The Way Huge Atreides Analog Weirding Module is an analog, monophonic synth-style effect pedal that stacks fuzz, a sub octave, an envelope filter and a phaser in one box. Way Huge describes it as producing "a monophonic effect with many layers that can be manipulated as needed through dynamic playing technique and adjustment of each of its several sliders"1. Instead of knobs, it uses seven sliders, a look Pedal of the Day found adds to "the vintage, throwback spirit of this pedal"2. It was designed by Way Huge designer Jeorge Tripps and inspired by a vintage 1980 mini synthesizer13.
The pedal's announcement was unusual: rather than a conventional launch, it was revealed through the JHS Pedal YouTube channel4. It was sold as a limited edition4.
What it does to your sound
Kicking the footswitch, in the maker's words, "generates an explosion of growly sub-octave, expressive vocal envelope, swooshing phase, and gnarly fuzz sounds"1. The four layers are always interacting: the phaser runs constantly, the fuzz is present even at its lowest settings, and the sub octave and envelope respond to how hard you play and where your guitar volume sits. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal "very responsive to guitar volume attenuation," with a little less volume giving a tighter, more focused output suited to staccato picking or funky bass lines8.
The sub function has a recognizable ancestor. Premier Guitar noted that "if you've ever used an MXR Blue Box, you'll note the similarities in touch, feel, and tone in Atreides' sub function," which designer Jeorge Tripps confirmed was not coincidental8. MusicRadar heard "'80s analogue synth tones inspired by the EHX Mini Synthesizer keyboard much loved by Eddie Van Halen" in the circuit5.
Seven sliders and two internal controls
The control surface is seven sliders, each with a mid-point detent and firm resistance so settings stay put, and each capped by a blue LED that lights when the pedal is on8. MusicRadar also found the sliders "well-constructed and robust with a clear detent" at the midpoint5. Inside the pedal are two further adjustments.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Vol slider | Applies a boost or cut when the pedal is engaged; the midway point is unity gain5 |
| SUB slider | Adjusts the blend of the sub octave signal6 |
| Rate slider | Controls the rate of the phaser, which is always on8 |
| Bright slider | Adds high-end sizzle to the fuzz8 |
| Internal slide switch | Toggles the sub octave between 1 octave down (left) and 2 octaves down (right)6 |
| Internal trim pot (sub) | Sweeps the sub from two octaves down to one9 |
| Internal trim pot (phase) | Adjusts phaser feedback, from a subtle wash to extremes; Delicious Audio also notes a trim pot for phase shifter rate849 |
The fuzz itself behaves like a gated circuit at the extreme: Premier Guitar reported it is "always present in some form, even at the lowest fuzz levels," is capable of surprising sustain, and shuts down abruptly8. One caveat from the same review: the envelope sensitivity control "can feel vague if you leave your guitar volume wide open"8.
On pickups, the same reviewer found that low-output single coils generated the smoothest fuzz, while fatter humbuckers make the output more sputtery8.
Power
The Atreides runs on 9 VDC at 9 mA, or on a single 9-volt battery6.
The power input is a 5.5mm x 2.1mm jack with the positive voltage on the outer sleeve6. That is the opposite of the center-negative standard most pedalboards use, so a typical daisy chain will not work without an adapter. Disconnect the input jack when the pedal is idle to preserve battery life; the pedal locks into bypass mode when the battery needs changing6.
Where it came from
The Atreides is named after the characters in the cult sci-fi movie Dune, and Guitar Player reported the pedal was heavily inspired by the science fiction novel, vowing to take its user on "a spectacular journey through sound"410. Its circuit draws on a vintage 1980 mini synthesizer1, which MusicRadar identifies as the EHX Mini Synthesizer keyboard5.
The announcement itself was unusual: Delicious Audio noted the pedal was revealed "quite curiously, through the JHS Pedal YouTube channel!"4. Josh Scott had played the pedal for jams on the JHS Show and shared an extensive demo of it on that channel94.
