Wounded Paw Battering Ram

The Wounded Paw Battering Ram is a versatile overdrive and fuzz pedal designed for use with guitar, bass, or other instruments. First introduced by Wounded Paw Audio, it quickly gained attention for its ability to blend overdrive and fuzz circuits in parallel, offering a wide range of tonal possibilities. Each channel—overdrive and fuzz—features independent controls and can be used separately or together, allowing users to craft anything from subtle drive tones to chaotic fuzz textures. The pedal has seen multiple iterations, including the Battering Ram V2.6 and the Battering Ram Q2, which added features like a four-band EQ for even greater tone shaping.

Historical Development

• Design Philosophy: The Battering Ram was designed to provide maximum flexibility by combining two distinct sound engines—overdrive and fuzz—in one unit. Its parallel signal path lets players mix clean, overdriven, and fuzzed tones seamlessly.
• Key Features: The overdrive section includes controls for Drive, Level, Lo (bass boost), and Hi (treble adjustment). The fuzz section offers Sustain, Tone, Level, and an optional octave-up mode. Later versions added EQ controls for enhanced versatility.
• Applications: Its ability to retain low-end frequencies made it particularly popular among bass players while remaining equally effective for guitarists.

Notable Players

While specific high-profile users of the Battering Ram are not widely documented, it has been praised in bass and guitar communities for its tonal flexibility. It is especially favored by experimental musicians and those in heavy genres like doom or stoner rock.

Popular Settings

The Battering Ram's independent controls make it highly customizable:

• Blended Overdrive + Fuzz: Overdrive Level at 12:00, Drive at 2:00; Fuzz Sustain at 3:00 with Tone flat for a balanced mix of warm drive and raspy fuzz.
• Bass-Friendly Overdrive: Overdrive Lo engaged, Hi slightly cut, Drive at 1:00 for a full-bodied tone that retains clarity.
• Octave Fuzz Chaos: Fuzz Sustain maxed out with Octave engaged for aggressive, synth-like textures.

Legacy

The Wounded Paw Battering Ram is celebrated as a highly flexible tool for musicians seeking both subtle enhancements and extreme sonic experimentation. Its ability to cater equally to guitarists and bassists has made it a standout choice among boutique pedals. With its innovative design and tonal capabilities, the Battering Ram remains a respected option in the world of overdrive and fuzz effects.