The Cozmic Fuzzball
Not a vintage fuzz clone. The Cozmic Fuzzball runs fuzz → distortion → overdrive in series—a hybrid you morph with one knob. Attack at minimum is overdrive only; turn up Attack to layer distortion in front, then fuzz in front of that. Hand-soldered in British Columbia for guitar and bass.
▶ Watch video demos | Read the Vintage Guitar review → | Press release
Why players choose the Cozmic Fuzzball
- Original circuit — not another Fuzz Face spin; designed to inspire new tones, not replicate old ones
- One knob, three textures — Attack blends overdrive, distortion, and fuzz in a single cascade
- Touch-sensitive — responds to picking dynamics, volume knob, and pickup output
- Tracks fast passages — sustains and follows scalar lines without turning to mud
- Quiet for a fuzz — low noise with clean power; high-impedance input (doesn’t have to be first in chain)
- Hand-soldered in BC — true bypass, top-mounted jacks, LED brightness trim
How Attack works — signal flow
The Cozmic Fuzzball is three stages in series: fuzz → distortion → overdrive.
- Attack at minimum: Overdrive only—the back of the chain
- Attack up: Distortion is layered in front of the overdrive
- Attack further up: Fuzz is layered in front of the distortion (and overdrive)
Pickup output and your guitar’s volume pot strongly affect how much fuzz comes in—hot humbuckers push into fuzz sooner; roll back for cleaner textures. Bass players: start with Attack near minimum and go from there.
As reviewed in Vintage Guitar
“Sweet & Gnarly” — McGregor Cozmic Fuzzball, Vintage Guitar
“Straddles overdrive, distortion, and fuzz textures but never appropriates one over the other… tracks well for fast scalar passages, and is great for players hip to picking dynamics.”
“Gnarly tones with musical sheen… adjusting Tone and Attack together showcases the pedal’s response with squish and a lot of sustain.”
“It’s a hybrid with plenty of character, perfect for players looking to craft their own voice.”
“The Cozmic Fuzzball doesn’t do metal, can’t nail Hendrix fuzz tones, and won’t take you to SRV land. What it does is something unique.” — honest expectations for pros comparing it to genre benchmarks.
Video demos
Controls
- Attack — Strength of signal into the fuzz transistor; more Attack = more fuzz and sustain. Low settings = distortion/overdrive; pinned = fuzz-land
- Tone — Variable high-pass filter; left = more bottom end (bass-friendly), right = guitar and bass
- Vol — Output after the tone filter
- LED brightness — Side trim pot (jeweler’s screwdriver): dark stage to bright sun
How to use it
- Guitar starting point: Attack ~1/3 or below = mostly distortion/overdrive; bring up Attack to layer fuzz in
- Tone: Clockwise raises the corner frequency and rolls off lows—start around 10 o’clock on guitar and adjust. Bass: Start with Tone fully left; bring up to taste
- Before Crunch: Stacks well with transparent overdrive after fuzz for stacked amp-like textures
Specifications
- Type: Hybrid fuzz / distortion / overdrive cascade (guitar & bass)
- Signal path: Fuzz → distortion → overdrive (Attack blends layers)
- Controls: Attack, Tone, Vol + LED brightness trim
- Input: High impedance—doesn’t have to be first in chain
- Bypass: True bypass
- Power: 9 V DC, center-negative 2.1 × 5.5 mm (Boss-style). 12–18 mA depending on LED setting
- Layout: Top-mounted jacks and power
- Built: Hand-soldered in British Columbia, Canada
- Battery: No battery compartment (RoHS-compliant build; 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 | — |
Pair with transparent drive
- Crunch Transparent Overdrive — fuzz into Crunch for cranked-amp feel at manageable volume
- Double Crunch — both Crunch voicings in one enclosure
- The Classic Fuzz — thick, responsive silicon fuzz (Premier Guitar reviewed)
- Shop all McGregor Pedals
Frequently asked questions
Is this a Fuzz Face or Big Muff clone?
No. We set out to build something new—not another spin on a classic circuit. The Cozmic Fuzzball is a three-stage cascade you shape with Attack.
What does Attack actually do?
Minimum = overdrive only. Turn up to add distortion in front of the overdrive, then fuzz in front of the distortion. Full path when stacked: fuzz → distortion → overdrive.
Will it do Hendrix / SRV / metal?
Vintage Guitar put it plainly: it won’t nail those benchmarks—and that’s not the goal. It’s for players crafting an original voice.
Does it work on bass?
Yes—designed for guitar and bass. Start with Attack and Tone toward the low/bass-friendly range.
Does it have to be first in the chain?
No—high-impedance input. It still responds strongly to what your pickups (or upstream pedals) feed it.
Power supply and battery?
9 V DC, center-negative Boss-style (2.1 × 5.5 mm). Draw is typically 12–18 mA. No battery compartment—use a regulated supply.
Where is it made?
Hand-soldered in British Columbia, Canada.