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Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise

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Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise

^# 93

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$219.00 to $242.00 Price Tier: High-end

4.0 (5)

1 Review

All time low price

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Find out who is using Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise

4 community setups

18 wishlisted

30 saved

Page last updated Jul 05, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated July 2, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (20)

$219.00 15 available New

$239.00 3 available Used

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5.0 (5)

$243.00 $242.00 $1.00 · All time low

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Average Price: $237

High-end/Boutique

$60

$181+

Price Tier

In the Fuzz Effects Pedals category, Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 23, 2026.

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Description

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Introducing the Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise, a maverick within the world of fuzz effects pedals. This pedal pushes the boundaries of conventional sound, delivering a unique blend of grit, experimentation, and raw sonic energy. Equipped with volume and saturation onset controls, this pedal allows you to manipulate its distinctive sound. With its trio of gain, treble, and compression knobs, you gain access to a broad spectrum of grinding tones - from the chaotic roars of a rogue robot to the aggressive hum of a buzz saw biting into a circuit board. This audacious little beast is the ideal gear for guitarists, bassists, and synth players who dare to venture beyond the usual and embrace the abrasive.

Key Features: - Sturdy steel chassis - Volume and saturation onset knobs - Gain, treble, and compression controls - Delivers a wide range of experimental tones - Ideal for use with guitars, bass, and synths - Perfect for musicians who prefer abrasive and unconventional sounds

Product specs

Brand	Fairfield Circuitry
Model	The Unpleasant Surprise
Finish	Metal
Year	2010s
Made In	Canada
Categories	Fuzz Pedals and Effects, Noise Generator Pedals

FAQs

What kind of sound can I expect from the Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise Fuzz Pedal?: The Unpleasant Surprise offers a unique, aggressive fuzz sound with a wide range of textures, from sputtery, gated tones to thick, saturated fuzz. It's known for its ability to produce unpredictable, noisy effects that can add a distinctive edge to your sound.
Does the Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise work well with both guitar and bass?: Yes, The Unpleasant Surprise is designed to work effectively with both guitar and bass, offering dynamic and unique fuzz tones that can enhance and transform the sound of either instrument.
What are the main controls on the Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise?: The pedal features controls for Volume, Gain, and a unique "Threshold" control, which adjusts the gating effect, allowing you to dial in everything from smooth fuzz to choppy, gated sounds.
Is the Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise true bypass?: Yes, The Unpleasant Surprise is a true bypass pedal, ensuring that your guitar signal remains uncolored when the pedal is not engaged.
How does the Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise differ from traditional fuzz pedals?: Unlike traditional fuzz pedals, The Unpleasant Surprise includes a noise gate feature that can create choppy and unpredictable sounds, making it ideal for experimental and noise rock genres.

Videos

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FairfieldCircuitry

Fairfield Circuitry - The Unpleasant Surprise

FairfieldCircuitry

Fairfield Circuitry - The Unpleasant Surprise

Dennis Kayzer

Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise || Demo

Noise Generator

Fairfield Circuitry - Unpleasant Surprise

TheSuperFunAwesomeHappyTimePedalShow

Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise fuzz/gate pedal

R.J. Ronquillo

Fairfield Circuitry - Unpleasant Surprise into Randys Revenge -Fuzz Ring Modulator-

Dennis Kayzer

Обзор: Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise

НОЙЗ

Does It Get Better Than This!? Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise

Boring Gear Reviews

Unpleasant Surprise Onset Knob Settings on bass

Behndy

Fairfield Circuitry Unpleasant Surprise on bass

Behndy

Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise Demo

Wander.Wonder

Reviews

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PROS

Versatile, from creamy to velcro-y textures
Able to produce scooped, treble-y, or octave-crushed tones
High output capability
Distinctive appearance and Canadian-made
Performs well as both lead and rhythm effect
Dynamic overdrive at lower gain settings
Effective gating negates noise issues
Encourages exploration with pick attack and playing dynamics
Unique sound signature

CONS

Takes time to find optimal settings
May not immediately provide a "wow" moment
Sound can be described as overly peculiar ("Velcro, Dying children's toy, Blood-spatter")

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fairfield Circuitry The Unpleasant Surprise.

Features and functionality

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The Onset knob fully clockwise unleashes the pedal, while counter-clockwise involves a gating effect, requiring a boost to produce signal.
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Toggles labeled "T", "G", and "C" alter the signal significantly, with "T" as a treble cut and "G" and "C" adding unpredictably aggressive effects.
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The Unpleasant Surprise lacks a tone control, which can result in a thinner guitar sound, especially at its most intriguing settings.
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User experience

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The LED is excessively bright, prompting some users to cover it with tape for usability.
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Users with low output pickups need to turn the "onset" knob significantly high to avoid the gating effect, indicating sensitivity to pickup output levels.
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Some users enjoyed achieving a mid-gain, Fu Manchu-style tone, finding it unexpectedly fun despite the pedal's extreme nature.
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Setup and maintenance

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The pedal's J201 transistors can be sensitive, and some builders substitute a pot for the bias resistor to find the right bias before replacing it with a precise resistor.
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Comparisons

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Owners find the pedal to be more suitable for single-note passages rather than complex chords, suggesting it might also excel with bass.
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It's suggested that the Vexter Zvex Fuzz Factory might be a more stable choice for those seeking usability, contrasting with the Unpleasant Surprise's more chaotic nature.
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Build quality

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Some users notice discrepancies between the PCB version they have and the documentation, particularly in the labeling and order of toggle switches.
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It's mentioned that the treble and crush toggles may be mislabeled on newer PCBs, causing confusion during the build process.
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Use cases and applications

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The pedal excels in shoegaze, grunge, and psych genres, offering chaotic sounds suitable for experimental and lead fuzz applications.
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4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 5 Ratings

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oldfuzzhead

573

over 8 years ago

For when you want to get weird..

If you want to get weird- and trust me, this does it, then look no further. To describe the sound in three words or phrases; (1) Velcro, (2) Dying children's toy, (3) Blood-spatter.