BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed
One Control Strawberry Red Over Drive!

Tone Report Review! (June 24, 2016)

by Eric Tischler

Read review HERE!
 
The same article (above) made it into the Tone Report Weekly 2016 FX Buyers Guide!

Demos

Burgs

Mike Hermans

Hans Johansson

Vitali T

It has been several decades since the effect called “overdrive” was first launched. How many overdrive pedals have been created since then?

Now the overdrive is going beyond the scope of an effect and advancing into the sphere of guitar amps.

The One Control Strawberry Red Over Drive is not an imitation of the sound created by existing equipment. No matter how great or high quality the equipment is, once you start targeting a sound, it ends up being a simulator. While you need sublime spirit to develop an advanced simulator, it cannot become a true original overdrive pedal.

The development of the Strawberry Red Over Drive is such that guitarists from all genres have started to demand it. Thus, it is important that this becomes indispensable equipment for any guitarist. Guitars and guitar amps are necessary equipment for all guitarists. In particular, high-end guitar amps should be longed for by all guitarists.

So, what if we can offer an overdrive that is equipped with all the necessary sound attributes to become a high-end guitar amp? When you say a high-quality guitar amp, every model has a different sound. However, there are common sound attributes that are recognized as “good sound” across all guitar amps. BJF, who designed the circuit for the Strawberry Red Over Drive completely understands this.

These attributes are:

・Pedals that stimulate the core of the guitar sound
・able to output the sound that guitarists want for any guitar and any amps
・maximizing the attributes of other equipment including guitars, amps, and effectors
・covering everything from completely clean to strong distortion
・able to fully pick up all the expressions that a player manually creates
・able to adjust subtle sounds

We could not compromise on these requirements in developing the Strawberry Red Over Drive.

The Strawberry Red Over Drive can control everything with a single Drive knob from a complete clean boost to low gain bluesy overdrive, powerful hard overdrive and to even more powerful distortion.

If you keep the drive at the minimum level, it becomes a clean booster, with which you can get the maximum +6dB boost with a Volume knob.

If you reset the gain, you can reduce the gain immediately if you turn down the guitar volume without moving the Drive knob. If you turn off the Drive on the Strawberry Red Over Drive and turn down the guitar volume, you can get a clean sound that is rich in harmonic overtones and offers a thick and sensitive, beautiful sound at the same time. This will remind you of the supreme one volume tune amp.

Its quick response also draws the maximum attributes of guitars and amps even when the gain is set to high. Actively using the pickup select switch will allow variation in the sound expression in a more meaningful way.

Highly responsive and highly dynamic range overdrive pedals can sometimes create a sound that is hard to deal with. The Strawberry Red Over Drive creates a sound that is easy to deal with, while responding dynamically to the guitar operation because it never loses the core of the guitar sound and is dense and stable at its center of gravity.

Guitar amps are originally made to create a sound that makes the player feel good. The Strawberry Red Over Drive, with any amp, can create a sound that is sought after by guitarists. This reflects the fact that the Strawberry Red Over Drive has the attributes that are common among high-end guitar amps.

The treble control of the Strawberry Red Over Drive is an active tone that can control mid-treble in the range between -3dB and +6dB. If you turn down the treble, it can adjust the range between 70Hz and 7KHz and if you set the treble to high, you can boost it to between 700Hz and 7KHz easily. Because of these attributes, you can adjust the sound from the gorgeous distortion that augments the harmonic overtone to warm tones that reduce the treble. No matter what level you set it at, it won’t create any extreme sound and you will have the freedom to create any elaborate sound by taking advantage of the knob variability.

The Strawberry Red Over Drive has the Low Cut trim pot ready right next to the output terminal which will enable you to cut out the low-end. While the Strawberry Red Over Drive meets the demands of guitar amp users for a tight low end sound, some users might feel the low coming out stronger than others due to the characteristics of their guitars, amps or the speakers they use. In that case, you can adjust the trim pot to cut the low end to simplify the sound. Its ability to cut the range from 19Hz to 170Hz down to a maximum -6dB could avoid the possible hollowness that could be a side effect of this. You adjust it while fixing it to the pedalboard so that you can check the sound immediately.
*If you want to move the trim pot, turn off (or bypass) the Strawberry Red Over Drive to avoid any unexpected noise.

