The Five Interactive Controls

• Volume – Sets output level so you can match (or smash) whatever comes next in your chain.
• Gate – Squelches noise after the note ends. Turn it up to kill squeals, hiss, and buzz; turn it down to open the floodgates into that signature gated, sputtering chop.
• Comp (Compress) – Shapes attack and sustain. Counterclockwise adds bite; clockwise softens and then suddenly pinches the tone into a squashed, compressed voice. Lower the Stability knob and watch this control get even weirder.
• Drive – Cranks the distortion for classic fuzz thickness or shifts feedback pitch and tonal density when the pedal starts oscillating.
• Stab (Stability) – The wildcard. Keep it mostly clockwise for “normal” fuzz behavior. Back it off and the circuit softens, then tips into feedback, oscillation, and pure sonic anarchy. Use it to tune the pitch of the squeals.

Warning (straight from ZVEX): Many “incorrect” settings squeal. This may annoy the faint-hearted… but it will thrill everyone else.

Key Specifications

• Circuit: Original ZVEX design with two NOS 1960s germanium transistors
• Controls: Volume, Gate, Comp, Drive, Stab
• Switching: True bypass
• Power: 9V DC center-negative (Boss-style) or 9V battery
• Current draw: Under 3–4 mA (a battery can last for years)
• Dimensions: Approx. 4.70" × 2.38" × 1.82" (hand-painted version); slight variations exist for Vexter and vertical enclosures
• Construction: Hand-assembled; hand-painted versions are unique works of art with lifetime warranty; Vexter series features silk-screened graphics on polished aluminum
• LED: On/off indicator
• In excellent working condition. See pictures! Original box is included.