The Malekko Helium MKI is a Malekko distortion pedal, currently around $100. Close alternatives include the Black Arts Toneworks -Fnord and the Dunlop JHW2. It pairs well with the Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet and the Hiwatt DR103H.
Malekko Helium MKI
Malekko · pedal
The Malekko Helium MkI is an octave fuzz pedal from Malekko Heavy Industry, delivering upper octave fuzz character with the brand's characteristic American boutique quality and circuit design. The octave fuzz circuit produces harmonically layered fuzz saturation with upper octave content suited to experimental, psychedelic, and progressive playing.
What stands out
“The Malekko Helium MkI is an octave fuzz pedal from Malekko Heavy Industry, delivering upper octave fuzz character with the brand's characteristic American boutique quality and circuit design”
— from the listing
“The octave fuzz circuit produces harmonically layered fuzz saturation with upper octave content suited to experimental, psychedelic, and progressive playing”
— from the listing
“Malekko's design quality applies to the octave fuzz category”
— from the community notes
“The octave content is most pronounced on single-note neck pickup lines”
— from the reviews
“Malekko's octave fuzz offering from the original MkI series, providing upper octave fuzz character with American boutique quality”
— from the community notes
- octave fuzz
- psychedelic
- octave
- experimental
- saturation
- octave fuzz circuit
- octave fuzz category
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Malekko Helium MKI is commonly used in
- Experimental
- Psychedelic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Noise Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Malekko Helium MKI
Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet
Laney
23% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)
Stack Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
23% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)
Hiwatt DR103H takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB108
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB108 pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB150S-112 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger MB150S-112 Bass Combo pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger MB210MK2
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a saturated signal into Gallien-Krueger MB210MK2 and it comes out closer to tight
Revv Dynamis D25 25W 1x12 Combo
Revv
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Revv Dynamis D25 25W 1x12 Combo on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight
Revv Dynamis D20 MkII 20W Head
Revv
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a saturated signal into Revv Dynamis D20 MkII 20W Head and it comes out closer to tight
EVH 410
Evh
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a saturated signal into EVH 410 and it comes out closer to tight
Pedals that stack with the Malekko Helium MKI
Airis Effects 51-Filthy
Airis Effects
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)
Feed a saturated signal into Airis Effects 51-Filthy and it comes out closer to tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Shin's Music Dumbloid
Shins Music
16% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → tight)
Shin's Music Dumbloid pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Warm Audio Pedal 76 Compressor
Warm Audio
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Malekko Helium MKI leans toward octave, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR M83
MXR
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Malekko Helium MKI's octave voice out front: MXR M83 goes after Malekko Helium MKI in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay
TC Electronic
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay's tight voice goes after Malekko Helium MKI in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Malekko Helium MKI's own octave character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Pico Canyon
Electro-Harmonix
5% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Electro-Harmonix Pico Canyon after Malekko Helium MKI in the signal chain, clear of Malekko Helium MKI's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp
EarthQuaker Devices
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a saturated signal into EarthQuaker Devices Utility Series Buffer Preamp and it comes out closer to clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Suhr Rufus
Suhr
57% similarityShared character: one octave
Catalinbread Giygas
Catalinbread
44% similarityShared character: one octave
MXR CSP203
MXR
43% similarityShared character: one octave
EarthQuaker Devices Life Pedal V3
EarthQuaker Devices
40% similarityShared character: one octave
Similar character
See all alternatives to the Malekko Helium MKI (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Malekko Helium MKI?+
The closest matches in character are the Black Arts Toneworks -Fnord, the Dunlop JHW2, the Electro-Harmonix Lizard Queen Octave/Fuzz. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Lizard Queen Octave/Fuzz. Boutique upgrades: Suhr Rufus, Catalinbread Giygas, MXR CSP203.
What pairs well with the Malekko Helium MKI?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet, Hiwatt DR103H, Gallien-Krueger MB108 — Stack Laney DBC410 Digbeth 4x10 Cabinet on top and a saturated tone tightens toward tight.
How much does the Malekko Helium MKI cost?+
Around $100 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).