The Boss FZ-5 Fuzz is a Boss fuzz pedal, currently around $100.38. Close alternatives include the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion and the MXR M267 Octavio Fuzz. It pairs well with the Dumble Steel String Singer and the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp.
Boss FZ-5 Fuzz
Boss · pedal
The Boss FZ-5 is an affordable digital fuzz that uses Boss COSM modeling to recreate three classic vintage fuzz voices, with a Boost knob to push them into overdrive. Its three modes cover the fat, late-1960s psychedelic fuzz of a Maestro FZ-1A in F mode, a treble-boosted Fuzz Face style voice in M mode, and a distinctive octave fuzz with an overlaid upper octave in O mode, recalling an Octavia. It is versatile and blends well with other drive pedals, rewarding players who stack it with a dynamic overdrive for richer fuzz alchemy. Reception is mixed: it is praised as a frugally priced, flexible way to explore several iconic fuzz flavors, but enthusiasts feel the COSM modeling cannot fully match the magic of the real vintage units. It suits players wanting affordable, varied fuzz tones for rock, psychedelic, and experimental use.
- overdrive
- dynamic
- digital
- octavia
- drive
- boost
- treble
- psychedelic
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz is commonly used in
- Rock
- Experimental
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
28% matchDumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp
Ampeg
25% matchInto the RB-115's massive, vintage-voiced preamp, the FZ-5's octavia-voiced digital fuzz adds real character.
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
tonal matchRun Fender Prosonic after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchGibson GA-50 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp answers back warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Orange Terror Bass answers back warm
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchOrange Little Bass Thing's warm balances out the bright tone
Fuchs ODS II Custom 25/50 Combo
Fuchs
tonal matchFuchs ODS II Custom 25/50 Combo's warm balances out the bright tone
Pedals that stack with the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
19% matchRun Catalinbread SFT after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
19% matchPut Behringer Chorus Symphony after Boss FZ-5 Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Boss FZ-5 Fuzz's own gain stage
Donner Lax Comp
Donner
17% matchWhat Donner Lax Comp brings here leans toward transparent — that's worth building a pairing around
One Control Lingonberry Overdrive
One Control
17% matchOne Control Lingonberry Overdrive leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
12% matchRun Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler after Boss FZ-5 Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Boss FZ-5 Fuzz's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
12% matchPut Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Boss FZ-5 Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Boss FZ-5 Fuzz's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
tonal matchOrange - Vintage Distortion leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive answers back smooth
Boutique & premium upgrades
Tru-Fi Octavia Fuzz
Tru Fi
71% similarityShared character: pedal, one_octave, boost
Fulltone OF-1 Octafuzz
pedal
71% similarityShared character: original, players, one_octave
Fulltone OF-2 Octafuzz
Fulltone
66% similarityShared character: pedal, one_octave, overdrive
JAM Pedals Eureka! Fuzz v2
Jam Pedals
66% similarityShared character: pedal, one_octave, boost
EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
EarthQuaker Devices
66% similarityShared character: pedal, one_octave, boost
EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander V2
EarthQuaker Devices
65% similarityShared character: original, one_octave
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion
pedal
69% similarityShared character: pedal, one_octave, digital
MXR M267 Octavio Fuzz
MXR
67% similarityShared character: one_octave, pedal, vintage_charm
MXR M103 Blue Box
MXR
65% similarityShared character: pedal, fat, one_octave
Beetronics Octahive Custom Boomerang
Beetronics
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Keeley octa osi transfigurating fuzz
Keeley
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Black Arts Toneworks -Fnord
Black Arts Toneworks
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz?+
The closest matches in character are the Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion, the MXR M267 Octavio Fuzz, the MXR M103 Blue Box. Boutique upgrades: Tru-Fi Octavia Fuzz, Fulltone OF-1 Octafuzz, Fulltone OF-2 Octafuzz.
What pairs well with the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Dumble Steel String Singer, Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp, Fender Prosonic — Dumble Steel String Singer's smooth balances out the bright tone.
How much does the Boss FZ-5 Fuzz cost?+
Around $100.38 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).