Stolhand Holy Grail Fuzz

I am pleased to announce the release of the Stolhand New Holy Grail Fuzz. This pedal was engineered to be a true NKT275 doppelgänger, designed to sound indistinguishable from the original 1960s Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face.

My quest for the perfect circuit began with the transistors. After securing an authentic pair of vintage Newmarket NKT275s, I was able to source transistors with identical performance characteristics to replicate that iconic character. To maintain tonal accuracy, I utilized a salvaged stock of original 1960s carbon composition resistors, all meticulously tested to be within spec. For the capacitors, I opted for high-end, audiophile-grade polypropylene components to ensure superior clarity compared to the original budget-friendly polyester film options.

I have also integrated functional modern improvements without altering the core vintage circuit:

  - External Bias Control: The middle knob and digital display allow you to adjust the bias voltage. Keeping it at 4.5V replicates the original 1960s sound, while increasing it offers better cleanup and sustain. This feature also ensures a consistent 4.5V tone regardless of whether you use a transformer or a 9V battery.
  - Pre-Gain Adjustment: I have replaced the standard fuzz knob with a 250k pre-gain pot, mimicking a vintage Stratocaster volume knob. This allows you to achieve a silky "rolled back" cleanup immediately upon engagement without losing clarity. The original internal fuzz adjustment remains inside the enclosure as a "set-and-forget" control.

These pedals are extremely limited, as they are completely hand-built using 1960s-style point-to-point wiring. Due to the labor-intensive process, I am currently only able to produce about one unit per week.

If you are interested in a custom build—such as modern resistor configurations, specific transistor requests, or removing the pre-gain mod—please feel free to reach out.

Best regards,

Stolhand