Electro Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz

An EHX reinterpretation of the iconic "RAT" grain

The Flatiron Fuzz clearly fits into the great tradition of hard clipping op-amp distortions, popularized in the late 70s and now essential in rock, punk, and alternative genres. Electro-Harmonix offers here a homegrown interpretation inspired by the famous RAT2, with a simple goal: to recapture that typical bite, musical compression, and the "dirty but controlled" vibe that define this family of pedals.

A little nod to the brand's New York DNA: its name references the Flatiron Building, an iconic structure near EHX's former premises, which is also featured prominently on the pedal.

Who is it for, what styles, and in which contexts?

The Flatiron Fuzz is aimed at all guitarists looking for a versatile gain pedal : beginners seeking their first serious distortion or seasoned players wanting RAT-style grain without complications. It excels in rock, hard rock, punk, garage, stoner, and alternative, but can also serve as a biting drive for cleaner rhythm parts.

In the studio, it easily doubles guitars with a rougher texture. Live, its attack and presence in the midrange help it cut through the mix, especially with an already slightly crunchy amp. And if you often use your guitar's volume knob: it cleans up when lowering the volume without becoming completely clean, ideal for switching from dirty crunch to heavy drive without touching the pedal.

Simple controls, precise settings: Volume, Drive, Filter

Electro-Harmonix keeps a straightforward ergonomics with three potentiometers, perfect for quick adjustments on stage. Volume adjusts the output level to balance or push the amp's input. Drive controls the amount of gain, from slightly gritty grain to dense saturation and sustain. Finally, the Filter control is not a classic tone knob: it's a low-pass filter with variable cutoff frequency, very useful for taming a bright amp, rounding off a bridge pickup, or conversely letting more highs through for a sharper sound.

Add to that a True Bypass to preserve signal integrity when the pedal is off, and you get a typically "plug and play" fuzz/distortion, designed for the pedalboard.

The sound

The Flatiron Fuzz offers a tight, gritty, and meaty grain, with that hard clipping feel that delivers immediate attack and easy sustain. At low Drive, you get a relatively clear, snappy distortion, ideal for open chord riffs or right-hand rock licks. Increasing the Drive shifts the pedal toward thicker textures: approaching a compact fuzztortion, very effective for singing leads and massive rhythms.

The Filter is the key to "placing" the pedal: closed, it yields a darker, smoother, almost smoky sound; more open, it adds bite and grain, perfect for cutting through a band mix. Artist-wise, the Flatiron Fuzz appears on the pedalboard of Joey Walker (King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard), a good indicator of its affinity with psych rock, garage, and alternative realms.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Fuzz, Distortion	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Yellow
EQ	Filter

Circuit	op-amp, late-'70s style	Output impedance	variable from 500 ohms to 25 kilohms (depending on the Volume setting)
Clipping	hard symmetrical	Chassis	compact
Potentiometers	Volume, Drive, Filter	Dimensions	70 x 115 x 51 mm
True Bypass	yes	Included accessories	1 9V battery, documentation
Input	6.35 mm jack	Power supply	9V battery or 9V DC mains adapter (negative center)
Output	6.35 mm jack	Power consumption	5 mA at 9V DC
Input impedance	1 megohm	Recommended adapter	capable of supplying at least 25 mA