10 Years of Fuzz: Spruce Effects Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth Returns
Spruce Effects celebrates 10 years with the Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth Anniversary Edition—dual germanium circuits, vintage NOS components, $349.
Ten years after defining its signature sound, Spruce Effects is celebrating a major milestone with the triumphant return of its original flagship pedal: the Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth — 10th Anniversary Edition. Priced at $349.00 USD, this limited-release boutique guitar pedal reunites two legendary vintage germanium circuits—the Fuzz Face and the Rangemaster—into one richly expressive, hand-built enclosure packed with rare 1960s and 1970s components.
While the original 2016 Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth wasn't the very first pedal Spruce Effects ever built, it was the breakthrough design that captured the brand's soul and shaped its future. A full decade later, it returns better than ever, blending golden-era vintage mojo with thoughtful modern refinements.
A Decade of Tone and a Special Family Milestone
Beyond celebrating ten years of circuit craftsmanship, this anniversary carries a deeply personal story for the Spruce Effects family. Their daughter, Owyn, was born in December 2016—the same year the original Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth debuted. With both turning ten this year, bringing Owyn into the creative process made the celebration even more meaningful.
Owyn's Choice
Owyn hand-drew the charming tree artwork featured on the pedal's enclosure and designed the custom packaging artwork for the box.
She also curated a signature aesthetic option called "Owyn's Choice," promising a bold splash of pink for players brave enough to select it. As for interviewing Owyn about what it's really like growing up in a house overflowing with guitar pedals? The team wisely passed—suspecting her review might be just a little too critical.
Dual Germanium Circuits: Fuzz Face Meets Rangemaster
Staying faithful to the beloved 2016 topology while introducing subtle refinements, the 10th Anniversary Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth gives guitarists two iconic vintage voices in a single stompbox:
- The Fuzz Face Circuit: Delivers everything players love about classic germanium fuzz—thick, harmonic saturation, lively touch sensitivity, and glassy, sparkling cleanup the moment you roll back your guitar's volume knob.
- The Rangemaster Circuit: Offers a classic germanium treble booster upgraded with an added Depth control. Sweep seamlessly from a traditional, mix-cutting treble boost all the way to a thick, full-bodied, bass-heavy roar.
- Independent or Stacked Versatility: Run either side on its own for classic vintage character, or engage both circuits simultaneously to unlock massive sustain, harmonic complexity, and dynamic overdrive-to-fuzz textures.
Inside the Build: Rare 1960s, 1970s, and NOS Vintage Components
The original Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth already boasted vintage NOS germanium transistors, but the 10th Anniversary Edition takes component curation to extraordinary lengths. Spruce Effects scoured forgotten boxes of vintage electronics and tracked down obscure parts from collectors worldwide—mostly dating from the 1960s and 1970s, alongside a few intriguing Soviet-era finds.
Every build includes an heirloom-grade parts list:
- Hand-Selected Rangemaster Transistors: The first 30 pedals feature coveted vintage Mullard OC44 germanium transistors. Subsequent pedals will feature other carefully auditioned vintage germanium transistors based on availability.
- Global Vintage Fuzz Face Transistors: Each unit uses individually tested Japanese, Soviet, American, or European germanium transistors. Because vintage germanium varies wildly even within identical part numbers, every pair is measured for gain and leakage, biased, and auditioned by ear—leaving behind a massive reject pile so only the best-sounding pairs make the cut.
- NOS & Vintage Resistors: Built with New Old Stock (NOS) Allen-Bradley carbon-composition and vintage carbon-film resistors for authentic warmth and feel.
- Vintage Capacitors: Outfitted with classic Mullard "tropical fish" capacitors and vintage Philips electrolytic capacitors.
Modern Pedalboard Convenience & Temperature Biasing Tips
Despite housing decades-old electronics, the Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth 10th Anniversary Edition is engineered for effortless integration onto modern pedalboards. It runs on a standard 9V DC, center-negative power supply and features modern power filtering that keeps unwanted noise in check without sacrificing an ounce of vintage character.
Because authentic germanium transistors naturally react to shifts in ambient temperature, slight changes in climate can influence the pedal's feel, response, and volume-knob cleanup. Spruce Effects carefully biases every pedal in the shop at approximately 70°F (21°C) before shipping.
For players who want to fine-tune response in warmer or cooler environments, both circuits feature internal bias trimmers (best used for subtle adjustments away from the extremes).
Custom Knob Options, Pricing, and Limited Production Details
Because genuine 1960s and 1970s components haven't been manufactured in decades, this 10th Anniversary release is strictly limited by parts availability. Every pedal is individually assembled, tested, and dialed in by ear before leaving the shop.
| Feature | Details |
| Price | $349.00 USD |
| Power Requirement | Standard 9V DC, center-negative (with modern power filtering) |
| Knob Option 1: White / Cream | Clean, classic vintage aesthetic |
| Knob Option 2: Owyn's Choice | Curated by Owyn—featuring pink knobs (select if you dare) |
| Knob Option 3: Brian's Choice | An adventurous mix of random NOS and weird one-off knobs from the Spruce vault |
| Availability & Shipping | First 30 pedals (with Mullard OC44s) are built and ready to ship; subsequent orders ship in 1–3 weeks |
Ten years after launching the design that put Spruce Effects on the map, the Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth 10th Anniversary Edition stands as a joyful thank-you to every player who has supported the journey since 2016—and an unforgettable centerpiece for any fuzz lover's board.
- +Dual iconic vintage circuits in one pedal
- +Hand-selected 1960s–70s germanium transistors
- +NOS capacitors and resistors for authentic warmth
- +Runs independently or stacked for versatility
- +Internal bias trimmers for temperature adjustment
- +Modern power filtering without tone compromise
- +Limited production ensures exclusivity
- −Limited availability due to vintage component scarcity
- −Germanium temperature sensitivity requires adjustment in different climates
What makes the 10th Anniversary Lichen Fuzz different from the original 2016 version?
While it keeps the same dual-circuit topology, the Anniversary Edition features even more rigorous vintage component curation. The first 30 pedals include rare Mullard OC44 transistors; all units use hand-selected, individually tested germanium transistors and NOS capacitors and resistors sourced from 1960s–70s stocks worldwide.
Can I run just one circuit at a time?
Yes. You can use the Fuzz Face circuit alone for classic germanium fuzz, or the Rangemaster treble booster alone. You can also engage both simultaneously for massive sustain, harmonic complexity, and overdrive-to-fuzz textures.
How does temperature affect the pedal's tone?
Authentic germanium transistors naturally respond to ambient temperature changes, slightly affecting feel, response, and cleanup. Spruce biases every pedal at 70°F. Both circuits include internal bias trimmers for fine-tuning in warmer or cooler environments.
What power does the pedal require?
The Lichen Fuzz Overgrowth runs on a standard 9V DC, center-negative power supply with modern filtering for noise reduction while preserving vintage character.
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