Electro-Harmonix Ripped Speaker review

An affordable and compact fuzz pedal that takes distorted guitar tones right back to the beginning

Electro-Harmonix Ripped Speaker
(Image: © Future)

Guitar World Verdict

Gnarly with knobs on. Edgy fuzz with all the fine adjustment you’ll need.

Pros

  • +

    No speaker cones were harmed in making these distorted tones.

  • +

    Classic voicings.

  • +

    Small format.

  • +

    Affordable.

Cons

  • -

    Nothing, but lo-fi is an acquired taste.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

EHX’s Ripped Speaker is a nano-sized fuzz pedal that celebrates lo-fi distortion and supplies it in varied shades. 

The sound of You Really Got Me came about when The Kinks’ Dave Davies took a razor blade to his speaker. Electro-Harmonix’s pedal pays homage to that sort of damaged cone action, as well as the lo-fi distortion caused by faulty electronics.

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Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.