The Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz MkII is a high-gain fuzz pedal from Way Huge, designed by Jeorge Tripps. It is a reissue of the original Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz, carrying an "MKII" label, and Premier Guitar describes it as obviously inspired by the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi while adding several controls a stock Muff does not have1. Delicious Audio calls it Tripps' flagship fuzz, one that "uses a Muff as its blueprint but adds more tone-shaping possibilities"2.
Where a classic Muff gives you volume, sustain and a tone control, the MkII adds a Scoop control for the midrange, a Crunch control for compression, and two internal switches for shaping the character of the fuzz. Way Huge's description of the range runs from "tight, saturated crunch to an all-out fuzz apocalypse"3.
A Big Muff-style fuzz with a wide filter range
The circuit follows the Muff template: Loudness and Sustain controls, with a Filter control in place of the standard Muff tone control, integrated with a high-end roll-off2. What makes the pedal stand out is how far that Filter control sweeps. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as a "trademark bandpass sweep for tonal girth and sizzle"3, and reviewers found the same range. Pedal of the Day's Mike B called it "a huge range of band-pass filter sounds"5, and guest reviewer Scott Willems wrote that the knob "will range from massive low end to fizzy highs"6.
The Scoop control is the other big addition over a stock Muff. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as a mid-cut tone stack that lets you sculpt "classic mid-scooped or more flat midrange tones"3, which covers both the scooped heavy fuzz sound and a more present midrange that cuts through a band mix.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Loudness | Sets the output level5 |
| Sustain | Sets the fuzz intensity, from tight crunch to full sustain789 |
| Filter | Bandpass sweep, from massive low end to fizzy highs36 |
| Scoop | Scoops or boosts the midrange, from scooped to flat3 |
| Crunch | Controls how compressed the fuzz is1 |
Premier Guitar's reviewer counted the additions over a standard Muff explicitly: "Way Huge has included four more controls in the circuit: Scoop, Crunch, two internal controls for adjusting the intensity of the Scoop control, and one to change the style of clipping"1.
The internal Voice and Clip switches
Inside the enclosure are two mini switches that refine the external controls:
- Voice varies the strength of the mid-scoop effect, from light to heavy3. Mike B describes it as controlling "how intense the Scoop dial is, going from light to heavy"5.
- Clip selects between diode clipping options for smoother or more aggressive fuzz sustain3. Mike B describes the two positions as "smooth or open clipping diodes"5.
These are set-and-forget trimmers rather than performance controls, but they are what let one pedal cover both a smooth, singing fuzz and a rougher, more aggressive one without touching the knobs615.
Power and bypass
The MkII runs on 9V DC, center negative, drawing 3.1mA3, which is light enough that it shares comfortably with other pedals on most isolated supplies. It is true bypass3 and ruggedly built3. A battery is also an option: Premier Guitar's reviewer notes the compartment "is situated on the front edge of the device and requires no tools to get to"1.
The smaller MkIIS uses a 5.5mm x 2.1mm power jack with positive voltage on the outer sleeve, per the Smalls manual, which is the opposite of the center-negative convention most pedalboards use. Check which version you are powering before plugging in a standard daisy chain8.
Versions and related pedals
The Swollen Pickle line has several variants a shopper will run into:
| Version | What it is |
|---|---|
| Swollen Pickle MkII | The full-size reissue covered on this page1 |
| Swollen Pickle MkIIS | The same fuzz in a smaller enclosure; Dunlop calls it "the same burly high gain fuzz as the full-sized MkII but in a more petite package"9 |
| Swollen Pickle Smalls | A compact version with Loudness, Sustain and Filter knobs plus Scoop and Crunch switches10 |
| Swollen Pickle XXX | A limited-edition 30th anniversary model with a redesigned tone stack, dedicated Hi and Lo controls and a Crunch switch; Dunlop lists it as a legacy product no longer in production711 |
| Dirty Donny Edition | A version with limited edition artwork712 |
The XXX was announced for the pedal's 30th anniversary as a limited run with unique artwork, different controls and an added Crunch switch11, and Gearnews reported its redesigned tone stack "offers surgical precision through dedicated Hi/Lo controls"13. Delicious Audio notes the full-size MkII is about a third bigger than the Smalls version14.
