The Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction is an Electro-Harmonix overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter Rancho de la Luna and the 1959 Dallas Tuxedo Treble Booster. It pairs well with the Fender Vibrolux 6G11 and the Magnatone 280.
Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from EHX based on the Maestro FZ-1 and FZ-1A Fuzz-Tone circuit, the vintage fuzz design used by Keith Richards to create the iconic riff on the Rolling Stones Satisfaction in 1965. The Maestro FZ-1 was the first commercially successful fuzz pedal, and the Satisfaction Fuzz replicates its distinctive, slightly gated, sputtery germanium fuzz character. The Satisfaction Fuzz delivers the specific vintage fuzz sound of the early 1960s transistor radio-inspired fuzz aesthetic in a format compatible with modern signal chains.
What stands out
“The Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction Fuzz is a fuzz pedal from EHX based on the Maestro FZ-1 and FZ-1A Fuzz-Tone circuit, the vintage fuzz design used by Keith Richards to create the iconic riff on the Rolling Stones Satisfaction in 1965”
— from the listing
“The Maestro FZ-1 was the first commercially successful fuzz pedal, and the Satisfaction Fuzz replicates its distinctive, slightly gated, sputtery germanium fuzz character”
— from the listing
“Germanium fuzz based on the Maestro FZ-1 circuit that produced the Rolling Stones Satisfaction riff in 1965, delivering a sputtery, slightly gated vintage fuzz character distinct from the smoother sustaining quality of Fuzz Face and Big Muf…”
— from the community notes
“slightly gated vintage fuzz character distinct from the smoother sustaining quality of fuzz face and big muff designs”
— from the community notes
“The slight gating and sputtery character at certain settings is a characteristic of the vintage circuit design”
— from the community notes
- germanium fuzz
- fuzz face
- sputtery character
- fuzz
- vintage
- rock
- germanium
- recording
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction is commonly used in
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Garage Rock
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction
Fender Vibrolux 6G11
amplifier
21% 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)
Fender Vibrolux 6G11 layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
20% 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)
Run fuzzy into Magnatone 280 for more modulated on top
Comes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Magnatone 510 in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction
Cordovox FL-8
Cordovox
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)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction's germanium voice out front: Cordovox FL-8 goes after Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Ages
Walrus Audio
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Walrus Audio Ages stacks clean boost on top of the fuzzy already here
Fender Blender
Fender
21% 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 → octave)
Put Fender Blender in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward octave
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1
Walrus Audio
14% 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)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction's germanium voice out front: Walrus Audio Mako D1 High-Fidelity Stereo Delay V1 goes after Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction in the signal chain so its pristine voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Melee Wall of Noise Black
Walrus Audio
14% 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 → octave)
Put Walrus Audio Melee Wall of Noise Black after Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Jackson Audio Bloom V2 Compressor/EQ
Jackson Audio
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction leans toward germanium, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer belongs in front of Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction, since pitch tracking is cleanest before anything colours the note
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
Alternatives
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter Rancho de la Luna
EarthQuaker Devices
62% similarityShared character: fuzz, smooth
1959 Dallas Tuxedo Treble Booster
pedal
62% similarityShared character: 1960s, fuzz
Footloose Effects Red Light
Footloose Effects
62% similarityShared character: fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
EarthQuaker Devices
57% similarityShared character: big muff, fuzz, smooth
Greer Relic
Greer
56% similarityShared character: vintage charm
Mythos Golden Fleece
Mythos
53% similarityShared character: big muff, fuzz, smooth
Hudson Electronics Sidecar
Hudson Electronics
52% similaritySimilar voicing: germanium, transparent
Tru-Fi Colordriver 18V Version
Tru Fi
51% similarityShared character: fuzz, vintage charm
Fuzzrocious Li’l Fella
Fuzzrocious
49% similarityShared character: fuzz
ThorpyFX Redacted
ThorpyFX
48% similarityShared character: fuzz
Fuzzrocious Grey Stache
Fuzzrocious
46% similarityShared character: big muff, fuzz, vintage charm
Spaceman Effects Apollo VII
Spaceman
46% similaritySimilar voicing: silicon, bright
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction?+
The closest matches in character are the EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter Rancho de la Luna, the 1959 Dallas Tuxedo Treble Booster, the Footloose Effects Red Light.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Satisfaction?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Vibrolux 6G11, Magnatone 280, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp — Fender Vibrolux 6G11 layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal.