Neither, distortion free sustainer. Honestly, distortion, fuzz, sustainer etc. what ever it is it kicks @$$.

There’s a subjective component here right? We’ve got a gain-based spectrum with clean boost at one end (which may cause your amp to overdrive of it’s own accord) and white noise at the other. Along the way we put signposts that say overdrive, distortion, fuzz, etc, but as far as I know there aren’t any hard and fast rules.

If it will make you feel better, call it a fuzz.

You might want to listen to it…

Does it sound like what you think a fuzz is?
:freak:

The Fuzz goes over here, the Muff in the middle, and the Distortion over there

Seriously, I think what people are trying to tell you is there is no firm description for the sound of any of these that defines one as specifically this or that. Whatever the first pedal that fit the bill for any of those terms was in the very beginning, there are now so many variations and pedals that cover the range that it is impossible to categorically state this pedal is this and that is that. There are basic pedals out there that still follow the basic original circuits. The Little Big Muff still sounds like a Muff. The Fuzz Face still sound like a fuzz. The Tube Screamer still sound like an overdrive.

A Big Muff to me is just that – a Muff. There are characteristics that define the Muff sound over other pedals – scooped mids, double clipped, fat octaved distortion, sustain. I can almost always tell when I am listening to a Muff circuit. The Swollen Pickle you mentioned is a Big Muff circuit. A Fuzz Face (or even the Germanium Big Muff) has characteristics that define it as fuzz to my ears, that are very different from Muff. I can almost always tell when I am hearing a Fuzz Face type circuit. Turn the sustain down on a Muff and dial the tone back and you can get fuzz-like tones. Dime the sustain and crank the tone up and you get some high gain distortion. Dial Fuzz Face down and you get a fuzzy overdrive. Dime it you get distortion. Then you have dozens of hybrids, like the Musket, which can do light overdrive, deep fuzz, and full on high gain Big Muff distortion. It’s a Big Muff and Linear Power Booster circuit combo. The Skreddy Lunar Module does Fuzz Face tones, light to heavy overdrive, and a nice fat high gain distortion. The Germanium Big Muff is a fuzz face style circuit with an overdrive circuit built in. Practically any overdrive, Muff, or fuzz type circuit distorts enough when the gain knob is maxed to be called distortion. The Leviathan is called a fuzz by Wampler. It does Fuzz Face tones, warm overdrive, monster tube screamer type tones, even Muffish stuff (almost), and clearly distorts. So what is it? Whatever you want it to be. See the problem?

It really does come back to what your ears like, not what term something may or may not be labeled. Just listen to some demos and try one. See if you like it.