The Definitive Bass Overdrive/Fuzz
The Way Huge Pork & Pickle is the brainchild of pedal wizard Jeorge Tripps, the founder of Way Huge Electronics and mastermind behind some of the most distinctive effects in modern pedal culture. This unit combines two of Way Huge’s classic effects in one box:
- Pork Loin Overdrive
- Russian-Pickle Fuzz
Both are revered in the guitar world, but this hybrid was specifically voiced and tweaked for bass, bringing warmth, grit, and massive low-end without sacrificing clarity.
Released in 2019, the Pork & Pickle quickly became a favorite among session musicians, touring bassists, and tone nerds due to its ability to cover a wide range of dirt—from subtle drive to full-on woolly fuzz—while preserving low-end punch and articulation.
It’s a Favorite Among Bass Players
Bass players often struggle to find dirt pedals that add character without ruining low-frequency definition. Many traditional overdrives and fuzzes scoop mids or roll off lows, making the bass sound thin or lost in a mix. The Pork & Pickle solves this by offering:
- Blend control for clean signal
- Low-retaining circuit design
- Two tonal personalities in one enclosure
- Subtle internal tweaking options for dialing in the perfect response
Its tonal flexibility, studio-friendly behavior, and compact form make it a true multitool for working bassists.
Front Panel Controls: Explained in Detail
Let’s break down each knob and switch on the pedal:
1. Volume
- Controls the overall output level of the pedal.
- Important for matching (or boosting) volume when engaging the effect.
- High headroom — can easily push your amp or preamp for extra bite.
2. Tone
- Global tone control that affects both overdrive and fuzz modes.
- It’s a high-shelf EQ — clockwise brightens the sound, counter-clockwise darkens it.
- Retains enough bass even when turned up, but also tames fuzz fizz when rolled back.
3. Drive
- Adjusts the amount of gain or saturation.
- In Pork Loin mode, expect warm overdrive reminiscent of a tube amp.
- In Russian Pickle mode, expect thick, vintage-style fuzz with deep compression.
- Reacts dynamically to picking strength and instrument volume.
4. Clean Blend
- This is key for bassists.
- Mixes in clean, unaffected signal with the dirt.
- Allows you to maintain note definition, punch, and low-end weight even with intense fuzz or drive.
- Fully clockwise = full clean; fully counterclockwise = full effect.
5. OD / Fuzz Switch
- A small toggle switch selects between:
- OD (Overdrive): Based on the Pork Loin. Creamy, subtle, great for adding breakup or drive to fingerstyle or slap.
- Fuzz: Based on the Russian Pickle. Fat, smooth, compressed, perfect for synthy textures or wall-of-sound playing.
Internal Controls (Trimpots)
Inside the pedal, you’ll find two internal trim pots, which allow for further tone shaping:
- Clean Tone Filter (controls EQ of the clean signal)
- Lets you roll off some highs from the clean blend to better match the overdriven/fuzzed signal.
- Very helpful for creating a more unified tone when blending.
- Curve Control (controls clean signal level)
- Adjusts how much of the clean signal is blended in.
- Works in conjunction with the external Blend knob for precise dialing.
These internal controls make the Pork & Pickle incredibly versatile — tweak once and forget, or fine-tune to different basses/setups.
Sound Profile & Use Cases
Overdrive Mode (Pork Loin):
- Warm, amp-like breakup
- Preserves attack and clarity
- Excellent for pushing tube amps or preamps
- Ideal for:
- Fingerstyle grooves
- Neo-soul/R&B
- Jazz fusion
- Vintage rock tone
Fuzz Mode (Russian Pickle):
- Smooth, wooly, vintage fuzz
- Thick low-end with moderate compression
- Great for synthy or solo lines
- Ideal for:
- Stoner rock
- Psychedelic funk
- Sound design in studio
- Dirty dub basslines
You can also keep the Blend high and Drive low for a subtle grit or use Blend low and Drive high for full-on fuzz fury.
Build Quality & Power
- Compact, rugged aluminum chassis
- True bypass switching
- Runs on standard 9V center-negative power (no special power required)
- Top-mounted jacks for pedalboard efficiency
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Combines two excellent, bass-friendly circuits in one unit
- Clean blend keeps low-end intact
- Wide gain range from subtle warmth to aggressive fuzz
- Internal controls provide deep customization
- Extremely pedalboard-friendly size
- Studio- and live-worthy build and tone
Cons:
- No separate footswitch for toggling OD/Fuzz modes (must bend down)
- Internal trim pots require opening the pedal
- Some players may want more aggressive fuzz (this is smoother, vintage-voiced)
- No preset memory or MIDI — purely analog
Conclusion
The Way Huge Pork & Pickle stands out as a rare dual-mode pedal that truly understands what bassists need. It offers warmth, grit, and saturation without sacrificing punch, clarity, or low-end authority. Whether you’re shaping a subtle edge to your clean tone or going full fuzz bomb, the pedal adapts beautifully to any genre or setup.
Its combination of analog richness, deep tweakability, and practicality make it one of the most versatile and musical dirt pedals available for bass. It’s no surprise that even bassists who don’t yet own one often count it among their favorites—this pedal makes a lasting impression the moment you plug in.
