I love good fuzz pedals. They transform the sound of your guitar in a unique way, and each one does it in its own way. A Fuzz Face has that fat lead sound that responds to every touch. The Tone Bender circuit pushed things even further (literally) and added even more growl. The “Big Muff” style circuit is the legendary successor to both. The Wampler Velvet Fuzz was one of my first versions of an enhanced fuzz circuit, but with an extra twist: it was designed to be easy to dial in for people who didn't get along with classic fuzz pedals.
I wanted to put all those classic sounds into one compact guitar pedal. I wanted to be able to dial in glassy, clean tones by rolling back your guitar's volume like a Fuzz Face while keeping the sparkling tone and ease of use 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 these classics while offering new, unique tones and inspiring you to find your new sound.
Dialing in your tone is easy. The Cryptid's Volume, Tone, and Fuzz knobs are pretty self-explanatory. The Character (bias) control goes from gated, broken-up fuzz sounds, similar to what we did with the Velvet Fuzz, to other classic sounds, including muff, bender, and even steps into "Fuzz Factory" territory. The 3-position Tight switch shapes the pedal's low end for everything from doom-approved subsonics to a tight, distortion-like 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 from the ground up. While it can get close to the classics, it gives you a ton of possibilities in between them. Best of all, I made sure it is very easy to use and as responsive as the best vintage models.
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The best aspects of the best fuzzes
While still far from clone territory, I still wanted the Cryptid to offer the ability to get close to some of my favorite fuzz sounds. Think Hendrix, Eric Johnson, Mick Ronson, Billy Corgan, J. Mascis, and Jack White; I put a little of all of them in there. So it's still a great option for those who prefer the real thing and the not-so-real thing.
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Vintage sensitivity meets modern versatility
The Cryptid is extremely sensitive to a guitar's electronics. Place it before buffers, just like a great vintage fuzz, and roll back the guitar's volume control a bit. With the right settings, the sound won't just be "less fuzzy." It will be clean, clear, and extremely responsive – perfect for layering with other drives.
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Fuzz for those who don't like fuzz
If you think fuzz pedals are too woolly, undefined, and messy, the Cryptid will change your mind. It can get much closer to tube-amp overdrive than you might have imagined. By using the Tight and Chime controls, it's easy to achieve a fat, singing distortion that is never muddy or shrill.
Unique Fuzz circuit by Brian Wampler
Built in the USA
Battery connection and 9v-18v power jack
High-grade components selected for their superior sound and response
Controls: Volume, Fuzz, Tone, Character knobs, Chime and Tight switches
Top-mounted jacks make pedalboard placement easy
Power draw: 15mA at 9V and 30mA at 18V
Includes Wampler’s 5-year limited warranty
2.59″ x 4.98″ x 2.29″ (66 mm x 126.5 mm x 58.2 mm)