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Description

Unleash the raw, expressive power of your guitar with the Durham Electronics Crazy Horse fuzz pedal. This pedal is designed to deliver the rich, textured tones reminiscent of classic rock legends, making it a must-have for any guitarist looking to add a vintage touch to their sound. Built with premium components and a meticulous attention to detail, the Crazy Horse offers a diverse range of sonic possibilities, from smooth overdriven warmth to aggressive, full-bodied fuzz.

The Crazy Horse stands out with its intuitive control layout. Four knobs—Volume, Fuzz, Filter, and Texture—allow you to fine-tune your tone to perfection. The Volume knob controls the output level, while the Fuzz knob adjusts the intensity of the effect. The Filter knob is particularly noteworthy, giving you precise control over the pedal's frequency response, allowing you to sculpt the sound to match your style. The Texture knob is the secret weapon here, offering a range of fuzz character settings that can take your tone from subtle to savage.

Perfectly suited for both studio and stage, the Crazy Horse is housed in a durable enclosure that can withstand the rigors of live performances. Whether you're looking to recreate the iconic sounds of your favorite rock anthems or forge a path into new sonic territories, the Crazy Horse is an indispensable tool in your effects arsenal.

Key Features:

  • Classic fuzz tones inspired by vintage rock sounds
  • Four control knobs: Volume, Fuzz, Filter, and Texture
  • Durable construction for reliable performance
  • Premium components for superior sound quality
  • Versatile tone shaping capabilities
ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Fuzz Distortion Pedal

Video thumbnail for Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Fuzz Distortion Pedal by ProGuitarShopDemos

Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Fuzz Distortion Pedal

ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Video thumbnail for Durham Electronics Crazy Horse new 2014 edition demo by Living Room GD

Durham Electronics Crazy Horse new 2014 edition demo

Living Room GD

Living Room GD

Video thumbnail for Durham Electronics CRAZY HORSE guitar effects pedal demo w Gibson Les Paul & Blues Jr amp by gearmanndude

Durham Electronics CRAZY HORSE guitar effects pedal demo w Gibson Les Paul & Blues Jr amp

gearmanndude

gearmanndude

Video thumbnail for Durham Crazy Horse by musictoyznetwork

Durham Crazy Horse

musictoyznetwork

musictoyznetwork

Video thumbnail for Official Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Overview by Durham Electronics

Official Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Overview

Durham Electronics

Durham Electronics

Video thumbnail for Misty Moments with Durham Electronics Crazy Horse by Sam Vilo

Misty Moments with Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Sam Vilo

Sam Vilo

Video thumbnail for Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Distortion/Fuzz Test by haixing fang

Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Distortion/Fuzz Test

haixing fang

haixing fang

Video thumbnail for Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Test Demo 01 by haixing fang

Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Test Demo 01

haixing fang

haixing fang

Video thumbnail for Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Test Demo 02 by haixing fang

Durham Electronics Crazy Horse Test Demo 02

haixing fang

haixing fang

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Durham Electronics Crazy Horse.

Features and functionality

  • The Crazy Horse allows you to adjust between a gated, compressed breakup and a smooth, singing fuzz by varying the voltage between 9 and 12 volts.

    Source
  • Users highlight the pedal's versatility, citing its ability to function as both a mid-gain overdrive and a classic fuzz with aggressive voltage sag.

    Source
  • The pedal's pink LED is particularly appreciated by some users for its aesthetic appeal and visibility on a pedalboard.

    Source
  • The ability to independently dial in or cut out the drive and fuzz allows for a wide range of tonal flexibility, from low-gain gritty OD to harsh, cranked fuzz.

    Source
  • The volts knob simulates dying batteries by progressively starving the pedal of power, enhancing the "amp about to explode" tone at lower settings.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners find it easy to achieve good sounds due to its simple control layout, though shifting between fuzz and overdrive requires manual knob adjustments.

    Source
  • Users report the fuzz cleans up well with higher voltages, offering a squealing feedback reminiscent of a Fuzz Face, suitable for saturated Neil Young tones.

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  • Owners report the Crazy Horse remains versatile without needing to adjust amp settings, offering instant tonal satisfaction through various settings.

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Comparisons

  • When compared to the Catalinbread Formula 51, the Crazy Horse is noted for its unique voltage starve feature, producing a ripped speaker effect with added crackle and noise.

