The Wilson Effects Stoned Grasshopper is a multi-effect pedal that combines three of the most requested effects in one box: a fuzz, an overdrive and a clean boost1. Each section has its own footswitch, so it works as a three-footswitch stompbox that can serve up any of the three effects alone or stacked together2. Wilson Effects describes it as combining "three stellar effects into one box" so that "a plethora of tones are now at your fingertips"1. It is hand built in the U.S. and carries a list price of $200.001.
Fuzz, overdrive and boost in one pedal
The Stoned Grasshopper's appeal is that the three sections are independent. Pedal of the Day put it this way421:
"the fact that you can use them all at once, or in any combination of the three, makes this silver box a truly special ingredient in the sonic stew that is your pedalboard"4
That means you can run the boost into the overdrive for a pushed lead tone, add fuzz on top, or use any one section by itself. For players who would otherwise carry a separate fuzz, overdrive and boost pedal, the Stoned Grasshopper collapses three boxes into one421.
The fuzz section and its controls
The fuzz is built on a vintage seventies based fuzz circuit1. Wilson Effects gives it more control than a typical vintage fuzz box would have:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Adjusts the output level, the signal strength of the fuzz section13 |
| Fuzz | Works like a typical vintage fuzz control; Wilson suggests setting it at three o'clock or more and using the guitar's volume knob to adjust intensity1 |
| Mid-range | Sculpts the fuzz tone further, a feature not typically seen on vintage fuzz boxes1 |
Inside the pedal there is also an internal bias trimmer for the fuzz. Wilson Effects describes its range as follows: "Tune your fuzz to a sputtering dying fuzz effect or tune it to be a more fuzzy warm sound"1. That gives you a choice between a gated, sputtering character and a warmer, smoother one without touching the external knobs.
The overdrive section: a modified Tube Screamer
The overdrive section is based on what Wilson Effects calls "the most popular overdrive ever made, the tube screamer"1, a modified Tube Screamer circuit3. Pedal of the Day calls the original "one of the most revered and collected effects ever to come on the market"4. The controls are the familiar three: level, tone and drive1.
What separates this section from a stock Tube Screamer is the set of modifications. Wilson Effects says there are "various mods to the circuit to allow you to get more drive as well as an altered tone stack"1, and that the gain is more transparent at lower drive settings14. Pedal of the Day found the same thing in practice:
"The Gain is more transparent at lower levels as a result, providing a wide sweep of varying degrees of dirt and EQ"4
So where a stock Tube Screamer is known for its midrange hump and compressed feel, the Stoned Grasshopper's version aims at more available drive and a more open sound at low gain settings. Players comparing Tube Screamer family pedals may also want to look at the Ibanez Nu Tube Screamer or the DemonFx Tube Screamer341.
The boost section
The boost is a MOSFET based booster. Wilson Effects says it delivers "crystal clean boost that is capable of overdriving a clean tube amp"1, and the maker's page adds that it can push a clean amp into natural overdrive or supercharge an already overdriven tube amp3. Pedal of the Day describes it as "a one-knob controlled MOSFET circuit"4, so it is a simple, single-control clean boost rather than a colored gain stage.
Running the fuzz separately: the extra jacks
The most unusual feature of the Stoned Grasshopper is its jack configuration. Two extra jacks on the pedal let you run the fuzz circuit completely separately from the boost and overdrive sections4. Wilson Effects explains how it works: there is "a unique jack configuration enabling you to separately route the fuzz section of the pedal to anywhere in your" signal chain, using an internal switching jack that isolates the fuzz from the drive and boost sections the moment you plug into these jacks1.
The practical benefit is flexibility. If you want the fuzz after your delay or in a different spot on the board than the overdrive and boost, the rear jacks make that possible without buying a separate fuzz pedal. When nothing is plugged into them, the pedal works as a normal three-in-one box314.
The Holiday Special edition
Wilson Effects has also offered a Stoned Grasshopper Holiday Special, a limited edition built into an older Fuzz MKIII enclosure5.
Buying details
- List price: $200.00 USD1
- Hand built in the U.S.1
- One year warranty on parts and labor1
- Shipped via USPS Priority Mail1
- Returns accepted within 7 days of receiving the pedal; original shipping costs are not refunded and return shipping is the customer's responsibility1
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Questions
Is the Wilson Effects Stoned Grasshopper true bypass?
Yes. Wilson Effects builds all of its pedals, including the Stoned Grasshopper, with a true bypass circuit, so the pedal does not load or color your signal when it is switched off.
Can you use the boost, overdrive and fuzz at the same time?
Yes. The three sections, Boost, Overdrive and Fuzz, each have their own footswitch and can be used alone or in any combination of the three, which is what makes the pedal a multi-effect rather than three separate boxes.
What does the internal bias trimmer on the Stoned Grasshopper do?
It tunes the character of the fuzz. You can set it for a sputtering, dying-battery fuzz effect or dial it toward a warmer, rounder fuzz sound, all from a trimmer inside the pedal.
What power supply does the Stoned Grasshopper need?
It runs on 9V DC from an industry standard 2.1mm center-negative power supply, or on a high quality 9V alkaline battery. Any standard pedalboard power supply with a 2.1mm center-negative output will work.
Sources (5)
- Stoned Grasshopper, Wilson Effects
- Wilson Effects Stoned Grasshopper Fuzz/Overdrive/Boost, Delicious Audio, 2018-01-12
- Stoned Grasshopper, Wilson Effects
- Wilson Effects Stoned Grasshopper Boost Drive Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2017-12-27
- Stoned Grasshopper Holiday Special, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
