The Vox VFZ-1 is a Vox fuzz pedal, currently around $133.46. Close alternatives include the Zvex Mastotron and the Electro-Harmonix Percolator. It pairs well with the Fender Vibrolux 6G11 and the Magnatone 280.
Vox VFZ-1
Vox · pedal
The Vox VFZ-1 is a fuzz pedal delivering the character of the influential late-1960s two-transistor circuit associated with the celebrated Mk 1.5 design, reworked by Vox as a modern silicon-driven interpretation. It keeps the warmth, harmonic richness and touch responsiveness of classic fuzz -- thick, saturated and singing at high settings, breaking into a raw, garage-flavoured splat lower down -- while adding stability and reliability. Volume and Fuzz controls are joined by a Tone Cut switch that rolls off high frequencies at the output for a darker, rounder voice, and a Bass Cut switch setting how much low end reaches the gain stages, tightening the fuzz for chord work. Unusually for a vintage-style fuzz, the VFZ-1 has high input impedance, preserving the guitar's natural harmonics and staying compatible with buffered pedals and wahs placed in front of it. Well suited to classic rock, garage and expressive lead fuzz.
What stands out
“It keeps the warmth, harmonic richness and touch responsiveness of classic fuzz -- thick, saturated and singing at high settings, breaking into a raw, garage-flavoured splat lower down -- while adding stability and reliability”
— from the listing
“Unusually for a vintage-style fuzz, the VFZ-1 has high input impedance, preserving the guitar's natural harmonics and staying compatible with buffered pedals and wahs placed in front of it”
— from the listing
“Build quality is adequate”
— from the community notes
“Volume and Fuzz controls are joined by a Tone Cut switch that , rounder voice, and a Bass Cut switch setting how much low end reaches the gain stages, tightening the fuzz for chord work”
— from the listing
“The Vox VFZ-1 is a fuzz pedal delivering the character of the influential late-1960s two-transistor circuit associated with the celebrated Mk 1”
— from the listing
- fuzz
- vintage
- harmonic richness
- harmonics
- impedance
- low end
- natural
- gain
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Vox VFZ-1 is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Garage 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. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Vox VFZ-1
Fender Vibrolux 6G11
amplifier
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)
Fender Vibrolux 6G11 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Comes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
19% 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 Magnatone 280 in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
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 Vox VFZ-1
Univox Uni-Vibe
Univox
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)
Put Univox Uni-Vibe after Vox VFZ-1 in the signal chain, clear of Vox VFZ-1's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
21% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Run fuzzy into MXR Micro Amp for more clean boost on top
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
20% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Put Z.Vex Super Hard On in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Acoustic Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor
Acoustic
15% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
What Acoustic Strymon Compadre Dual Voice Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
13% 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 Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay after Vox VFZ-1 in the signal chain, clear of Vox VFZ-1's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Fairfield Circuitry Meet Maude
Fairfield Circuitry
13% 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 Fairfield Circuitry Meet Maude after Vox VFZ-1 in the signal chain, clear of Vox VFZ-1's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
CMATMods Tremoglo
Cmatmods
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
CMATMods Tremoglo goes after Vox VFZ-1 — modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
NuX Masamune Booster & Kompressor
Nux
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put NuX Masamune Booster & Kompressor in front of Vox VFZ-1
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound
51% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, thickness, fuzz
Catalinbread Karma Suture
Catalinbread
48% similarityShared character: extreme settings, thickness, fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices
47% similarityShared character: fuzz, warm, vintage charm
EarthQuaker Devices Fuzz Master General
EarthQuaker Devices
47% similarityShared character: raw, singing, fuzz
Catalinbread Fuzzrite Germanium
Catalinbread
45% similarityShared character: extreme settings, warm, fuzz
Catalinbread Antichthon
Catalinbread
44% similarityShared character: extreme settings, gain, lead
Similar character
Zvex Mastotron
Zvex
52% similarityShared character: 8 impedance, thickness
Electro-Harmonix Percolator
Electro-Harmonix
51% similarityShared character: raw, fuzz, gain
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Mad Professor
46% similarityShared character: natural, fuzz, classic rock
Jackson Audio Fuzz Plug IN Fuzz Classic Modern
Jackson Audio
46% similarityShared character: fuzz, warm, vintage charm
Catalinbread Fuzzrite Mini
Catalinbread
46% similarityShared character: raw, thickness, fuzz
Jackson Audio Fuzz Page MKII- Plug -IN
Jackson Audio
45% similarityShared character: touch, fuzz, warm
See all alternatives to the Vox VFZ-1 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Vox VFZ-1?+
The closest matches in character are the Zvex Mastotron, the Electro-Harmonix Percolator, the Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz. Budget picks: Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz, Fender Bassman Fuzz. Boutique upgrades: Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII, Catalinbread Karma Suture, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz.
What pairs well with the Vox VFZ-1?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Vibrolux 6G11, Magnatone 280, Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp — Fender Vibrolux 6G11 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here.
How much does the Vox VFZ-1 cost?+
Around $133.46 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).