associate germanium with fuzz boxes. But in fact, this chemical element was used to make transistors and diodes for myriad applications before silicon components became more widely available. Amp maker David Kowalski has something of an obsession with germanium. Based in McAllen, Texas, Kowalski — whose Dark Gene micro amp was reviewed in our November 2021 issue — has created the Rare Earth Germanium Device to bridge the gap between overdrive and fuzz.
