The EarthQuaker Devices Gary fuzz pedal is an exciting collaboration between IDLES guitarist Lee Kiernan and EarthQuaker Devices (EQD), and it’s bound to become the new favorite on pedalboards everywhere. If you love versatility, creative fuzz tones, and crunchy overdrives, this pedal’s combination of fuzz and overdrive circuits is exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Who Are IDLES and Lee Kiernan?

To truly appreciate the Gary fuzz pedal, it helps to understand the story behind its creation, particularly the influence of IDLES and their guitarist, Lee Kiernan. IDLES are a British punk rock band known for their raw energy, politically charged lyrics, and distinctive sound. They have quickly risen to prominence for their unique mix of punk, post-punk, and noise rock, coupled with an emotionally powerful live presence.

Lee Kiernan plays a vital role in shaping the band’s aggressive yet melodic sound. His style is characterized by its unpredictability, shifting effortlessly from driving, straightforward riffs to chaotic, experimental noise. This versatility made Lee the perfect collaborator for EarthQuaker Devices, who are known for their innovative, sometimes unconventional approach to effects pedals.

The collaboration with EarthQuaker Devices began when Lee wanted something to replace his discontinued Gray Channel pedal—a staple in his setup. Instead of simply recreating the pedal, EQD decided to work closely with Lee to develop something even more dynamic, giving birth to Gary. This collaboration perfectly embodies Lee’s on-stage personality: a mix of refined artistry and untamed energy. The result is a pedal that allows players to channel the same intensity and spontaneity that define Lee’s playing style.

Whether you’re a fan of IDLES or simply in search of a pedal that pushes boundaries, Gary captures the spirit of an adventurous guitarist, making it a compelling choice for those who want their tone to have an edge.

With Gary, you get a pedal that lets you explore a wide range of sounds—from smooth overdrive to nasal, biting fuzz, and everything in between. This post will break down exactly what makes the Gary pedal special and why you might want to add it to your rig.

What’s So Special About The Gary Fuzz Pedal?

Gary’s journey began when Lee Kiernan wanted to replace his beloved but discontinued Gray Channel overdrive. Instead of a simple recreation, EQD took the opportunity to innovate, taking an innovative approach to expand on the original, adding new layers of experimental grit and versatility.

The outcome was a versatile, dual-sided pedal that integrates an envelope-controlled fuzz with a smooth overdrive. Unlike many other fuzz-overdrive pedals, Gary gives players nuanced control over each effect. It offers a balance between unrestrained sonic chaos and precise tonal shaping. Whether you need subtle overtones or a heavy, driving sound, Gary is designed to empower your creativity in every context.

Here’s a breakdown of the Gary pedal’s two different personalities:

The Right Side: Fuzz with Attitude

Gary’s fuzz circuit is truly destructive and dynamic. It features a pulse-width modulation fuzz that turns your guitar signal into a square wave, similar to the aggressive tones used by artists like Jack White in songs such as ‘Icky Thump’. This is where you’ll get those heavy, ripping fuzz tones—sounds that seem to explode out of your amp, perfect for gritty, punk-driven songs or for experimenting with new sonic textures.

The fuzz side features a dial called Yes! that lets you adjust the sensitivity of the envelope, giving you plenty of room to experiment. At lower levels, you get that thick, classic square wave tone that sustains beautifully. As you turn up the dial, the tone gets more interactive with your pick attack, shifting from smooth to sharp, biting tones that cut through a mix.

One of the standout features of Gary’s fuzz is its envelope-controlled pulse-width modulation, a technique borrowed from classic synthesizers. This effect allows the character of the fuzz to change based on how hard you play. When the Yes! knob is turned up, it engages the envelope, making the pulse width narrower as you pick harder. This creates dynamic shifts, ranging from a thick, heavy tone to a nasal, biting fuzz.

With an expression pedal, you can also manually control the pulse width, letting you dive deeper into the sonic possibilities or avoid the chaotic tones altogether. This flexibility makes Gary’s fuzz side a creative playground for guitarists who enjoy experimenting with evolving textures.

Key Takeaway: The fuzz side is all about pushing boundaries and exploring how aggressive or dynamic you can make your sound. If you’re into unconventional tones, Gary’s fuzz delivers.

The Left Side: Smooth and Natural Overdrive

While the right side is all chaos and destruction, Gary’s overdrive channel on the left side brings a more classic flavor. Inspired by the green channel from the Gray Channel, this natural-sounding op-amp overdrive offers smooth distortion that can be used as a standalone drive or to complement other pedals in your signal chain.

The controls here are intuitive:

• Go sets the gain level. You can dial it down for a clean boost or crank it up to get thick, crunchy distortion.
• That’s It acts as the master volume control.

The overdrive is designed to be full-bodied and clear, making it ideal for those times when you want to add a touch of warmth and character to your guitar tone. Use it on its own for bluesy leads or stack it with the fuzz side to create a massive wall of sound.

In the words of Andy from Reverb, the overdrive side is a reliable workhorse. Whether you’re using it for a clean boost or pushing it into full-on distortion, it maintains a transparent, clear quality that preserves the nuances of your playing. With EQD’s Flexi-Switch® Technology, you can use it in either momentary or latching mode, adding versatility to your playing style.

Key Takeaway: The overdrive side provides a more traditional, musical distortion that works well on its own or in tandem with the fuzz to add another layer of grit.

