The ZVEX Fuzz Factory Vertical is a fuzz pedal for guitar made by ZVEX, a vertically oriented, pedalboard-friendly version of the company's Fuzz Factory. It puts the same five-knob circuit into a smaller box: ZVEX describes it as packed with knobs that let you control everything from tight, radically fuzzy sounds that gate off instantly when you stop playing, to intermodulating oscillations that fight for control of your guitar as your notes decay, to shortwave radio sounds, ripping velcro and octave-like fuzz1.
The vertical format arrived in 2017, when the Fuzz Factory was redesigned into a vertical enclosure2. MusicRadar reported at the launch of the Vertical Vexter version that it offers the exact same fuzz tones that made the original such an iconic stompbox, but rotated into a more conventional enclosure3.
What it is and what it does
The Fuzz Factory Vertical is the classic Fuzz Factory circuit in a compact vertical box. Gearnews describes the Vertical as much more compact than the Vexter version but equally versatile6. The pedal carries the traditional Volume, Comp, Gate, Drive and Stab controls of the original5:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Comp | Compression of the fuzz |
| Gate | Noise gate behavior, from tight gating to open fuzz5 |
| Drive | Fuzz amount |
| Stab | Stability of the circuit's oscillation behavior |
The Gate and Stab controls are what set the Fuzz Factory family apart from a basic fuzz. ZVEX's own description of the range runs from tight, radically fuzzy sounds that gate off instantly when you stop playing, through intermodulating oscillations that fight for control of your guitar as your notes decay, to shortwave radio sounds, ripping velcro and octave-like fuzz1.
How it differs from the original Fuzz Factory
The circuit is the same. MusicRadar reported that the Vertical Vexter Fuzz Factory offers the exact same fuzz tones that made the original such an iconic stompbox, but rotates them into a more conventional enclosure3. Gearnews likewise notes the traditional Volume, Comp, Gate, Drive and Stab controls of the original are still the same5.
The difference is the enclosure. The original Fuzz Factory is a horizontal box; the Vertical rotates the layout so the jacks and footprint suit a modern pedalboard, which Gearnews calls the pedalboard-friendly vertical format5. Gearnews's 2025 fuzz buying guide describes the Vertical as much more compact than the Vexter version but equally versatile6.
Guitar Pedal X places the Fuzz Factory circuit in context: it is a classic modded and feature-extended Fuzz Face, meaning the two-transistor fuzz foundation is familiar, but the extra controls take it well beyond a stock Fuzz Face7.
The Silicon and Hybrid vertical versions
The vertical format has appeared in more than one transistor flavor:
| Version | Transistors | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical Vexter Fuzz Factory | Germanium (as at the 2018 vertical launch)7 | Same tones as the original3 |
| Vertical Fuzz Factory Silicon | Carefully selected silicon transistors2 | Released 20172 |
| Vertical Hybrid Fuzz Factory | NOS 1960s 2N404 germanium plus modern PNP silicon8 | Limited edition, sold out9 |
The Silicon version came about because germanium circuits drift with temperature. Gearnews reported that designer Zachary Vex sought to eliminate the temperature-related madness to calm the beast and make it more stable while retaining its trademark dirty fuzzy goodness5. Delicious Audio describes the Silicon Fuzz Factory as containing carefully selected silicon transistors, redesigned in 2017 into the vertical format with a more predictable silicon transistor circuit2.
The Hybrid version is a limited edition that pairs a NOS 1960s 2N404 germanium transistor with a modern PNP silicon transistor, which ZVEX says provides a more aggressive tone than the standard Fuzz Factory model. It also includes an on/off LED and DC power jack8. The ZVEX Mod Bench page for the Hybrid lists it as a fire-distressed finish built with gt308 and mps751 transistors and odds-n-ends parts, and it is sold out9.
