Wampler Cryptid Fuzz

I love a good fuzz pedal. There’s just something about how they transform your guitar's sound, and each one does it in its own way. A Fuzz Face has that fat lead tone that responds to every touch. The Tone Bender circuit took things a stage further (literally) and added even more grunt. The “Big Muff” style circuit is a legendary successor to both of these. The Wampler Velvet Fuzz was one of my early takes on an improved fuzz circuit but with a twist - it was designed to be easy to dial in for folk who just didn’t get on with regular fuzz pedals.

I wanted to put all of those classic tones into a single compact guitar pedal. I wanted the ability to dial in glassy cleans by backing off your guitar's volume like a Fuzz Face while also retaining the sparkling tonality and usability of the Velvet Fuzz. I wanted to create something that could be stacked with other pedals or played on its own, something that wasn’t just another clone. So I designed the Cryptid. It is a unique circuit designed to give you my favorite aspects of all of those classics while also offering up unique new tones and inspiring you to find your new sound.

Tweaking your tone is easy. The Cryptid's Volume, Tone, and Fuzz are pretty self-explanatory. The Character (bias) control goes from distorted fuzz sounds, similar to what we did with the Velvet Fuzz, all the way through to other classic tones, including muff, bender, and even steps into “Fuzz Factory” territory. The 3-position Tight switch shapes the pedal's low end for anything from doom-approved sub-sonics to a tight, distortion-esque vibe. Finally, the Chime toggle adds a bit of extra harmonic air on top without any harshness.

A Unique Fuzz in a Sea of Clones

The Cryptid is an entirely new fuzz circuit through and through. Though it can get darn close to the classics, it gives you a ton of possibilities between them. Best of all, I made sure it’s super easy to use and as responsive as the best vintage designs.

The Best Aspects of the Best Fuzzes

Still far from cloning territory, I still wanted the Cryptid to offer the ability to get close to some of my favourite fuzz tones. Think Hendrix, Eric Johnson, Mick Ronson, Billy Corgan, J. Mascis, and Jack White; I put a little bit of them all in there. So, it’s still a great option for those who prefer the tried-and-true.

Vintage Sensitivity Meets Modern Versatility

The Cryptid is extremely sensitive to a guitar’s electronics. Place it before any buffers — just like a great vintage fuzz — and roll back the guitar’s volume control a bit. With the right settings, the tone won’t just be “less fuzzy.” It’ll be clean, clear, and extremely responsive – perfect for stacking with other drives..

Fuzz For Those Who Don’t Like Fuzz

If you think fuzz pedals are too wooly, undefined, and messy, the Cryptid will change your mind. It can get a lot closer to tube amp overdrive than you’d expect. Using the Tight and Chime controls, it’s easy to get a fat, singing distortion that’s never muddy or shrill.