ThorpyFX EAO - Germanium Fuzz inspired by the Burns Buzzaround

Burns Buzzaround inspired · 3 × NOS Germanium · NOS Germanium Diode · Transformer · Bias Control · True Bypass · 9V

The ThorpyFX EAO, short for Explodes All at Once, brings back one of Adrian Thorpe's favorite vintage fuzz circuits: the legendary Burns Buzzaround.

The Buzzaround is one of those late-60s British germanium fuzz circuits that never reached the production numbers of the Fuzz Face or Tone Bender, but eventually became a cult favorite. Its three-transistor design can move from raw, slightly gated fuzz into huge, sustaining and harmonically rich tones.

Thorpy had already explored this circuit through small special runs in 2024 and 2025, built by hand in large vintage-style enclosures. The new EAO takes that idea and puts it into a far more practical format, retaining the vintage personality while adding some useful improvements for modern pedalboards.

Inside are three NOS PNP germanium transistors, a NOS germanium diode and an onboard transformer. The transformer makes the EAO less sensitive to pedal order than many traditional germanium fuzzes, allowing it to work comfortably in different positions within your signal chain.

Much of the EAO's personality comes from the interaction between Sustain and Bias. Sustain controls the long, almost violin-like sustain associated with the Buzzaround circuit, while Bias fundamentally reshapes the fuzz texture. One end produces thinner, drier and slightly spitty sounds; the other opens into a much fuller and heavier wall of gain.

Tone moves from thick, bass-heavy fuzz to brighter and more aggressive sounds. Volume acts as the master output, keeping the considerable level generated by certain Bias and Sustain combinations under control.

This is not a fuzz designed to clean up perfectly from your guitar volume or behave politely. EAO keeps the wild side of the original Buzzaround intact, but makes it considerably easier to integrate into a modern rig.

Key features

• Based on the classic Burns Buzzaround
• 3 NOS PNP germanium transistors
• NOS germanium diode
• Onboard transformer for flexible pedalboard placement
• Wide range from spitty fuzz to thick sustained gain
• Interactive Sustain, Tone, Volume and Bias controls
• True bypass

Controls

• Sustain: sets sustain and fuzz intensity
• Tone: moves from thick and dark to bright and aggressive
• Volume: overall output level
• Bias: changes fuzz texture and response

Technical specifications

• Type: analog germanium fuzz
• Transistors: 3 × NOS Germanium PNP
• Diode: NOS Germanium
• Bypass: true bypass
• Power: 9V DC center-negative, 2.1 mm
• Current draw: 25mA
• Dimensions: 65 × 125 × 53 mm

Find the ThorpyFX EAO at onemorepedal.com.

A Buzzaround with half a century of history, three NOS germaniums and very little interest in behaving itself.