Limited edition and custom versions
Beyond the standard $229.00 version1, ZVEX has sold one-off and limited Vertical Fuzz Factory builds through its Custom Store and Mod Bench:
- A one-of-a-kind hand painted Vertical Fuzz Factory by artist Daniel Buettner, priced at $429.00, with parts otherwise identical to the Fuzz Factory Vertical. All hand painted pedals include a lifetime warranty10.
- A one-off Vertical Fuzz Factory EVFF01 with engraved artwork by Lisa McGrath (LJM) and arcade knobs, sold out11.
The hand painted and engraved Vertical Fuzz Factory builds are one-of-a-kind or limited editions, and the Hybrid and EVFF01 versions are listed as sold out. The standard Vertical version remains the one to look for at its list price.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review of the Fuzz Factory praises its quality build12. Delicious Audio calls the original Fuzz Factory highly regarded, a classic that has endured by offering something very few fuzz pedals offer: variety2. Gearnews's 2025 fuzz pedal buying guide includes the Fuzz Factory Vertical among its picks, noting it is much more compact than the Vexter version but equally versatile6.
"The highly regarded ZVEX Fuzz Factory has become a classic over the years, by offering something very few fuzz pedals offer: variety"
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Questions
Is the Fuzz Factory Vertical the same circuit as the original Fuzz Factory?
Yes. The Vertical Vexter Fuzz Factory offers the exact same fuzz tones as the original Fuzz Factory, just rotated into a more conventional vertical enclosure. It keeps the traditional Volume, Comp, Gate, Drive and Stab controls of the original, and ZVEX describes the parts as otherwise identical to the Fuzz Factory Vertical.
Does the ZVEX Fuzz Factory Vertical use germanium or silicon transistors?
The original Fuzz Factory circuit is a germanium-transistor fuzz. The vertical format has also been released in a Silicon version, built around carefully selected silicon transistors, and a Hybrid version combining a NOS 1960s 2N404 germanium transistor with a modern PNP silicon transistor.
What is the difference between the Vertical and Hybrid Fuzz Factory?
The Vertical Hybrid Fuzz Factory is a limited edition that pairs a NOS 1960s 2N404 germanium transistor with a modern PNP silicon transistor, which ZVEX says provides a more aggressive tone than the standard Fuzz Factory model. It also adds an on/off LED and DC power jack. The standard Vertical keeps the original circuit in the smaller enclosure.
Is the Fuzz Factory based on a Fuzz Face?
Guitar Pedal X describes the Fuzz Factory as a classic modded and feature-extended Fuzz Face. It takes that two-transistor fuzz foundation and adds extra controls such as Gate and Stab that the original Fuzz Face does not have.
How big is the Fuzz Factory Vertical?
ZVEX lists the pedal dimensions as 4.3125 inches long by 2.625 inches wide by 2 inches high. That makes it much more compact than the Vexter version of the Fuzz Factory, which is what makes it pedalboard-friendly.
Sources (12)
- Fuzz Factory Vertical, ZVEX Effects
- ZVEX Silicon Vertical Fuzz Factory, Delicious Audio, 2018-05-16
- Z.Vex finally releases Vertical Vexter Fuzz Factory pedal, MusicRadar, 2017-11-28
- Fuzz Factory Vertical by ZVEX, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- ZVex Vertical Fuzz Factory Silicon tames the temperature madness!, gearnews.com, 2018-04-20
- The 7 Best Fuzz Pedals: Perfect For Stoner Rock, Psychedelic, or Shoegaze!, gearnews.com, 2025-05-05
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-05-23
- Vertical Hybrid Fuzz Factory, Delicious Audio, 2018-12-17
- Vertical Fuzz Factory Hybrid, ZVEX Effects
- Daniel Buettner Fuzz Factory Vertical, ZVEX Effects
- Vertical Fuzz Factory -EVFF01, ZVEX Effects
- Z.Vex Fuzz Factory review, MusicRadar, 2014-11-05
