The MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz is an MXR fuzz pedal, currently around $169.99. Close alternatives include the Matthews Effects The Whaler and the Mr. Black Darling Fuzz. It pairs well with the Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus Ensemble and the Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp.
MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz
MXR · pedal
The MXR Custom Shop Brown Acid Fuzz is a premium boutique fuzz pedal from MXR's Custom Shop series, delivering rich, psychedelic fuzz character with a name referencing the famous Woodstock warning about the brown acid. The Brown Acid targets warm, harmonically complex psychedelic fuzz character suited to vintage rock and psych playing.
What stands out
“MXR's Custom Shop psychedelic fuzz offering, providing warm, harmonically complex fuzz character with the Custom Shop's premium construction quality”
— from the community notes
“The Brown Acid Fuzz delivers warm, psychedelic fuzz character from MXR's Custom Shop boutique design standard”
— from the reviews
“The psychedelic fuzz voicing suits vintage rock and experimental playing”
— from the community notes
“The harmonically complex fuzz voicing suits vintage rock and experimental playing contexts”
— from the reviews
“A premium boutique fuzz from a trusted American brand”
— from the reviews
- fuzz
- psychedelic
- vintage
- rock
- harmonically complex
- experimental
- boutique
- experimental playing contexts
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz is commonly used in
- Rock
- 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. - Stoner Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz
Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus Ensemble
Boss
17% 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)
Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus Ensemble stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Comes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run fuzzy into Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp for more modulated on top
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run fuzzy into Magnatone 510 for more modulated on top
Pedals that stack with the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz
Cordovox FL-8
Cordovox
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)
Keep MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz's fuzzy voice out front: Cordovox FL-8 goes after MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Blender
Fender
17% 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)
Run fuzzy into Fender Blender for more octave on top
MXR M103 Blue Box
MXR
17% 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)
MXR M103 Blue Box stacks octave on top of the fuzzy already here
Pigtronix Echolution
Pigtronix
11% 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)
Put Pigtronix Echolution after MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man
Electro-Harmonix
11% 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 Deluxe Memory Man after MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz'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
10% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz leans toward fuzzy, 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
Put Subdecay Octave Theory Octave Modulator Synthesizer in front of MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz: pitch tracking is cleanest before anything colours the note
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
Cheaper alternatives
Red Witch Seven Sisters Ruby Fuzz
Red Witch
50% similarityShared character: fuzz
Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2
Electro-Harmonix
46% similarityShared character: fuzz
Orange Fur Coat
Orange
45% similarityShared character: fuzz
Carl Martin Purple Moon V2
Carl Martin
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Lovepedal MKIII
Lovepedal
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Roger Mayer Visage Fuzz Rocket
Roger Mayer
58% similarityShared character: fuzz, vintage charm
Wren and Cuff Elephant Skin
Wren And Cuff
53% similarityShared character: fuzz, vintage charm
Beetronics Swarm Shop Aqua Flames
Beetronics
53% similarityShared character: experimental playing, s custom shop, fuzz
Death By Audio Crossover
Death By Audio
45% similarityShared character: fuzz
Vemuram Myriad Fuzz
Vemuram
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Matthews Effects The Whaler
Matthews Effects
60% similarityShared character: fuzz
Mr. Black Darling Fuzz
Mr Black
57% similarityShared character: fuzz, vintage charm
Roger Mayer Voodoo-Axe Fuzz
Roger Mayer
56% similarityShared character: fuzz
ThorpyFX Field
ThorpyFX
56% similarityShared character: fuzz
Fjord Fuzz Frei 2
Fjord Fuzz
51% similarityShared character: fuzz
ThorpyFX The Veteran Vintage Fuzz
ThorpyFX
49% similarityShared character: fuzz, vintage charm
See all alternatives to the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz?+
The closest matches in character are the Matthews Effects The Whaler, the Mr. Black Darling Fuzz, the Roger Mayer Voodoo-Axe Fuzz. Budget picks: Red Witch Seven Sisters Ruby Fuzz, Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2, Orange Fur Coat. Boutique upgrades: Roger Mayer Visage Fuzz Rocket, Wren and Cuff Elephant Skin, Beetronics Swarm Shop Aqua Flames.
What pairs well with the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus Ensemble, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp, Magnatone 510 — Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus Ensemble stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here.
How much does the MXR CSP038 Brown Acid Fuzz cost?+
Around $169.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).