Welcome to this week’s edition of Pedal of the Week! Today, we’re diving into a modern classic that packs enough punch to wake the neighbors (and probably the neighbors’ neighbors): the Way Huge Angry Troll Linear Boost.
The Way Huge Angry Troll is a specialized linear boost amplifier designed to take your guitar signal and elevate it to monstrous levels. Known for its distinct red chassis and “Fists of Fury” knob, it’s a pedal that doesn’t just increase volume—it transforms your amplifier’s character by hitting the input stage with up to +50dB of gain.
Fists Of Fury!
In last week’s Pedal of the Week, I wrote about the DOD Carcosa fuzz. This week I had to write about one of my all-time favorite boost pedals: it’s red, ‘set and forget’, and will punish your tube amp if you want it to!
Whether you need a subtle lift for a solo or you want to force a clean tube amp into a “beastly sonic onslaught,” the Troll is up to the task.
It operates more like a vintage mic preamp than a standard stompbox, offering a shimmering grit that feels like an organic extension of your amplifier.
A Brief History
The story of Way Huge Electronics is the story of the boutique pedal boom. Founded in 1992 by electronics guru Jeorge Tripps, the brand became legendary for its high-quality circuits and irreverent names (like the Swollen Pickle and Aqua-Puss).
Jeorge Tripps
Jeorge Tripps is widely considered one of the primary architects of the “boutique pedal” movement. His journey from a hobbyist tinkerer to the Director of Product Development at Dunlop Manufacturing has shaped the sound of modern guitar music. Much like Tom Cram (who designed the Carcosa fuzz I mentioned in the intro), Tripps is one of my go-to pedal designers for versatile, rock-solid stompboxes with great tones.
Early Years and Inspiration
Tripp’s interest in electronics began at a young age. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he learned to solder from his father, an electrical engineer. His path into pedal design was cemented by a few key influences:
The “Bible”: Like many legendary builders, he was inspired by Craig Anderton’s book, Electronic Projects for Musicians. His first project at age 16 was a passive talkbox.
The LA Scene: After moving to Los Angeles in 1991, he began hanging out at “Amp Crazy” and later worked for Rack Systems. He spent his time repairing and modifying vintage gear, eventually building power supplies and custom pedals for local musicians.
The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of Way Huge
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1992 – The Birth: Tripps launched Way Huge Electronics, quickly gaining a reputation for “hot-rodding” vintage circuits. His pedals—like the Red Llama and the Swollen Pickle (a modified Big Muff)—became cult classics for their unique tones and irreverent names.
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1999 – The Hiatus: At the height of the brand’s popularity, Tripps closed Way Huge to pursue other ventures. This “blackout” period turned original Way Huge pedals into high-priced collector’s items.
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2006 – The Dunlop Era: Tripps joined Jim Dunlop, eventually resurrecting Way Huge under their umbrella. This partnership allowed him to bring his “boutique” designs to a mass-market audience with higher production reliability and better accessibility.
- 2009: The Angry Troll was officially launched as part of this new era, specifically designed to provide a massive, interactive boost that bridges the gap between clean lifting and overdrive.
Career Milestones
Beyond Way Huge, Tripps has been a pivotal designer for several industry giants:
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Line 6: During his time there, he was the product manager for the DL4 Delay Modeler, a pedal often cited as one of the most influential digital effects of all time.
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MXR & Cry Baby: Since joining Dunlop, he has designed many “modern classics” for MXR, most notably the Carbon Copy Analog Delay.
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Artist Collaborations: He has worked directly with guitar icons like Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, and the Jimi Hendrix Estate to translate their specific sonic needs into production pedals.
Tripps is often described as a “mad scientist” of tone, blending a deep respect for vintage analog history with a willingness to experiment with unconventional controls and high-gain “sonic onslaughts.”
Suggested Settings
The beauty of the Angry Troll lies in the interaction between the Volume and Anger (rotary switch) controls. Here are three ways to dial it in:
| Tone Style | Anger (Fists of Fury) | Volume | Result |
| Clean Solo Lift | Position 1 or 2 | 12:00 – 2:00 | A transparent volume jump with just a hint of added “shimmer.” |
| Vintage Crunch | Position 3 or 4 | 10:00 – 12:00 | Pushes the internal op-amp for a light, preamp-style overdrive. |
| Beast Mode | Position 5 or 6 | 9:00 (Start Low!) | Massive gain saturation that will pummel your amp’s front end. |
FAQ
Is the Angry Troll a clean boost or an overdrive?
It’s a hybrid. While it can act as a clean boost at lower “Anger” settings, higher positions introduce internal clipping and compression similar to a vintage preamp, adding grit and punch to your tone.
Does it have a buffer?
No, it features a heavy-duty footswitch with a quiet relay-based true-bypass circuit, ensuring your signal remains pure when the pedal is off.
How do I power it?
It runs on a standard 9V battery or a 9V DC external power supply (like the Dunlop ECB003). It also features a non-detachable, easy-access battery door.
Can I use it with other pedals?
Absolutely. Many players place it after their favorite overdrive (like a Green Rhino) to act as a “master volume” and gain-stager for solos.
Our Thoughts: The Verdict
The Way Huge Angry Troll is a “set and forget” powerhouse. It’s built like a tank, simple to use, and offers a level of gain (+50dB) that most other boosters simply can’t match. If you find your current tone feels a bit “anemic,” this red beast is the cure.
If you need more, this red stompbox delivers just that. At stage volume, this boost does magical things to tube amps, and in the studio, it rules for anyone who loves great guitar tone.
Score 4.5/5
(I’m only marking it down as they are currently out of production)
More Information
#Way Huge #Angry Troll #Pedal of the Week
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