F-201 Preamp

The Most Overlooked Pedal in Spurr Audio?

Possibly the least popular model ever released by Spurr Audio, the F-201 Preamp was born almost by accident during the development of another project entirely.

While working on the Orbit-2, I received a large batch of J201 transistors, components commonly found in many guitar pedals and preamp circuits, but sometimes surprisingly difficult to source consistently. I had so many of them sitting around that I started thinking about ways to actually put them to use, and naturally, the idea of building a preamp came to mind.

At that point, the Orbit-2 aesthetic and concept were already taking shape, so instead of making something completely disconnected, I decided to create a companion pedal that could visually and sonically belong to the same universe. That became the F-201.

The name itself comes directly from the transistor that gives the pedal its character. The “201” references the J201 transistor, while the “F” stands for “Force.” At the time, it simply sounded fitting, especially because the pedal ended up living somewhere between a boost and a preamp, capable of adding presence, warmth, and a bit of attitude depending on how it was pushed.

The F-201 was officially presented alongside the Orbit-2, making it the first and, so far, only paired release in Spurr Audio’s history.

Unlike its “brother,” however, the F-201 never really achieved the attention or popularity I expected. While the Orbit-2 quickly found its audience, the F-201 quietly remained in the background. Even today, there are still a few units left in stock, simply because demand for it has always been lower.

Maybe it was an unpopular pedal from the beginning. Or maybe it’s one of those projects that simply needed a little more time and attention than I was able to give it.

Still, I think there’s something special about it.

Sometimes the quieter pedals end up telling the most honest stories.