● Usability as an effect
No matter how great the overhead drive you make, if it requires specific plug and its size is the same as the normal amp headphone, that would narrow the player basis. One Control introduced its unique super compact cut-out aluminum case for the Strawberry Red Over Drive. This allows it to be space-saving even when it’s set up on the pedalboard. Its small size with incredible long-lasting battery power will not limit the place of its use. You can enjoy the sound of the Strawberry Red Over Drive anytime, anywhere. When it’s powered by an adapter, it supports between 9-18V. You will be able to enjoy even more dynamic range and stereo sound when you use it at a higher voltage.

●Driving tube amps
The Strawberry Red Over Drive has a sound that is common among high quality amps. If the Strawberry Red Over Drive is used in a tube amp, you can emphasize the benefit of the amp even further and attain the ultimate drive. The Strawberry Red Over Drive matches British-style amps completely and expands the potential of the amp EQ selection even further. You can also put the sound forward freely and enhance the resolution of the sound. If you are using a stacking amp, this might flatten the sound when you raise the gain on the amp, but you can get a high resolution sound with the same gain by pushing the gain on the Strawberry Red Over Drive to keep the gain low enough on the amp. The Low-Cut control would be effective and could adjust the balance of the sound.

For American style amps, it can push the amp by increasing the gain while not losing the bright shine of the amp. While these types of amps tend to have stronger treble, the Strawberry Red Over Drive can balance the level of the tone properly with its Treble control. The Strawberry Red Over Drive enables the distortion sound that tightly combines sounds, which is hard to create with American style classic amps.

The Strawberry Red Over Drive also does great work when used in combination with modern high gain amps. You might think the overdrive is unnecessary as the amp itself realizes distortion but you can attain an even higher resolution sound when you combine the bass response of the Strawberry Red Over Drive and Low Cut control and Treble controls. If you combine the gain of the Strawberry Red Over Drive and the gain of amps, you can maintain the powerful high gain while keeping down the saturated tone by lowering the gain on the amp, and further push the sound to the front.

●Driving transistor amp
The attributes that are required for truly high quality guitar amps remain the same for both vacuum tubes and transistors.

Even though the amp does not have those attributes, you can still realize tones that only skilled players can create and attain the utmost quality that amps and guitars can offer by utilizing the sound attributes that the Strawberry Red Over Drive can create that are similar to high quality guitar amps. If you use a transistor amp with larger speakers, you can get a sound with a powerful charge and mass just like the sound created by the combination of high power amps and large cabinets. And the Strawberry Red Over Drive’s unique compression gives tube amp-like attributes to transistor amps as well. You can create a solid and deep drive sound that is unheard of among conventional transistor amps when using with an 18V adapter.

“The Strawberry Red Over Drive (SROD) aims to cover any pickup, ranging from low to medium gain overdrive, distortion, distorted amp sound, as well as other distortion pedals.

The sound of the SROD is different from any overdrive you have heard on the market. It is a muscular overdrive that can create an old sound at the same time. It is truly versatile. The EQ option of the SROD responds well to various situations by keeping the level within range for actual live performances or recording and deliberately eliminating extreme settings.

The SROD is so compact that you can take it with your carry-on luggage when you fly. You can take it anywhere with you to enjoy the best sound whenever you like.”

— Björn Juhl

One Control Tourbox Reviews (The Gear Page)

GEAR USED: Stock Fender Esquire, 90’s Guild S100 with Gibson 57’s through a 3rd Power Dream Weaver MKII (w/Plexi channel, and a Fender channel that has either the tweed or blackface voicing)

“This was the one I was most looking forward to trying, and it didn’t disappoint. It was the one that sounded the best through all 3 different voicings of my amp. It was the least picky about what guitar and voicing was being used. I was always able to dial it in really well.

It’s hard to exactly describe this pedal. It just seemed to work for me in a lot of different applications. It worked really well at low to medium gain, and then it worked GREAT as a boost into the other drive pedals in the tour box. I’d love to buy one of these.”  (USA, July 2016)

GEAR USED: Schecter with EMG 81/85 actives; two Ibanez’s: a classic Roadstar II completely stock and one loaded with DiMarzio Crunch Lab (passive also) through an Orange Rockerverb 100 MKII and Peavey MH25 (closed back Mesa 2×12 cab)

