The Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz is a Cusack Music fuzz pedal, currently around $249. Close alternatives include the Ibanez FZ Mini Fuzz and the Rainger FX DRFF-3 Dr. Freakenstein Fuzz. It pairs well with the Bartel Swingland 3W 1x12 Combo and the Randall NB King 112 Nuno Bettencourt Signature 30W 1x12 Combo.
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Cusack Music · pedal
The Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz takes the company's Screamer Fuzz circuit and adds tap-tempo-controlled modulation, making it the first fuzz to sync its movement to a song's pulse. The underlying fuzz runs from a thick, saturated overdrive-flavoured grind to a full aggressive fuzz, with Level, Fuzz and Gain controls plus selectable clipping options shifting the character from tighter and more compressed to looser and more open. Over that sit 24 modulated waveforms, each with independently programmable fade-in, brake speed, tap divide and tempo, producing rhythmically pulsing, stuttering and tremolo-like fuzz textures locked to the beat. An RCA jack sends or receives tap tempo so it can drive other pedals from the same switch. Made in the USA by Cusack Music.
What stands out
“The Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz takes the company's Screamer Fuzz circuit and adds tap-tempo-controlled modulation, making it the first fuzz to sync its movement to a song's pulse”
— from the listing
“The tempo-synchronized behavior requires deliberate use of the tap tempo function for optimal performance”
— from the community notes
“An RCA jack sends or receives tap tempo so it can drive other pedals from the same switch”
— from the listing
“In experimental and progressive contexts the rhythmic interaction can produce musically interesting results”
— from the reviews
“and rhythmically sophisticated applications where fuzz that interacts with the song tempo adds musical value”
— from the community notes
- fuzz
- musical
- experimental
- consistent
- modulation
- aggressive
- full
- boutique
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Noise Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Stoner Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Shoegaze
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Bartel Swingland 3W 1x12 Combo
Bartel
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Randall NB King 112 Nuno Bettencourt Signature 30W 1x12 Combo
Randall
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Deacy Amp
amplifier
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Magnatone 280's stereo pitch-vibrato gives the Tap-A-Fuzz's full, experimental fuzz a genuinely unique, swirling amp voice to push into.
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro 1697R Galaxy Head
Supro
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Run mid-forward into Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz for more fuzzy on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Vibrolux 6G11
amplifier
22% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Vibrolux's sweet, classic Fender vibrato tone gives the Tap-A-Fuzz's full, experimental fuzz a genuinely vintage amp voice to push into.
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro 1695TJ Black Magick
Supro
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro 1642RT Titan
Supro
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Comes later in the signal chain
See all 17 amps that pair with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz →
Pedals that stack with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Musitronics Mu-Tron III
Musitronics
37% matchCusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop Jimi Hendrix JH-1 Wah Pedal
Dunlop
30% matchCusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2
Electro-Harmonix
27% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Origin Effects Halcyon Green Overdrive
Origin Effects
27% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition
Walrus Audio
27% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Run fuzzy into Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition for more clean boost on top
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Starlight Flanger v2
Subdecay
26% matchCusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
JHS Double Dragon
JHS Pedals
26% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Morley Wah
Morley
26% matchRun mid-forward into Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz for more fuzzy on top
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 56 pedals that pair with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz →
Cheaper alternatives
MXR Badass Variac
MXR
51% similarityShared character: fuzz, full
Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz
Fulltone
50% similarityShared character: thickness, fuzz, full
Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz
Warm Audio
50% similarityShared character: fuzz, full
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Pardner Fuzz Looper (Blue)
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
49% similarityShared character: fuzz
Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix
49% similarityShared character: thickness, fuzz, aggressive playing
EarthQuaker Devices Gary Automatic Pulse Width Modulation
EarthQuaker Devices
49% similarityShared character: modulation, fuzz, aggressive playing
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Ibanez FZ Mini Fuzz
Ibanez
62% similarityShared character: fuzz, studio
Rainger FX DRFF-3 Dr. Freakenstein Fuzz
Rainger Fx
60% similarityShared character: fuzz
Walrus Audio Janus
Walrus Audio
58% similarityShared character: tremolo, fuzz
Rainger FX Pull Focus Fuzz
Rainger Fx
54% similarityShared character: fuzz
Fairfield Circuitry 900 Fuzz
Fairfield Circuitry
53% similarityShared character: fuzz, aggressive playing
Spaceman Spacerocket II
Spaceman
53% similarityShared character: fuzz
See all alternatives to the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz?+
The closest matches in character are the Ibanez FZ Mini Fuzz, the Rainger FX DRFF-3 Dr. Freakenstein Fuzz, the Walrus Audio Janus. Budget picks: MXR Badass Variac, Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz, Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Fuzz. Boutique upgrades: ThorpyFX Hanami Fuzz, Univox Super-Fuzz.
What pairs well with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Bartel Swingland 3W 1x12 Combo, Randall NB King 112 Nuno Bettencourt Signature 30W 1x12 Combo, Deacy Amp — Run mid-forward into Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz for more fuzzy on top.
How much does the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz cost?+
Around $249 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).