons Music Co, 2026-03-10
- Warm Audio Ryan “Fluff” Bruce Signature Overdrive Pedal, Andertons Music Co, 2026-01-24
- Warm Audio crafts a signature overdrive for Ryan “Fluff” Bruce, Guitar World, 2026-01-20
- Warm Audio Ryan "Fluff" Bruce Fluff Drive, Premier Guitar, 2026-01-20
- “I wanted to fix every issue I've ever had dialling in metal tones on similar pedals or even the original”: Warm Audio has just made Ryan 'Fluff' Bruce its first ever signature pedal and he explains why, yes, the world needs another overdrive, MusicRadar, 2026-01-20
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-01-22