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  • The Crazy Horse offers more aggressive, less subtle tones compared to the Spiral Electric Brute Fuzz, which provides a tamer, more manageable blown-out Tweed sound.

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Use cases and applications

  • The pedal is praised for its ability to replicate Neil Young's tones, particularly with its namesake fuzz settings, appealing to fans of that specific sound.

    Source
  • The Crazy Horse is described as nailing the "exploding tweed" sound, making it ideal for achieving gritty, blown-out tones associated with Neil Young.

    Source
  • The pedal excels at achieving Neil Young-like feedback and fuzz tones, especially when paired with a Stratocaster and adjusted guitar volume.

    Source
  • For optimal feedback sounds, users suggest lowering the guitar volume while increasing the fuzz and adjusting the voltage knob.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Despite its versatility, some find the price prohibitive for adding a second unit to a pedalboard already equipped with multiple drive pedals.

    Source

Critic Reviews

In A Snapshot: Durham Electronics Crazy Horse - Mixdown Magazine

mixdownmag.com.au

The Durham Electronics Crazy Horse is a versatile pedal that offers a broad tonal range, from subtle gain tweaks to full-on fuzz madness. The interaction between its controls allows for creative sound shaping, although it might require some tweaking to find the perfect balance. With a standout feature being its intensely bright blue LED, the pedal is as much a visual statement as it is an auditory one. While it promises endless tonal satisfaction, the complexity of its controls might be daunting for those seeking straightforward usability.

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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jo_hannes_g

Great Fuzz and Distortion Box - Neil Young and more

If you like Neil Young, this is the best way to get his sound with a lot of sag. But pedal is not limited to that. You get a lot of fuzz types as well as some crazy stuff.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Justin Vernon uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Justin Vernon

Singer, Guitarist

Bon Iver

...
Verified via Photo

In this source you can see a picture of Justin Vernon's pedalboard which this item is placed at.

See how Kevin McKeown uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Kevin McKeown

Guitarist

Black Pistol Fire

...
Verified via YouTube

In a rig rundown with Premier Guitar, Kevin is asked about his Durham Electronics Crazy Horse around 9:51 and says,

That's just a backup fuzz that I've been using in case, you know, things go awry with whatever's going on on the table. But this is a really badass pedal. Durham Electronics, get it in Austin, Texas. Killer. It's got that whole Neil Young thing, sounds exactly like it. And it's got one of those volts, where the further you scroll back on the volts, it sound like an amp crapping out. It's really cool.

See how Steven Van Zandt uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Steven Van Zandt

Guitarist

E Street Band

...
Verified via Tumblr

As part of Van Zandt's rack in 2013.

See how Mika Häkki (Monolord) uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Mika Häkki (Monolord)

Bassist

Monolord

...
Verified via Photo

"New pedal day!! Thanks again @southaustinmusic , y’all rock! #newpedalday #southaustinmusic #crazyhorse #durhamelectronics @durhamelectronics #newtoy #pedalgeek"

See how Jay Farrar uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Jay Farrar

Guitarist, Singer

Son Volt

...
Verified via reverb.com

Jay Farrar, known for his work with Son Volt, owns the Durham Electronics Crazy Horse fuzz pedal. This piece of gear, highlighted on Reverb, is ideal for achieving the distinct tones reminiscent of Neil Young's Live Rust era and Son Volt's early sound.

See how Miles Zuniga uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Miles Zuniga

Guitarist

Fastball

...
Verified via YouTube

this is the right most pedal shown at 0:45 of his 3 distortion pedals

See how Doug Pettibone uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Doug Pettibone

Singer, Guitarist

Burlesque

...
Verified via YouTube

At the 11:06 mark in the video "Rig Rundown: The Lucinda Williams Band's Doug Pettibone, Marc Ford & David Sutton," a Durham Electronics Crazy Horse pedal is visibly mounted on Doug Pettibone’s pedalboard, as documented by Premier Guitar on YouTube.

See how Matt Mays uses Durham Electronics Crazy Horse

Matt Mays

Singer, Guitarist

Matt Mays & El Torpedo

...
Verified via Photo

In a photograph from a recording session in June 2025, the Durham Electronics Crazy Horse pedal is clearly visible, confirming that Matt Mays uses this gear.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Durham Electronics Crazy Horse, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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