Earthquaker Devices Barrows V1 Fuzz Attacker

Fuzz is one of the earliest guitar effects and pedals like the Fuzz Face, Tone Bender, etc. are early examples of the genre. Germanium transistors -- an early semiconductor material prior to silicon -- was part of their secret sauce. But Germanium can be fussy, temperature sensitive and require individual tweaking and calibration to make the most out of it.

Fear not! The wizards at Earthquaker have tamed the Germanium dragon with their own modern incarnation of the Tone Bender with modern reliability and increased versatility. You don't think you like Fuzz Pedals? The beauty of Germanium and the Barrows is how it responds to your playing attack and guitar volume. The Barrows "turns down" very well in response to guitar volume, meaning the shades of fuzz/grit/crunch is highly controllable without ever touching the pedal. Great for single note leads and handles chords well, (unless your really dime it) you can definitely channel Jeff Beck "Blow by Blow" or your inner Voodoo Chile.

Plus it's compact size and low price leaves little excuse to leave it off your board. Dive headfirst into the mystic of Germanium with the Barrows .

In the words of Earthquaker Devices:

Greetings, tone archaeologists and fuzz disciples! You are looking at a portal to one of the most revered and mystical circuits in the pantheon of guitar effects - the classic three-transistor TB MkII. The Barrows pays homage to this iconic germanium temple while adding modern refinements that would make even the most discerning vintage purist weep tears of harmonic joy.

The original MkII circuit was the secret weapon behind some of the most crushing riffs ever committed to tape. From dawn-of-metal caveman dirges to the wall-of-sound symphonies conjured by the highest tiers of shoegaze sorcerers, this legendary topology has been the foundation of countless sonic monuments. Now, with Barrows, you can channel that same lightning-in-a-bottle magic while enjoying the reliability and versatility that modern craftsmanship provides.

At its heart, Barrows features a trio of carefully matched germanium transistors nestled within finely tuned circuitry that has been lovingly coaxed to produce everything from light, singing distortion to crushing fuzz tones with nearly infinite harmonic-rich sustain. This isn't just another fuzz box - it's a portal to the fabled tones that have haunted the dreams of fuzz fanatics for decades.

The Barrows delivers the signature cutting mid-focused tones with plenty of low-end authority and brilliant top-end grind that made the original MkII a studio legend. But unlike its temperamental ancestors, Barrows includes several modern upgrades that transform it from a vintage curiosity into a contemporary powerhouse. 

The phase-corrected and buffered output ensures it plays nice with other pedals down the line, while the increased output volume and wide range of fuzz tones make it a versatile sonic weapon. All this power is packed into a compact footprint that saves precious real estate on your pedalboard, because every square inch matters when you're building your sonic arsenal.

Gone are the days of finicky positive ground power requirements and battery-only operation. The Barrows runs on standard 9v power supplies, making it compatible with any common pedalboard power source. The true bypass switching ensures your signal remains pristine when the pedal is disengaged, while the MkII circuit works its germanium magic when called upon.

Controls
The Barrows features two elegantly simple controls that unlock a universe of fuzz possibilities:

Level - Controls the output volume of the Barrows. Unity gain sits around noon, but you'll find plenty of volume boost available when you need to push your amplifier into blissful submission.

Attack - This is where the magic happens. At lower settings, Barrows provides singing, amp-like distortion with superb touch sensitivity. As you rotate clockwise, the circuit transforms into an increasingly aggressive fuzz monster, building to crushing, sustain-drenched tones that seem to go on forever. The wide range of this control means you can find everything from gentle breakup to full-on sonic annihilation.

Pro Tips
For best results, place this pedal first in the signal chain. Like most classic fuzz circuits, Barrows has a very low input impedance and works best when it sees the guitar directly at its input. Do not place a buffer before the Barrows.

The Barrows responds beautifully to your playing dynamics and guitar's volume control. Try rolling back your guitar's volume for cleaner tones, then dig in or roll the volume up for more aggressive textures. The germanium transistors give Barrows a uniquely musical response that reacts to your touch like a living, breathing entity.