Earthquaker Devices Barrows

EarthQuaker Devices Barrows – Fuzz Attacker

Greetings, tone archaeologists and fuzz disciples! You are looking at a portal to one of the most revered and mystical circuits in the pantheon of guitar effects – the classic three-transistor TB MkII. The Barrows pays homage to this iconic germanium temple while adding modern refinements that would make even the most discerning vintage purist weep tears of harmonic joy.

The original MkII circuit was the secret weapon behind some of the most crushing riffs ever committed to tape. From dawn-of-metal caveman dirges to the wall-of-sound symphonies conjured by shoegaze sorcerers, this legendary topology has been the foundation of countless sonic monuments. With Barrows, you can channel that same lightning-in-a-bottle magic while enjoying the reliability and versatility of modern craftsmanship.

At its heart, Barrows features a trio of carefully matched germanium transistors nestled within finely tuned circuitry that delivers everything from light, singing distortion to crushing fuzz tones with nearly infinite harmonic sustain. This isn’t just another fuzz box – it’s a portal to the fabled tones that have haunted the dreams of fuzz fanatics for decades.

The Barrows delivers the signature cutting mid-focused tones with plenty of low-end authority and brilliant top-end grind that made the original MkII a studio legend. Unlike its temperamental ancestors, it includes modern upgrades that transform it into a contemporary powerhouse. Phase-corrected and buffered output ensures compatibility with other pedals, while increased output volume and wide-ranging fuzz tones make it a versatile sonic weapon. All this power comes in a compact footprint that saves precious pedalboard space.

Gone are the days of finicky positive ground power and battery-only operation. The Barrows runs on standard 9V power supplies, making it pedalboard-friendly. True bypass switching preserves your signal when disengaged, while the MkII circuit unleashes germanium magic when engaged.

Controls

• Level: Controls output volume. Unity sits around noon, with ample boost available to push your amp into blissful saturation.
• Attack: The heart of the Barrows. At lower settings, it delivers amp-like distortion with touch sensitivity. Turn it up for aggressive fuzz, sustain-drenched tones, and sonic annihilation.

Pro Tips

• For best results, place Barrows first in your signal chain. It has very low input impedance and works best directly with your guitar’s signal. Avoid placing a buffer before it.
• The pedal responds beautifully to guitar volume and dynamics. Roll back your guitar’s volume for cleaner tones, or dig in for aggressive textures. The germanium transistors give it a musical, touch-sensitive response.

Power

Runs on a standard 9V DC power supply with a 2.1mm center-negative barrel. Use pedal-specific, transformer-isolated supplies for best results. Avoid daisy chains or non-pedal power sources, as they can introduce noise. Do not run at higher voltages!