Chasing the Fuzz Dragon – Wyong Road Electronics
I’ve had a little break from the website due to illness/travel/work, but it’s good to be back and getting some profiles done for some great Australian and International builders. Make sure to check out some of the recent ones (Mr Tonecat of Tonecat Pedals, GalahcoreFX, Mr Glyn’s Pickups
Some pedal builders are born from business plans. Others are born from obsession – and this one definitely falls into the second camp. This week I am talking to Asher of Wyong Road Electronics.
“I’ve been a gear nerd and tinkerer since I was a teenager,” he tells me, “but I didn’t really get into pedals until 2021 while I was working at my local guitar shop.” When customers asked him the eternal question “What’s the difference between these two overdrives?” Asher felt that he could only answer in the language of food: “This one’s crunchy, this one’s raw , both are very meaty.”
When lockdown hit, and with nothing but time and curiosity, Asher started diving deep into understanding pedal circuits, learning what made these little boxes tick. To make it less theoretical, he ordered a simple fuzz kit.
“That feeling I had when I saw the LED light up and heard my mangled guitar signal is a dragon I’ve been chasing ever since”
Pedals Built the Aussie Way — Because “She’ll Be Right”
What makes Wyong Road pedals different? “Honestly, I don’t really think about whether other people will like them,” he jokes. “It’s probably a terrible business plan, but creatively, it’s perfect. If I like it, it’s good. If it’s good, I want to share it.”
That carefree approach feels quintessentially Australian, a mix of confidence, humour, and the quiet belief that if it works, it works. “It’s the ‘she’ll be right’ approach to pedal building,” he says.
He also makes a point of using old stock and salvaged components whenever he can. “There’s so much ‘component sniffing’ in the pedal world, and I’m guilty of lots of it. But I love using old parts simply because I want them to be used, rather than rot in a parts drawer. It gives me the warm and fuzzies knowing that bits that someone thought were worth holding onto finally made their way into a circuit and that those circuits are now all around the world.”
The Wins, the Wobbles, and the Wisdom
His biggest win? “That people still think what I make is worth their money. Every sale blows me away.”
His advice for newcomers fits neatly into three lines — words to build both tone and confidence by:
Do what you like.
Trust your taste.
Share what you do.
Soundtrack to a Builder’s Life
Music started early. “Dream Theater was the first band that really got me. I was the ultimate teenage Dream Theater fan — pretentious, contrarian, and probably unbearable to be around,” he laughs. “Your favourite band doesn’t have a song in 23/16? They must suck!”
Best live gig? “Godspeed You! Black Emperor, their first Australian tour in 2013. I’ll never forget being overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. My wife actually fainted, and we had to leave early.”
Dream show? “Kayo Dot. I’ve been a Toby Driver fan for ages. Hopefully they’ll make it to Australia one day.”
Current Rig & Can’t-Live-Without Gear
“I’m gigging with an SG into a TU-3, then The Keris, into a Strymon El Capistan, straight into a VOX AC15C1 — it’s spine-shatteringly bright and abrasive, and I love it.”
As for a forever piece of gear? “My late-’80s Steinberger XM2A. Best instrument I’ve ever owned, and I’ll never part with it.”
Where to Find the Magic
You can check out Asher’s latest creations on his website, socials, and on Reverb.
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