“In a word: RETRO! Definitely a low gain OD. Not a TS as it had a pretty flat boost/bump without the midrange hump. That’s nice and a different style from other ODs. Didn’t really love this OD as a boost to my amps dirty channels. Got a little muddy and didn’t really make the amp tighten and jump like I wanted it to (see OD 808 bias above) However I did like this pedal as a boost to the Purple and Fuzz better than as an amp boost. This was a pedal that was also better with the EMGs. Really really liked the retro sound and feel of this pedal. Bon Scott ACDC, pre MTV ZZ TOP blues, James Gang, 70s Priest. This will get you there. At its dirtiest its a rock box, not a hard rock box. I found a cool lead tone with the gain around 12n and then boosted this with the TS and got something nice, gritty, punchy. Gain range was good from around 8:00 to 3:00/4:00 making it similar to dial in to the others.”  (USA, August 2016)

The post Strawberry Red Over Drive appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the One Control Sonic Blue Twanger…NOW AVAILABLE!

Demos

Mike Hermans

Burgs

Hans Johansson

Jake Cloudchair

Sean Gibson

One Control Tourbox Reviews (The Gear Page)

GEAR USED: Tele through a 2X12 combo which combines Vox & Tweed characteristics. I’m running Weber Alnico Blue & Silver speakers, so keep in mind that my impressions are based on single coils through an amp with strong mids and alnico speakers.

“The Sonic Blue is not your typical emulator or OD pedal. In my experience, it is TERRIFIC for mid heavy amps if you seek to capture the scooped mid character & mild compression of a cranked Fender blackface. While I love my main amp, it’s midrange character is nearly impossible to dial out completely. The Sonic Blue allows me to cop a really convincing Fender feel with the click of a switch. This pedal would be a terrific addition for gigging guitarists who run a British voiced amp but need to expand their palette into Fender territory without lugging a second amp along. I don’t find that the Sonic Blue is really an overdrive in the traditional sense… it doesn’t add it’s own clipping unless the VOLUME pot is cranked up near full. What it excels at, though, is reshaping the midrange and presence of your amplifier and allowing you to push your own amp harder to get the level of compression & mild breakup you seek. I honestly just love it as a tone shaper, and running my own ODs and dirt boxes BEFORE it allows me to double the number of sounds I can get from my pedals. What a terrific surprise.”  (USA, Feb. 2017)

GEAR USED: Fender MIM Telecaster 72 Deluxe, Epiphone Les Paul, Vox AC15C1, Orange OR15, Fender Blues Deville

“Sonic Blue Twanger: okay, so i know this doesn’t make sense but i swear it cleaned up dirty-ish vox and orange amps. decent range of bright and darker tones which i didn’t expect. stayed on the cleaner side all the way up the master and volume knobs. compared extremely favorably with the cranked blues deville i borrowed from a friend. it liked the kot, got a bit spikey with the fuzz. definitely one not to miss if you’re into the cranked blackface sound.”  (USA, Feb. 2017)

The post Sonic Blue Twanger appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX brings you the BJFe Aqua Marine Wonder Machine…limited to ONE unit, available NOW!

Designed and built by Sweden’s Björn Juhl!

The post BJFe Aqua Marine Wonder Machine appeared first on BearFoot FX.

The One Control Micro Distro is a unique new type of power supply because of its small size and versatility. The Micro Distro can power 9 pedals and includes a 12-18V SAG adjustable output.

The Micro Distro is reliable and stage ready with its low noise and low heat producing electronics.

The Micro Distro comes with a high capacity power supply so two units can be combined to allow players to power up to 17 effects pedals.

The Micro Distro is an incredibly useful and innovative product that is sure to make using your pedalboard much easier.

The post Micro Distro appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX brings you the BJFe Aqua Marine Wonder Machine…limited quantity, available NOW!

Designed and built by Sweden’s Björn Juhl!

The post BJFe Aqua Marine Wonder Machine appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed
One Control Strawberry Red Over Drive!

Tone Report Review! (June 24, 2016)

by Eric Tischler

Read review HERE!
 
The same article (above) made it into the Tone Report Weekly 2016 FX Buyers Guide!

Demos

Burgs

Mike Hermans

Hans Johansson

Vitali T

It has been several decades since the effect called “overdrive” was first launched. How many overdrive pedals have been created since then?

Now the overdrive is going beyond the scope of an effect and advancing into the sphere of guitar amps.

The One Control Strawberry Red Over Drive is not an imitation of the sound created by existing equipment. No matter how great or high quality the equipment is, once you start targeting a sound, it ends up being a simulator. While you need sublime spirit to develop an advanced simulator, it cannot become a true original overdrive pedal.

