EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General Octave Fuzz Blaster

The EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General is an analogue octave fuzz inspired by the vintage Ace Tone Fuzz Master FM-2 Professional, taking the raw, aggressive character of classic Japanese octave fuzz and expanding it with a wider Fuzz range, continuously variable Tone control and three distinctly different clipping voices.

From relatively restrained dirt through to huge buzz-saw fuzz, pronounced octave-up harmonics and almost ring-modulator-like textures, the Fuzz Master General is designed for players who want their fuzz to have serious personality.

The original standard-production Fuzz Master General is now discontinued, adding extra appeal for EQD collectors as well as players searching for an unconventional octave fuzz.

Why Choose the Fuzz Master General? Inspired by the Ace Tone Fuzz Master FM-2

The starting point for the Fuzz Master General was the vintage Ace Tone Fuzz Master FM-2 Professional, an octave fuzz closely related in concept to the famous Super Fuzz.

EQD didn't simply reproduce the original circuit. It redesigned key areas to make the concept more versatile for modern players, including a broader Fuzz range, significantly greater output, reduced noise and much greater control over the tone and clipping response.

The result retains the unmistakable swelling octave grind of vintage octave fuzz while offering far more control over how aggressive it becomes.

Three Clipping Voices

The Voice switch is where the Fuzz Master General really comes alive.

Mode 1 – Germanium

Germanium clipping produces the most open and loose of the three fuzz voices.

Choose this setting when you want:

• More open dynamics
• Looser fuzz
• Strong output
• Vintage-style texture
• Less compressed attack

Mode 2 – Silicon

Silicon clipping produces a tighter and more compressed response.

It's particularly effective for:

• Heavy riffs
• Aggressive rhythm sounds
• Focused fuzz
• Tighter attack
• Dense saturation

Mode 3 – Open Transistor Drive

The centre position removes the clipping diodes entirely.

This creates a much cleaner and more pronounced octave-up effect, which EQD describes as approaching ring-modulation territory. It also produces substantially more output, so reduce the Level before switching into this mode.

These aren't subtle variations – each mode significantly changes the response, output and octave character of the pedal.

How to Get the Strongest Octave-Up Sound

The Fuzz Master General produces its octave effect through an analogue circuit, so playing technique and pickup selection make a noticeable difference.

For the clearest octave-up effect:

Select your neck pickup → play single notes → move above the 12th fret.

That's EQD's own recommended approach for bringing the octave effect forward.

Play full chords instead and the circuit becomes considerably more chaotic, producing the destructive intermodulation and aggressive grind that makes this style of octave fuzz so distinctive.

From Nearly Clean to Buzz-Saw Fuzz

The Fuzz control has been designed with a much wider operating range than the vintage circuit that inspired the pedal.

Lower settings can produce surprisingly restrained dirt.

Turn it clockwise and you'll move through:

Gritty drive → crunchy fuzz → saturated octave fuzz → full buzz-saw assault

That range makes the Fuzz Master General much more versatile than its aggressive appearance might suggest.

Wide-Ranging Tone Control

Instead of copying the original Ace Tone's selectable tone arrangement, EQD gives the Fuzz Master General a continuously variable Tone control.

Counter-clockwise: Brighter, more open and treble-forward.

Clockwise: Darker, more scooped and bass-heavy.

That lets you move between cutting vintage fuzz and enormous scooped sounds while adapting the pedal to different guitars, amplifiers and mixes.

More Than a Guitar Fuzz

EQD officially demonstrates the Fuzz Master General with guitar, bass and synthesizer, so there's plenty of scope beyond a conventional six-string pedalboard.

It can work particularly well for:

• Electric guitar
• Bass
• Synthesizers
• Drum machines
• Experimental studio processing

Producer Dan the Automator has even used the Fuzz Master General alongside a Hoof Reaper to process sounds from a vintage Roland CR-78 drum machine.

Who Is It For?

The Fuzz Master General is a particularly strong choice for players into psychedelic, garage, noise rock, stoner, doom, alternative, shoegaze and experimental music.

It's also an obvious choice for:

• Octave fuzz enthusiasts
• EQD collectors
• Vintage fuzz fans
• Synth users
• Bass players
• Studio experimenters

If you're looking for smooth, polite background drive, there are better choices.

If you want a fuzz that can become raw, abrasive, octave-heavy and genuinely strange, the Fuzz Master General makes considerably more sense.

Fuzz Master General vs Conventional Fuzz

A conventional Fuzz Face or Muff-style pedal typically prioritises thick saturation, sustain or dynamic fuzz tones.

The Fuzz Master General is different.

Choose it when you specifically want:

• Analogue upper-octave harmonics
• Vintage Japanese-inspired fuzz
• Three clipping responses
• Germanium and silicon voices
• Extreme buzz-saw textures
• Scooped heavy fuzz
• Ring-modulator-like sounds
• Strong sonic personality

It's less about producing a universally useful fuzz sound and more about giving you sounds that a conventional fuzz simply doesn't make.

Controls

Fuzz – Controls the amount of dirt, ranging from relatively restrained sounds to heavily saturated fuzz.

Tone – Counter-clockwise for brighter and more open sounds; clockwise for darker, more scooped tones.

Level – Controls overall output.

Voice – Selects Germanium, Silicon or Open Transistor Drive clipping.

Power Requirements

The EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General requires a standard regulated 9V DC power supply with a 2.1mm centre-negative barrel connection.

Current draw is only 10mA.

EQD specifically warns against operating the pedal at higher voltages and recommends a pedal-specific or isolated power supply.

What's Included?

• EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General Octave Fuzz Blaster

I would only advertise the original box, paperwork, power supply or other accessories on Reverb if they're confirmed with the physical stock.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

The EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General is a brilliant option when a conventional fuzz simply isn't weird enough.

Best suited for: Psychedelic, garage, noise, stoner, alternative and experimental players, plus collectors of discontinued EQD pedals.

Main benefit: It captures the wild octave character associated with vintage Ace Tone-style circuits while providing substantially greater control.

Standout feature: The three-way Voice control. Germanium, silicon and open transistor settings noticeably alter the compression, output and octave character rather than providing three minor EQ variations.

Customers usually upgrade from: Conventional fuzz pedals when looking for stronger octave harmonics and more aggressive textures.

Most commonly paired with: Wah, phaser, delay and reverb.

Our tip: For the clearest octave effect, use your neck pickup and play single-note lines above the 12th fret. Then try exactly the opposite – full chords through a high Fuzz setting – when you want the circuit to become much more chaotic.

Showroom feedback: The appeal isn't subtlety. This is a fuzz with a distinctive personality, but the three Voice settings and broad Tone control give you far more ways to shape that personality than many vintage-inspired octave fuzzes.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom is backed by a knowledgeable musician-led team with experience across guitars, effects, amplification and complete pedalboard setups.

Whether you're hunting for a discontinued EQD model, choosing your first octave fuzz or building an experimental pedalboard, our team can offer friendly, knowledgeable advice.