JAM Pedals Tiny Amp Destroyer

The JAM Pedals Tiny Amp Destroyer is a collaboration with Stu Mackenzie of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, designed around the sound of a small, inexpensive practice amplifier pushed far beyond its intended limits. Rather than smoothing out the rough edges, JAM Pedals set out to capture the crunchy, boxy, buzzy character that made Stu’s particular setup such an important part of the sound of recent King Gizzard recordings. The result is a deliberately raw and unconventional drive that can move from subtle breakup through to dense, saturated distortion.

The Tiny Amp Destroyer is built around two independent gain stages, G1 and G2, each with its own gain control and footswitch. G1 provides the hotter and more aggressive stage, while G2 offers a lower gain response. Used independently they cover a broad range of driven tones, while stacking both stages takes the pedal into considerably heavier territory. A shared Level control sets the overall output, while active Bass and Treble controls allow the frequency response to be shaped with both boost and cut.

A Magic switch alters the overall voicing to move the pedal closer to the response of a small, pushed amplifier. The Notch control provides further tonal shaping, progressively removing a specific frequency band to move from a fuller response towards a more scooped and hollow character. Together these controls allow the characteristic small amp sound to be exaggerated or dialled back depending on the rest of the rig.

An independent treble boost circuit, based on the JAM Pedals Rooster, sits at the front of the signal path and can be used to tighten the low end and change how the gain stages respond. It can also operate independently as a standalone treble boost, with an internal DIP switch providing two voicing options.

The pedal was developed directly from Stu’s touring setup, which used two Boomster boost pedals to push a small pawn shop amplifier into extreme saturation. After JAM Pedals recreated the setup and refined the circuit, Stu tested a prototype during King Gizzard’s 2025 residency in Athens. His verdict was simple: “you nailed it.” He subsequently used the pedal for the remainder of the tour.

Key features

• Collaboration with Stu Mackenzie of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

• Two independent and stackable gain stages

• G1 provides higher gain and more aggressive distortion

• G2 provides lower gain and more restrained drive

• Active Bass and Treble controls

• Magic switch for small amp inspired voicing

• Notch control for progressive midrange shaping

• Independent Rooster based treble boost

• Internal DIP switch for alternative treble boost voicing

• Three footswitches for gain stages and treble boost

• G1 Global Bypass mode available

• Suitable for low gain drive through to saturated distortion

• Artwork by Jason Galea

The Tiny Amp Destroyer is a deliberately imperfect drive designed to capture what happens when a small amplifier is pushed beyond its limits, offering the character of Stu Mackenzie’s original setup with enough control to make it practical across a wide range of guitars and amplifiers.