The development of the Strawberry Red Over Drive is such that guitarists from all genres have started to demand it. Thus, it is important that this becomes indispensable equipment for any guitarist. Guitars and guitar amps are necessary equipment for all guitarists. In particular, high-end guitar amps should be longed for by all guitarists.

So, what if we can offer an overdrive that is equipped with all the necessary sound attributes to become a high-end guitar amp? When you say a high-quality guitar amp, every model has a different sound. However, there are common sound attributes that are recognized as “good sound” across all guitar amps. BJF, who designed the circuit for the Strawberry Red Over Drive completely understands this.

These attributes are:

・Pedals that stimulate the core of the guitar sound
・able to output the sound that guitarists want for any guitar and any amps
・maximizing the attributes of other equipment including guitars, amps, and effectors
・covering everything from completely clean to strong distortion
・able to fully pick up all the expressions that a player manually creates
・able to adjust subtle sounds

We could not compromise on these requirements in developing the Strawberry Red Over Drive.

The Strawberry Red Over Drive can control everything with a single Drive knob from a complete clean boost to low gain bluesy overdrive, powerful hard overdrive and to even more powerful distortion.

If you keep the drive at the minimum level, it becomes a clean booster, with which you can get the maximum +6dB boost with a Volume knob.

If you reset the gain, you can reduce the gain immediately if you turn down the guitar volume without moving the Drive knob. If you turn off the Drive on the Strawberry Red Over Drive and turn down the guitar volume, you can get a clean sound that is rich in harmonic overtones and offers a thick and sensitive, beautiful sound at the same time. This will remind you of the supreme one volume tune amp.

Its quick response also draws the maximum attributes of guitars and amps even when the gain is set to high. Actively using the pickup select switch will allow variation in the sound expression in a more meaningful way.

Highly responsive and highly dynamic range overdrive pedals can sometimes create a sound that is hard to deal with. The Strawberry Red Over Drive creates a sound that is easy to deal with, while responding dynamically to the guitar operation because it never loses the core of the guitar sound and is dense and stable at its center of gravity.

Guitar amps are originally made to create a sound that makes the player feel good. The Strawberry Red Over Drive, with any amp, can create a sound that is sought after by guitarists. This reflects the fact that the Strawberry Red Over Drive has the attributes that are common among high-end guitar amps.

The treble control of the Strawberry Red Over Drive is an active tone that can control mid-treble in the range between -3dB and +6dB. If you turn down the treble, it can adjust the range between 70Hz and 7KHz and if you set the treble to high, you can boost it to between 700Hz and 7KHz easily. Because of these attributes, you can adjust the sound from the gorgeous distortion that augments the harmonic overtone to warm tones that reduce the treble. No matter what level you set it at, it won’t create any extreme sound and you will have the freedom to create any elaborate sound by taking advantage of the knob variability.

The Strawberry Red Over Drive has the Low Cut trim pot ready right next to the output terminal which will enable you to cut out the low-end. While the Strawberry Red Over Drive meets the demands of guitar amp users for a tight low end sound, some users might feel the low coming out stronger than others due to the characteristics of their guitars, amps or the speakers they use. In that case, you can adjust the trim pot to cut the low end to simplify the sound. Its ability to cut the range from 19Hz to 170Hz down to a maximum -6dB could avoid the possible hollowness that could be a side effect of this. You adjust it while fixing it to the pedalboard so that you can check the sound immediately.
*If you want to move the trim pot, turn off (or bypass) the Strawberry Red Over Drive to avoid any unexpected noise.

● Usability as an effect
No matter how great the overhead drive you make, if it requires specific plug and its size is the same as the normal amp headphone, that would narrow the player basis. One Control introduced its unique super compact cut-out aluminum case for the Strawberry Red Over Drive. This allows it to be space-saving even when it’s set up on the pedalboard. Its small size with incredible long-lasting battery power will not limit the place of its use. You can enjoy the sound of the Strawberry Red Over Drive anytime, anywhere. When it’s powered by an adapter, it supports between 9-18V. You will be able to enjoy even more dynamic range and stereo sound when you use it at a higher voltage.

