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With its Black Swamp fuzz pedal, Thorn Soundlabs – a fresh name from the U.S. – lets guitarists serve up some serious analogue fuzz. The Thorn Black Swamp is an exceptionally flexible overdrive pedal that, thanks to its host of innovative features, pairs seamlessly with tube amps, and indeed virtually any amplifier setup. With three distinct fuzz voicings, a 3-band EQ, and Thorn's signature Damping control, it delivers a wide palette of tones – from classic, vintage-inspired fuzz to bold, unconventional textures. Whether aiming for subtle tonal adjustments or fierce, aggressive sound shaping, the Black Swamp delivers a flexible range of possibilities to suit any playing style. For added punch and dynamic response, the pedal can also run at 18V. True to the Thorn Soundlabs aesthetic, the Black Swamp comes in a striking retro design inspired by 1960s Hollywood B-movies, blending its bold tone with an unmistakable style.
The Thorn Black Swamp comes in a robust metal housing measuring 94 × 123.5 × 53mm – about the size of two standard pedals. The top panel features controls for Gain, Volume, Damping, and a 3-band EQ. The parametric Mid Freq control provides added flexibility, enabling precise adjustment of the midrange frequency for even more tonal variety. Additionally, there are two toggle switches: One for selecting different fuzz characters (Smooth, Normal, Hot) and another for choosing the distortion type (Hard Clip). The final element is the essential footswitch, used to activate or deactivate the Black Swamp. When bypassed, the pedal uses a hardwired true bypass, ensuring the signal remains completely unaffected by the circuitry. The Thorn Black Swamp flex fuzz can be powered with a standard 9V power supply, but it really comes to life at 18V, providing increased headroom and enhanced dynamic response.
For guitarists who live for distorted sounds but don't want to settle for one-size-fits-all tones, the Thorn Soundlabs Black Swamp delivers the next level of control. Where many fuzz pedals stop at basic tone shaping, this flexible fuzz goes further by letting users dial in the exact sound they're after. Created for players who want complete control over their fuzz tone and aren't afraid to experiment, the Black Swamp offers a 3-band EQ, Character and Clip switches, and a dedicated Damping control. This combination allows for precise, focused tone shaping, from classic fuzz textures to more aggressive custom sounds. Powerful yet easy to use, the Black Swamp is ideal for anyone looking for a versatile fuzz pedal that balances creative flexibility with intuitive operation.
Founded in 2021, Thorn Soundlabs hails from the heart of “Music City”, where Nashville's rich musical heritage and creativity provided the perfect backdrop for a collective of engineers, seasoned touring musicians, industry veterans, and passionate tone enthusiasts to come together. United by a shared vision, they set out to redefine effects pedals, not by creating “just another overdrive pedal”, but by crafting tools that inspire and shape sonic exploration. The company’s growing lineup now includes distortion, fuzz, compressor, tremolo, and booster pedals for guitar and bass. Boasting proprietary circuit designs and unique features such as damping and headroom controls, each Thorn Soundlabs pedal delivers dynamic, responsive and timeless sound. In just a few years, Thorn Soundlabs has made its mark on the industry, and with their self-evident passion for their craft, more exciting products from this brand are sure to follow.
The Thorn Flex Fuzz sets itself apart from typical fuzz pedals with its Character and Hard Clip switches, alongside the signature Damping control featured across all Thorn Soundlabs distortion units. Acting as a high-pass filter, the Damping control removes excess low-end from the distorted signal, ensuring clarity and preventing any muddy or unfocused sounds. The Character switch offers three distinct fuzz voicings: Smooth, Normal, and Hot, making everything from classic Hendrix-style tones to stoner rock and synth-like textures possible. The Hard Clip switch further refines the sound, adjusting how hard or soft the waveform is clipped, controlling the overall intensity and texture of the distortion.