The ZVex Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod is a limited edition version of ZVex's Woolly Mammoth fuzz pedal, announced in July 2018 and available at launch for $2991. Where the standard Woolly Mammoth runs on silicon transistors, this version uses rare spam can germanium transistors, a change the press coverage said gives the circuit more attack, keyboard-like overtones and a fuller low end12.
What it is and how it differs from the original
The Woolly Mammoth has been a mainstay of the ZVex range, and MusicRadar called it the company's popular fuzz pedal when covering this variant2. Guitar.com framed the relationship plainly: many players already know the silicon-based variant, and the germanium version "kicks things up a notch with rare 'spam can' germanium transistors"3.
What that means for a player, according to gearnews's report: the germanium parts should give the Mammoth more attack, since the sluggishness of the original was one of the biggest drawbacks of the regular version, along with overtones recalling Rhodes and Wurlitzer keyboards and more bottom end in the bass range1. For bassists and low-tuned riffers who found the original Mammoth a little slow to speak, that is the headline change.
Visually, the two are nearly identical. Gearnews noted that the only difference between the standard edition and this limited edition version is a sticker on the front1.
Controls
The pedal keeps the classic ZVex layout, with four controls1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets the overall level |
| EQ | Sweeps from more bass to more treble2 |
| Pinch | Shapes the fuzz character |
| Wool | Shapes the texture of the fuzz |
Like the original, it also features a gentle noise gate, which MusicRadar noted sits alongside that sweeping EQ2. Gearnews put it the same way: "As usual, a Noise Gate is included"1.
The Woolly Mammoth family
The Germanium Mod is one of several Woolly Mammoth variants ZVex has produced423:
- Woolly Mammoth: the original silicon-based fuzz3
- Woolly Mammoth 7: an expanded version packing the subharmonic wallop and ripping fuzz of the original with new custom tweaks5
- Sylvia Massy Woolly Mammoth: a special edition of 60 units, each hand-assembled and hand-numbered6
- Woolly Mammoth Vexter and U015: both listed as sold out on ZVex's site as of October 202678
There have been artist editions too: Screaming Females' Marissa Paternoster teamed up with Zvex on a limited run of Woolly Mammoth pedals featuring her original artwork9.
Availability
The Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod was reported as available now at its July 2018 announcement, priced at $2994. As a limited edition it is not a permanent catalog pedal, and the wider Mammoth range has thinned out: the Vexter and U015 versions were both sold out as of October 202678. Players looking for the circuit today will mostly be watching ZVex's own store or the secondhand market.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Woolly Mammoth and the Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod?
The Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod is a version of the standard Woolly Mammoth fuzz with its silicon transistors replaced by rare spam can germanium transistors. Guitar.com described the standard pedal as the silicon-based variant of the circuit. Gearnews reported that the germanium version should give the Mammoth more attack, overtones recalling Rhodes and Wurlitzer keyboards, and more bottom end in the bass range. Visually, the only difference between the standard edition and the limited edition is a sticker on the front.
What is a spam can germanium transistor?
It is a type of germanium transistor that the pedal uses in place of the silicon transistors found in the standard Woolly Mammoth. MusicRadar described the parts as rare spam can germanium transistors, and Guitar.com likewise noted that this version kicks things up a notch with rare spam can germanium transistors. Germanium parts of this kind are sought after in fuzz designs for their distinct clipping character.
Does the Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod have a noise gate?
Yes. Gearnews noted that, as usual, a Noise Gate is included, and MusicRadar described it as a gentle noise gate, like the one on the original Woolly Mammoth. Fuzz circuits of this kind can be noisy at high gain settings, so the built-in gate helps keep things quiet between phrases.
Is the Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod still available?
The pedal was announced in July 2018 as a limited edition and was available at launch for $299. As a limited run it is not a standard catalog item, so availability depends on what ZVex has in stock or what appears secondhand. Other Woolly Mammoth versions have also become hard to find: the Woolly Mammoth Vexter and the Woolly Mammoth U015 were both listed as sold out on ZVex's site as of October 2026.
How much does the ZVex Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod cost?
At its July 2018 launch, the Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod was listed at $299. Guitar World reported it available now for $299, MusicRadar gave the same figure, and gearnews listed an RRP of USD 299.
Sources (9)
- ZVex Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod fuzz pedal: Neolithic fuzz tone?, gearnews.com, 2018-07-24
- Z.Vex debuts Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod pedal, MusicRadar, 2018-07-24
- ZVEX unearths the Germanium Woolly Mammoth, Guitar.com, 2018-07-25
- ZVEX Introduces New Germanium Woolly Mammoth Mod Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-07-24
- Woolly Mammoth 7, ZVEX Effects
- Sylvia Massy Woolly Mammoth, ZVEX Effects
- Daniel Buettner Woolly Mammoth, ZVEX Effects
- Woolly Mammoth, ZVEX Effects (www.zvex.com)
- Visiting Marissa Paternoster, Stompbox Book (stompboxbook.com), 2019
