Octave Fuzz with Stank
Classic rectified octave-up fuzz with a Stank control that overloads the octaving circuit for positively filthy tones—not a polite octave doubler. Blend wet and dry, dial from shimmering octave fuzz to full stank. Hand-soldered in British Columbia for guitar and bass.
Why fuzz players choose the Octave Fuzz with Stank
- Rectified octave-up voice — full-wave rectification doubles frequency for a fuzzy octave-up character; complex guitar and bass signals get wild in the best way
- Stank control — overload the octaving section on purpose for distortion blended with octave fuzz—a tone discovered during development, not an afterthought
- Blend — parallel mix from mostly dry (never fully dry) to fully wet
- Guitar and bass — responds to pickup output, playing dynamics, and signal complexity
- Hand-soldered in BC — true bypass, top-mounted jacks, LED brightness trim for outdoor stages
- Player-tested — Michael Schau demo below; same player community as the Crunch and Classic Fuzz lines
How Stank works — the circuit
The core circuit takes a relatively pure tone and doubles the frequency by inverting the positive portion of the wave—full-wave rectification. That yields a fuzzy octave-up sound. With the rich harmonic content of a guitar or bass, the result is aggressive, animated, and unpredictable in a musical way.
During development we found that pushing too much signal through the octaving section didn’t just break up—it became positively “Stanky” (as one player put it). That happy accident became the Stank knob: think of it as distortion mixed with the octave-up fuzz, not a generic gain control.
Quick voicing tip: With Stank up and Blend around 10 o’clock, it behaves like a distortion with octave overtones—useful for rhythm and chord work without full wet fuzz.
Michael Schau demo
Michael Schau taking the Octave Fuzz with Stank for a spin:
Controls
- Vol — Output level. Turning up Stank can boost volume; adjust Vol as needed
- Stank — Overloads the octaving circuit—distortion blended with octave-up fuzz
- Blend — Wet/dry mix. Full left is mostly dry (it never fully dries up); full right is completely wet
- LED brightness — Side trim pot (jeweler’s screwdriver): dark stage to bright sun
How to use it
- Starting point: Blend around noon, Stank low, set Vol to match your bypass level
- Octave fuzz: Bring Blend toward fully wet; add Stank to taste for filth vs. clarity
- Distortion + octave overtones: Stank up, Blend around 10 o’clock—rhythm-friendly voicing
- Bass: Works well on bass; complex low-end content drives the rectifier hard—start with lower Stank and adjust Blend
- Before Crunch: Stacks well with transparent overdrive after fuzz for cranked-amp textures at manageable volume
Specifications
- Type: Rectified octave-up fuzz with overload Stank control (guitar & bass)
- Controls: Vol, Stank, Blend + LED brightness trim
- Bypass: True bypass
- Power: 9 V DC, center-negative 2.1 × 5.5 mm (Boss-style). Use a regulated supply
- Layout: Top-mounted jacks and power
- Enclosure: Brushed aluminum, industrial look—may include scratches, scuffs, and marks by design
- Built: Hand-soldered in British Columbia, Canada
- Battery: No battery compartment (use regulated PSU)
Which McGregor fuzz is for you?
| Classic Fuzz | Cozmic Fuzzball | Octave Fuzz with Stank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | Thick, responsive silicon fuzz | Fuzz → distortion → OD cascade | Rectified octave-up + overload stank |
| Best for | Touch-sensitive classic fuzz voice | One knob: OD → distortion → fuzz | Octave fuzz with controllable filth |
| Press | Premier Guitar | Vintage Guitar | — |
Cozmic Fuzzball: Attack at minimum = overdrive only; turn up to layer distortion, then fuzz in front. See the Cozmic page for the full signal-flow story.
Pair with transparent drive
- Crunch Transparent Overdrive — fuzz into Crunch for amp-like breakup without losing your core tone
- Double Crunch — both Crunch voicings in one enclosure
- The Classic Fuzz — thick, responsive silicon fuzz (Premier Guitar reviewed)
- The Cozmic Fuzzball — fuzz → distortion → OD cascade (Vintage Guitar reviewed)
- Shop all McGregor Pedals
Frequently asked questions
What does Stank actually do?
It overloads the octaving section of the circuit. At low settings you get rectified octave-up fuzz; turn it up and the signal gets positively stanky—distortion blended with the octave character.
How is this different from the Classic Fuzz?
Classic Fuzz is a thick, responsive two-transistor silicon fuzz—no octave-up rectification. Octave Fuzz with Stank is built around full-wave rectification and the Stank overload control. See the compare table above.
How is this different from the Cozmic Fuzzball?
Cozmic runs fuzz → distortion → overdrive in series, morphed with Attack. Octave Fuzz with Stank is an octave-up rectifier with Blend and Stank—not a multi-stage cascade. See the compare table above.
Is this an Octavia clone?
No. The Octave Fuzz with Stank is loosely based on the Octavia—both use a standard full-wave rectification method. McGregor’s version adds Blend and the Stank overload control for its own voicing.
Why doesn’t Blend go fully dry?
By design—the dry path always keeps a little of the wet octave character in the mix so the pedal never disappears entirely at minimum Blend.
Does it work on bass?
Yes. Complex bass signals drive the rectifier hard; start with lower Stank and adjust Blend to taste.
Can I use it with a Crunch overdrive?
Yes—many players run fuzz into transparent drive. See the Crunch page.
Power supply and battery?
9 V DC, center-negative Boss-style (2.1 × 5.5 mm). Regulated supply recommended. No battery compartment.
Where is it made?
Hand-soldered in British Columbia, Canada.