Hiwatt Filter Fuzz Mkii

A Clear Homage to 1969 Fuzzes, Reimagined by the Custom Shop

The Filter Fuzz was born from the Hiwatt Custom Shop's obsession with classic sixties fuzz pedals. Its filter section references a very specific source: the psychedelic/rock aesthetic of 1969, notably the spirit of the famous "moment" between a Musicraft Messenger guitar and a Heathkit Fuzz heard on the Grand Funk album. The result is a pedal that retains the raw, organic, and unpredictable character of vintage fuzz, while adding a genuine spectral shaping lever to better fit into a modern mix.

Who Is the Filter Fuzz For, and Which Styles Does It Excel In?

The Hiwatt Filter Fuzz appeals both to vintage tone enthusiasts and guitarists seeking a more "controllable" fuzz on a pedalboard. It is well suited for intermediate to advanced players (the controls interact, and that's where the magic happens), but remains intuitive if you simply want a big riff sound.

It excels in 60s/70s rock, garage, blues rock, psychedelic, stoner, indie, and alternative styles. In the studio, the filter section helps place the guitar exactly where you want it (emphasizing mids, adding a lo-fi edge, or a more biting grain). Live, the dedicated filter footswitch allows switching from a "wide" fuzz to a more focused fuzz to stand out in solos, without touching the knobs.

Controls, Filter Section, and Settings: A Truly Sculptable Fuzz

The Filter Fuzz combines a fuzz section and a filter section, which explains its "2 effects" approach in one pedal. The Volume control manages output level, while Fuzz adjusts saturation and sustain, from a light grainy veil to a dense, full fuzz.

The Thick knob acts as a bass control placed before the saturation stage: you can tighten the low end for a precise riff or thicken the signal for more massive walls of sound. The Filter section features a 3-position selector that changes the frequency emphasis (low-mids, mids, or high-mids), and can be toggled on/off via a second footswitch. Inside, a bias adjustment allows fine-tuning the fuzz response, from smoother to more "raspy" and edgy.

The Sound

The Hiwatt Filter Fuzz has the typical character of analog fuzzes: generous attack, rich harmonics, and a very lively response to playing dynamics. It can sound round and creamy for singing leads, or become more abrasive and textured when pushing the gain and playing with the filter section. Depending on the filter position and the Fuzz/Thick balance, you can achieve "parked-wah" mids, a punchy lo-fi vibe, or more "spitty/gated" reactions that are especially expressive on sustained notes.

The Filter Fuzz naturally fits into a very rock-oriented fuzz culture, and is notably found on the pedalboard of James Guile (Teen Mortgage), proving it can hold its own in a modern, energetic, live-focused context.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Fuzz	EQ	No
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black
Number of effects	2	Weight	0.4 kg
Number of tracks	2	Dimensions (mm)	125 x 65 x 65

Category	Fuzz	Top-mounted jacks	no
Circuit	analog	Stereo	no
Bypass	true bypass	MIDI	no
Gain stages	fuzz with internal bias adjustment	Dimensions	125 x 65 x 65 mm
Architecture	3-position filter section, footswitch-activated	Pedal	yes
Transistors	2 germanium transistors	Power supply	no
Potentiometers	Volume, Fuzz, Filter, Thick	Required power	9V DC
Footswitches	2 (fuzz activation + filter activation)	Polarity	center negative
Footswitch type	click	Consumption	2 mA
Input	6.35mm Jack	Battery operation	yes
Output	6.35mm Jack