●Driving tube amps
The Strawberry Red Over Drive has a sound that is common among high quality amps. If the Strawberry Red Over Drive is used in a tube amp, you can emphasize the benefit of the amp even further and attain the ultimate drive. The Strawberry Red Over Drive matches British-style amps completely and expands the potential of the amp EQ selection even further. You can also put the sound forward freely and enhance the resolution of the sound. If you are using a stacking amp, this might flatten the sound when you raise the gain on the amp, but you can get a high resolution sound with the same gain by pushing the gain on the Strawberry Red Over Drive to keep the gain low enough on the amp. The Low-Cut control would be effective and could adjust the balance of the sound.

For American style amps, it can push the amp by increasing the gain while not losing the bright shine of the amp. While these types of amps tend to have stronger treble, the Strawberry Red Over Drive can balance the level of the tone properly with its Treble control. The Strawberry Red Over Drive enables the distortion sound that tightly combines sounds, which is hard to create with American style classic amps.

The Strawberry Red Over Drive also does great work when used in combination with modern high gain amps. You might think the overdrive is unnecessary as the amp itself realizes distortion but you can attain an even higher resolution sound when you combine the bass response of the Strawberry Red Over Drive and Low Cut control and Treble controls. If you combine the gain of the Strawberry Red Over Drive and the gain of amps, you can maintain the powerful high gain while keeping down the saturated tone by lowering the gain on the amp, and further push the sound to the front.

●Driving transistor amp
The attributes that are required for truly high quality guitar amps remain the same for both vacuum tubes and transistors.

Even though the amp does not have those attributes, you can still realize tones that only skilled players can create and attain the utmost quality that amps and guitars can offer by utilizing the sound attributes that the Strawberry Red Over Drive can create that are similar to high quality guitar amps. If you use a transistor amp with larger speakers, you can get a sound with a powerful charge and mass just like the sound created by the combination of high power amps and large cabinets. And the Strawberry Red Over Drive’s unique compression gives tube amp-like attributes to transistor amps as well. You can create a solid and deep drive sound that is unheard of among conventional transistor amps when using with an 18V adapter.

“The Strawberry Red Over Drive (SROD) aims to cover any pickup, ranging from low to medium gain overdrive, distortion, distorted amp sound, as well as other distortion pedals.

The sound of the SROD is different from any overdrive you have heard on the market. It is a muscular overdrive that can create an old sound at the same time. It is truly versatile. The EQ option of the SROD responds well to various situations by keeping the level within range for actual live performances or recording and deliberately eliminating extreme settings.

The SROD is so compact that you can take it with your carry-on luggage when you fly. You can take it anywhere with you to enjoy the best sound whenever you like.”

— Björn Juhl

One Control Tourbox Reviews (The Gear Page)

GEAR USED: Stock Fender Esquire, 90’s Guild S100 with Gibson 57’s through a 3rd Power Dream Weaver MKII (w/Plexi channel, and a Fender channel that has either the tweed or blackface voicing)

“This was the one I was most looking forward to trying, and it didn’t disappoint. It was the one that sounded the best through all 3 different voicings of my amp. It was the least picky about what guitar and voicing was being used. I was always able to dial it in really well.

It’s hard to exactly describe this pedal. It just seemed to work for me in a lot of different applications. It worked really well at low to medium gain, and then it worked GREAT as a boost into the other drive pedals in the tour box. I’d love to buy one of these.”  (USA, July 2016)

GEAR USED: Schecter with EMG 81/85 actives; two Ibanez’s: a classic Roadstar II completely stock and one loaded with DiMarzio Crunch Lab (passive also) through an Orange Rockerverb 100 MKII and Peavey MH25 (closed back Mesa 2×12 cab)

“In a word: RETRO! Definitely a low gain OD. Not a TS as it had a pretty flat boost/bump without the midrange hump. That’s nice and a different style from other ODs. Didn’t really love this OD as a boost to my amps dirty channels. Got a little muddy and didn’t really make the amp tighten and jump like I wanted it to (see OD 808 bias above) However I did like this pedal as a boost to the Purple and Fuzz better than as an amp boost. This was a pedal that was also better with the EMGs. Really really liked the retro sound and feel of this pedal. Bon Scott ACDC, pre MTV ZZ TOP blues, James Gang, 70s Priest. This will get you there. At its dirtiest its a rock box, not a hard rock box. I found a cool lead tone with the gain around 12n and then boosted this with the TS and got something nice, gritty, punchy. Gain range was good from around 8:00 to 3:00/4:00 making it similar to dial in to the others.”  (USA, August 2016)

The post Strawberry Red Over Drive appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed One Control Sea Turquoise Delay!