What reviewers said
Reviewers across the board found the MkII versatile. Premier Guitar's reviewer reported that "the pedal immediately sounded fantastic, with great note separation, clarity, and a nice even frequency range," adding that it had "a very hi-fi quality in a surprisingly musical way" at its stock setting1. Mike B at Pedal of the Day called it "one that gets great sounds no matter where you set the controls"5.
Scott Willems went further on the Muff comparison: "This may be the only Muff based pedal you ever need. There's a vast amount of fuzz tones you can achieve with the Swollen Pickle"6. He also praised the build, noting the anodized aluminum housing and a momentary footswitch he called "the most satisfying button you will ever push"6.
In a Premier Guitar demo video covering the XXX anniversary edition, the presenters discussed the pedal's history with George Trips, "who was the owner of Way Huge and the designer," and described the circuit as a square wave Muff-type fuzz4.
Videos
Way Huge Electronics
jimdunlopusa
intheblues
Questions
Is the Swollen Pickle a Big Muff clone?
It is based on the Big Muff rather than being a straight copy. Delicious Audio describes it as using a Muff as its blueprint but adding more tone-shaping, and Premier Guitar calls it obviously inspired by the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi. The extra Scoop, Crunch, Voice and Clip controls are what set it apart from a stock Muff.
Does the Swollen Pickle MkII take a battery?
Yes. Premier Guitar's reviewer notes the battery compartment sits on the front edge of the pedal and requires no tools to reach. The pedal also runs on a 9V DC power supply, so a battery is an option rather than a requirement.
Is the Way Huge Swollen Pickle true bypass?
Yes. Way Huge's product information for the MkII lists true bypass, and the pedal is described as ruggedly built with plenty of gain. The smaller Smalls version's manual lists its bypass as True Hardwire.
What is the difference between the Swollen Pickle MkII and MkIIS?
The MkIIS delivers the same burly high-gain fuzz as the full-sized MkII in a smaller enclosure. Dunlop describes it as the same circuit in a more petite package, aimed at players with tight pedalboard space. Delicious Audio notes the full-size MkII is about a third bigger than the Smalls version.
Who designed the Swollen Pickle?
Jeorge Tripps, the owner of Way Huge and the pedal's designer. He is credited as the designer in a Premier Guitar demo video and in Delicious Audio's coverage, which calls the Swollen Pickle his flagship fuzz.
What is the Swollen Pickle XXX?
A limited-edition 30th anniversary version of the Swollen Pickle announced in 2026, with unique artwork, a redesigned tone stack with dedicated Hi and Lo controls, a Crunch switch, and internal switches for customizing the filter sweep. Dunlop lists it as a legacy product no longer in production.
Sources (14)
- Way Huge Pedals Review: Pork Loin, Fat Sandwich & More, Premier Guitar, 2008-12-16
- Way Huge Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz MK II, Delicious Audio, 2017-05-11
- Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz MkII by Way Huge, RockBoard (rockboard.de), 2026
- Dunlop - MXR EVH Modern High Gain Pedal, and More! I NAMM 2026, Premier Guitar, 2026-01-25
- Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle™ MKII Jumbo Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2015-03-24
- Guest Reviewer Fridays: Way Huge Electronics Swollen Pickle Jumbo Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-10-07
- WAY HUGE® JUMBO FUZZ SWOLLEN PICKLE® XXX, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- WM41.pdf, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com), 2020
- WAY HUGE® SWOLLEN PICKLE® JUMBO FUZZ MKIIS, Dunlop (www.jimdunlop.com)
- NAMM 2020: Jim Dunlop announces 4 new pedals, including the Green Day Dookie Drive V3, Guitar World, 2020-01-17
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-01-26
- NAMM 2014: Way Huge launch two new pedals, MusicRadar, 2014-01-22
- Way Huge Jumbo Fuzz Swollen Pickle XXX: 30 Years of Pickle!, gearnews.com, 2026-01-26
- Way Huge Swollen Pickle Smalls MKIII Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2024-06-19