The sub octave idea later resurfaced in the Way Huge Stone Burner Sub-Atomic Fuzz. Guitar World noted that "while the Atreides had an internal two-octaves-down switch, the Stone Burner puts this control pride of place on the face" of the pedal11.
What reviewers said
Reviews were positive about build quality and character, with reservations about control feel.
- MusicRadar: "The first impressions of the unit tell us it is well made," with robust sliders and a clear detent5.
- Premier Guitar: praised the fuzz's menace and sustain, the volume-knob responsiveness, and the firm slider detents, but found the envelope sensitivity vague with the guitar volume wide open8.
- Pedal of the Day called it one of "the wildest, most experimental and downright fun" pedals from Jeorge Tripps, Way Huge and Dunlop Electronics2.
- MusicRadar's verdict on the pedal: "One for sending your tone through the Twilight Zone, the Atreides might not be every player's cup of tea but it's sure to..."12
Premier Guitar's reviewer reported that low-output single-coil pickups generated the smoothest fuzz, while fatter humbuckers tend to make the output more sputtery8.
For players comparing analog synth voices, the Atreides sits among synth pedals like the Electro-Harmonix Micro Synthesizer and the Pigtronix Space Rip, another sub-octave fuzz reviewed by MusicRadar alongside it5.
Videos
JHS Pedals
Sweetwater
Premier Guitar
News
Questions
Can the Atreides run on a battery?
Yes. The manual specifies power from a single 9-volt battery, and the pedal also accepts a 9 VDC supply through a 5.5mm x 2.1mm jack. Disconnect the input jack when the pedal is not in use to preserve battery life, and note that the pedal locks into bypass mode when the battery needs changing.
Is the Way Huge Atreides true bypass?
Yes. The Jim Dunlop manual lists the bypass type as true bypass, so with the footswitch disengaged the pedal is out of the signal path entirely. The single footswitch handles both bypass and engaging the effect.
How do I set the sub octave to two octaves down on the Atreides?
Open the pedal and move the internal slide switch to the right position. The manual describes the switch as toggling the sub octave signal between one octave down (left) and two octaves down (right). An internal trim pot also lets you sweep the sub between two octaves down and one.
Why is the Atreides called the Analog Weirding Module?
The name comes from the science fiction novel Dune. Delicious Audio reports the pedal is called Atreides after the characters in the cult sci-fi movie Dune, and Guitar Player notes the pedal was heavily inspired by the novel, promising a spectacular journey through sound.
Does the Atreides work better with single coils or humbuckers?
Premier Guitar's reviewer found that low-output single-coil pickups generated the smoothest fuzz, while fatter humbuckers tend to make the output more sputtery. Neither is wrong; it depends on whether you want a smoother synth voice or a rougher, spitting character.
Is the Way Huge Atreides still made?
It was sold as a limited edition. Delicious Audio described it as limited edition in December 2022, and Dunlop currently offers a WHE900-PARTS version sold as electronic parts intended for qualified technicians rather than a complete pedal.
Sources (12)
- WAY HUGE® ATREIDES™ ANALOG WEIRDING MODULE, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Way Huge Atreides Analog Weirding Module, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2021-02-14
- Way Huge Atreides Analog Weirding Module review, Guitar World, 2021-06-18
- Way Huge Atreides Analog Weirding Module, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-15
- Atreides Analog Weirding Module review, MusicRadar, 2021-08-17
- WHE900.pdf, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com), 2021
- WAY HUGE® ATREIDES™ ANALOG WEIRDING MODULE, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Way Huge Atreides Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-10
- THE WAY HUGE ATREIDES, JHS Pedals
- Way Huge Debuts All-New Atreides Fuzz Synth, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-02-04
- “Like playing molten lava”: Is Way Huge's new Stone Burner Sub Atomic Fuzz its heaviest octave fuzz pedal yet?, Guitar World, 2023-08-21
- Pigtronix Space Rip review, MusicRadar, 2021-12-06
