Dusky Electronics Hypatia

The Hypatia is a fantastically versatile fuzz/overdrive/distortion pedal.

The basic elements are: a wide gain range, an adjustable low end, a specially designed input buffer, and a MOSFET-based output buffer. The gain range spans from ragged crunch to blown out, bludgeoning fuzz—all while remaining musical. The low end can be tailored for any instrument across a range of musical styles, from doom metal to classic rock to noise rock.

A specially designed input buffer preserves the resonant filter effect of coupling passive magnetic effects directly to a low-impedance transistor input stage, while still presenting a modern, high impedance at its input. Which means the Hypatia will sound great wherever it is placed in your signal chain.

To round things out, a MOSFET-based output buffer (lifted almost verbatim from the Mandorla), provides enough output volume to get even-more drive straight from your amp, as well as impart some amp-like flavor of its own—which complements the ragged, transistor-y core of the Hypatia perfectly.