Royal fuzz with a reptilian twist.
It’s not every day you see Electro-Harmonix team up with another brand. But the Lizard Queen, their joint venture with JHS, is exactly that—a rare collaborative release between two titans of the stompbox world. EHX, the home of Big Muff legends; and JHS, known for modern innovation with a vintage heart. It’s a match that raises eyebrows… and expectations.
So, what is the Lizard Queen? In essence, it’s an octave fuzz/distortion pedal. Simple layout, simple controls—but don’t let that fool you. There is more under the hood than you'd first expect.
Regal Simplicity
There are only three knobs on the Lizard Queen: Octave, Balance, and Volume. The gain is fixed—so no classic gain knob here—but that’s all part of the charm. The Octave control blends in a glitchy, all-analogue octave effect, and the Balance knob (cleverly labelled Sun and Moon) shifts the character of that octave from bright and brittle to dark and smooth.
It’s not your average octave fuzz—there’s real texture on offer here. The Balance control doesn’t just act like a tone knob; it feels more like a mood switch. The Sun side is spiky and raw, perfect for cutting through a mix. The Moon side? Smooth, warm, and perfect for adding a more subtlety to the octave.
Not Versatile, but Full of Voice
Now, let’s be clear—this isn’t a "jack-of-all-trades" pedal. It does a very specific thing, and it does it very well. But thanks to the Balance and Octave controls, it’s got more range than your average octave fuzz. You can go from fuzzy, riffy garage rock goodness to piercing lead tones that sing when you venture up to the tiny frets up at the dusty end.
This thing absolutely LOVES riffs. Stick it in front of a clean amp and you’ll find yourself abusing those pentatonic rock riffs in no time. And if taking the spotlight is your thang then it does a superb job of elevating your lead lines, especially up high where the octave becomes extra pronounced—it really latches onto those upper overtones to add a sprinkle of something special to your tone.
Budget Pedal Chap Approved Bargain
We’ve looked at a few pedals in this fuzz-adjacent space before—EHX’s own Octavix comes to mind—but the Lizard Queen offers something a bit different. The fixed gain makes it an instant hit pedal: no faffing, just stomp and go. It’s also worth mentioning that, as of writing, this thing is on sale for less than half its original RRP. That’s exactly why I picked one up—and if you’ve been eyeing it for a while, now’s probably the time to pounce.
It might not be for everyone, but if you’ve got a space on your board for a garage-rock fuzz with a crown, the Lizard Queen is ready to rule.
If you'd like one of your own and to support what we do here at BPC at the same time, consider using the affiliate link:
https://thmn.to/thoprod/564760?offid=1&affid=2735
No comments:
Post a Comment