Mad Professor's Milestone fuzz puts germanium after buffers without losing its touch response
The Finnish builder's new handwired fuzz uses a transformer circuit to make vintage-style germanium behavior far less fussy on modern pedalboards.
Sep 22, 2026
Credit: Mad Professor Amplification (via source)
Mad Professor has introduced Milestone, a handwired germanium fuzz inspired by the character of early mixing-console distortion. The circuit is built around touch-sensitive germanium gain, with Fuzz and Volume controls plus a two-band Bass/Treble EQ that also makes the pedal practical for bass.
The more unusual part is the transformer circuit. Traditional germanium fuzzes can change character when a buffer or another pedal sits in front of them; Mad Professor designed Milestone so it can be placed after buffered devices while retaining its dynamic response. That opens up signal-chain positions that players often avoid with vintage-style fuzz circuits.
Milestone is handmade in Finland as part of the company's handwired series. Preorders opened with the September 21 announcement, with shipping scheduled for October 5. Mad Professor also published a dedicated demo showing the pedal in use.
Credit: Mad Professor
Why it matters
Germanium fuzz tone is easy to love and notoriously awkward to integrate. Milestone targets that practical weakness directly rather than simply recreating another vintage circuit.
From Guitar News to Guitar Progress
Discover it here. Learn how it works. Practice it until it's yours.
Today's focus in Practice: Creativity — Play every day.
Related
Fender Refreshes Its American Professional Flagship Series With V-Mod III Pickups
The 10-model update spans Stratocaster, Telecaster, offset and bass families, pairing revised electronics with new bridge and control details.
Oct 14, 2026
Walrus Audio Rebuilds Lore and Fable as Stereo MKII Ambient Pedals
Both $349.99 pedals add stereo processing, MIDI, expression control and 127 MIDI-accessible presets to their multi-algorithm soundscape designs.
Oct 14, 2026
Jade Electric Adds Clean Blend and Two-Band EQ to the Blackboard Outlaw Overdrive
The $175 Bakersfield-built pedal is designed to retain pick attack while moving from a clean push to a more forceful overdrive.
Oct 14, 2026
Sonic Research and MXR Bring the M400 Turbo Tuner to Wider Distribution
The true-strobe pedal combines ±0.02-cent accuracy, a switchable buffer and USB programmability in a compact $149.99 enclosure.
Oct 14, 2026