Reverb’s Video Demo of Gary

For a deeper look at what makes Gary so special, check out this fantastic video demo by Andy from Reverb. Andy takes you through both sides of the pedal, demonstrating its versatility and how it can be used to create a wide range of tones. The video is a must-watch for anyone curious about the real potential of the Gary pedal. Andy’s playing, combined with his detailed explanations, makes it easy to understand why Gary has become such a beloved addition to many pedalboards.

Practical Examples: How to Use The Gary Fuzz Pedal in Your Setup

To help you get the most out of Gary, let’s look at some real-world examples of how you might use it in different setups.

1. Classic Rock Setup

If you’re playing classic rock, use the overdrive side as your main tone. The smooth and natural op-amp overdrive adds just enough grit without overpowering the nuances of your playing. It’s perfect for driving an already clean tube amp into that sweet spot.

2. Post-Punk Grit

For a post-punk sound, take full advantage of the fuzz side. The interactive nature of the Yes! dial means that you can adjust your playing dynamics to make parts stand out. When you’re playing rhythm guitar, dial back for a more controlled, buzzing tone, then hit it hard during lead parts to make the fuzz swell and grow.

Andy from Reverb demonstrated how rolling up the Yes! control changes the pulse width and creates dynamic, sweeping changes in the fuzz tone. He also showed how adjusting your guitar’s volume knob can bring out gated effects, making it perfect for post-punk and experimental sounds.

3. Wall of Sound: Stacking the Circuits

One of the coolest ways to use Gary is to stack both sides together. Engage the overdrive first and layer the fuzz on top. This setup works wonders for creating an overwhelming wall of sound, whether you’re looking to play sludgy riffs or experimenting with shoegaze tones.

Pro Tip: When stacking, consider keeping the overdrive gain lower while letting the fuzz do most of the work. This approach helps maintain clarity and prevents your sound from becoming overly saturated.

Andy also highlighted how stacking both sides of Gary adds depth to your tone. The overdrive helps beef up the low end, giving you a thick, powerful sound that retains definition even when using high-gain fuzz.

Gary’s Controls Explained

The Gary pedal keeps things simple with its layout, but each control offers significant flexibility.

• Yes! (Fuzz Sensitivity): Adjusts how sensitive the fuzz envelope is to your picking dynamics.
• Go (Overdrive Gain): Sets the level of overdrive, from clean boost to full-bodied distortion.
• That’s It (Overdrive Master Volume): Controls the overall volume for the overdrive side.
• Oosh (Fuzz Master Volume): Controls the overall volume for the fuzz side.
• Left Footswitch (Overdrive): Engages the overdrive circuit.
• Right Footswitch (Fuzz): Engages the fuzz circuit.

Gary’s Flexi-Switch® Technology adds even more versatility, allowing you to use each effect in a momentary fashion by holding down the footswitch for as long as you want the effect active. This feature is particularly useful for adding a quick burst of fuzz or overdrive to your playing without committing to having it on the entire time.

The expression pedal can be used to manually sweep the pulse width, giving you even more real-time control over the fuzz’s texture. This adds an element of performance to the pedal that’s perfect for live settings or studio experimentation.

How Does Gary Compare to Other Pedals?

You might be wondering how Gary compares to some of the other fuzz and overdrive pedals on the market. Here’s a quick look at how it stacks up against a couple of other popular choices:

As you can see, Gary stands out for its dual effect capability, combining both a dynamic fuzz and a smooth overdrive in one pedal. It’s also more compact compared to having two separate pedals for these effects, and the Flexi-Switch feature means you have even more control over how and when you use each effect.

Key Takeaway: Gary combines the functionality of multiple pedals in a single unit, making it a great choice for guitarists who need versatility without compromising on pedalboard space.

Frequently Asked Questions – Gary Fuzz Pedal

1. Can Gary be used for bass?

Absolutely! The dynamic nature of the fuzz makes it great for bass as well. You can place it early in your signal chain to get thick, rumbling tones without losing articulation.

2. Does it work well with other pedals?

Yes, Gary pairs nicely with other effects. Use it with a delay or reverb to create lush, textured soundscapes, or add a compressor before the fuzz to really bring out the sustain.

3. Is Gary true bypass?

Yes, the Gary fuzz pedal is true bypass, ensuring that your signal remains uncolored when the pedal is off.

Reverb Limited Edition Colorway Version – Limited to 500 Units

Our partners at Reverb are offering a limited edition Colorway version of the Gary Fuzz Pedal. This offer is limited to a quantity of just 500 units so is on a first come, first served basis. This would be a great option for collectors or guitarist that are looking for a very unique pedal.

Should You Buy the EarthQuaker Devices Gary Fuzz Pedal?

The EarthQuaker Devices Gary fuzz pedal is an exciting choice if you’re looking for a versatile, dynamic fuzz and overdrive pedal in one. It’s especially appealing if you enjoy experimenting with your tone or if you’re looking for a way to add new flavors to your setup without taking up too much pedalboard space.

With its flexible controls, true bypass design, and dual functionality, Gary offers everything from classic drive tones to aggressive, ripping fuzz. Whether you’re looking for a simple clean boost, something to thicken up your tone, or a fuzz pedal that can go from smooth to absolute chaos, Gary delivers.

Have you tried Gary yet? If you have, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments! Share your favorite settings and let us know how you’re using this versatile pedal. And make sure to check out our other gear review by visiting the Get My Guitar blog. For those of you more comfortable shopping on Amazon check out the Gary Fuzz Pedal here!