Manson Guitars and Z.Vex Mark 30 Years of Fuzz Factory with Ultra-Limited ‘Origin of Symmetry’ Editions
Manson Guitars and Z.Vex celebrate 30 years of Fuzz Factory with two ultra-limited Origin of Symmetry editions: Hand Paint (20 units) and Print (80 units).
Manson Guitars and Z.Vex have teamed up to release two strictly limited-edition Fuzz Factory pedals celebrating 30 years of Zachary Vex’s legendary fuzz circuit and 25 years since Matt Bellamy used it to forge one of modern rock’s most recognizable riffs.
Both editions—a Hand Paint Edition limited to just 20 pieces and a Print Edition limited to 80 pieces—sold out almost immediately upon release.
A Quarter-Century of Muse Fuzz History
The collaboration celebrates two major milestones in boutique pedal history: 30 years of Z.Vex Fuzz Factory production and 25 years since Matt Bellamy plugged into one in the studio to record Muse’s seminal hit “Plug In Baby.” The resulting opening squeals and riff—consistently voted among the best guitar riffs of the 2000s—put the uncontrollable, oscillation-heavy Germanium fuzz firmly on the map.
That iconic studio session laid the groundwork for a long-standing relationship between Bellamy, Manson Guitars in Devon, and Z.Vex. Discovering the wild array of tones available by twisting the Fuzz Factory's volatile control set, Bellamy soon had Manson integrate custom Z.Vex fuzz circuits directly inside his famous stage instruments, including the historic DeLorean and 007 custom builds.
You can read our exclusive interview with luthier Tim Stark to learn more about these amazing builds.
Hand-Painted vs. Print Edition: The Details
Both pedals are fully US-built and feature officially licensed artwork from Muse’s milestone 2001 album Origin of Symmetry.
Fuzz - "Plug In Baby"
Under the hood, both versions are powered by Original Z-Vex Mark II Germanium Transistors and feature the standard five-knob control layout that made the original a legend: Volume, Gate, Compression, Drive, and Stab (Stability), alongside an LED status indicator and an official hand-signed certificate from Zachary Vex himself.
1. Hand Paint Edition (£499.00) – Limited to 20 Pieces
- Artwork: Individually hand-painted by Lisa McGrath, Z.Vex’s long-term enclosure artist.
- Custom Details: Features intricate visuals from the Origin of Symmetry album alongside custom graphics around the input and output jack sockets.
Exclusivity: Strictly limited to 20 individually numbered units worldwide.
2. Print Edition (£399.00) – Limited to 80 Pieces
- Artwork: Features screen-printed artwork applied by Lisa McGrath.
- Custom Details: Displays detailed Origin of Symmetry album graphics paired with a bold, front-facing ZVEX logo.
- Exclusivity: Strictly limited to 80 individually numbered units worldwide.
Instant Collector's Items
Priced at £399 for the Print Edition and £499 for the Hand Paint Edition, these celebratory units represent a serious investment for collectors and Muse die-hards alike. With only 100 total units produced across both runs, both editions vanished from the official Manson Guitar Works webstore in record time.
Thankfully, the standard ZVex Fuzz Factory is readily available worldwide from authorized dealers. Plus, the Supermassive Black Fuzz is still available for Muse fans and fuzz box lovers.
- +Officially licensed Origin of Symmetry artwork
- +Only 100 total units produced worldwide
- +Hand-signed certificate from Zachary Vex included
- +US-built with premium Germanium transistors
- +Individually numbered collectible units
- +Custom enclosure graphics by Lisa McGrath
- −Both editions sold out immediately upon release
- −Premium pricing (£399–£499)
- −Limited availability for new buyers
What is the Origin of Symmetry Z.Vex Fuzz Factory collaboration?
It's a limited-edition partnership between Manson Guitars and Z.Vex marking 30 years of the Fuzz Factory and 25 years since Matt Bellamy used it to create Muse's iconic "Plug In Baby" riff. The pedals feature officially licensed Origin of Symmetry album artwork and are offered in two versions: Hand Paint Edition (20 units) and Print Edition (80 units).
How many Origin of Symmetry Z.Vex Fuzz Factory pedals were made?
Only 100 total units were produced: 20 individually hand-painted editions at £499 each and 80 screen-printed editions at £399 each. All units are individually numbered and come with a hand-signed certificate from Zachary Vex. Both editions sold out almost immediately upon release.
What are the specs of the Origin of Symmetry Fuzz Factory?
Both versions use Original Z.Vex Mark II Germanium Transistors and feature five controls: Volume, Gate, Compression, Drive, and Stab (Stability), plus an LED indicator. The Hand Paint Edition has artwork individually painted by Lisa McGrath, while the Print Edition features screen-printed graphics. All units are US-built.