Demos

Sean Gibson

Mike Hermans

Jake Cloudchair

Hans Johansson

One Control Tourbox Reviews (The Gear Page)

GEAR USED: Warmoth/Fender HSS partscaster with a Suhr Thornbucker and two DiMarzio Cruisers through a Soldano SP77 preamp and Rocktron Velocity 150 power amp into a Mojotone 2×12 (65W Creambacks)

“This initially was my early favorite, but that’s coming from a delay junkie, so not unexpected. That said, the delay is very nice. Crisp and clean without sounding too sterile, though a little modulation would’ve been welcome (maybe add an internal trimmer for it or swap the kill-dry for it). It’s a no-frills delay that gets the job done and sounds good doing it.”  (USA, July 2016)

GEAR USED: PRS SE w/SD humbuckers through a Fender Blues Deluxe

“The Sea Turquoise Delay offers just a taste of delay craziness while generally keeping things simple and on the extremely tasteful side. There’s a Delay knob, a Level knob, a Feedback knob, and a Kill Dry switch on the side. That’s it! For those who seek simplicity as well as functionality (and who don’t need such luxuries as tap tempo, for example) the STD might be the delay pedal (or one of the delay pedals) for you. The repeats can go from very subtle and beautiful, really, to self-oscillating, so it’s not all dull! It sounds more analog-like to my ears than digital, which is a positive thing in my opinion. The repeats are very natural and organic-sounding even when fairly extreme. If you want a bit of oscillation, you’ll need to turn the Feedback up fairly high. It also does slapback very well. Overall, the STD is a quality delay in a tiny package that really delivers for those who don’t need anything complicated, or for those who want to add a second delay to their board without taking up much space.”  (USA, July 2016)

GEAR USED: PRS S2 Custom 22 Semi-Hollow into both an Archon and Princeton

“…I would not hesitate to use this pedal as a dedicated slapback delay. On longer delay times it was a pleasant enough sounding delay but where it really shined was on slapback setting into the front end of the Princeton. Something I odd I noticed while playing through the delay (that actually holds true for all of the pedals in this box) is that they prefer to go in front of the amp instead of in an effects loop. Or at least they preferred the front end of my Archon more than its loop.”  (USA, September 2016)

The post Sea Turquoise Delay appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed One Control Purple Humper!

In Issue 155 of Tone Report…click HERE to read Eric Dodd’s review of the One Control Purple Humper!

Demos

Mike Hermans

Jake Cloudchair

Vitali T

Midrange is considered to be the most important area of guitar sound.

As “distortion” created by overloading the amp is used for guitar sound more often and the sound became more widely accepted, the mechanism that emphasizes the midrange naturally increases as well.

In the 1960s, some of the amps made in the U.K. had built-in mid-boosters. This was passed down as the sound of foot-operated wah-wah pedals.

There are also a number of historic mid-boost pedals as well. The legendary overdrive pedals made in the ’70s are also known for their emphasis on the midrange.

The BJFe Purple Humper was originally developed in response to the request to make a more versatile pedal based on the mid-boost circuit built into the Stratocaster so that it could be used with different guitars.

In developing the pedal, the ’60s Stratocaster output level was adjusted to the output level of the ’60s ES-335 and some more adjustments were made to support various pickups. This is a rare BJFe pedal that was merchandised in limited numbers.

One Control paid close attention to the sound this pedal makes. While there are many pedals that boost the midrange, the sound of the Purple Humper is neither an overdrive nor a cocked wah sound. It is not the same as many other mid-boosters.

It actually provides a supreme British-feeling large output amp tone that has excellent guitar tonal balance instead of a mid-booster that extracts the mid too much and creates a muffled sound.

For example, the Purple Humper changes the not-so-solid sound of a clean transistor amp into a British-flavored vintage sound in one spell. An exquisite clean tone that you don’t want to stop playing is the essence of what the Purple Humper can offer.

Using the Purple Humper with a distorted amp setting and other distortion pedals is an effective way to use it. When used with distortion effects, you can create a real, shiny and smooth guitar sound while maintaining the original distortion feature.

The frequency range of the Purple Humper is made to fit various music types that require distortion.

By adjusting the knob and combining with guitar amps, you can change the hard transistor amp clean sound into a shiny British sound, change the Stratocaster bridge pickup into a sound like a hollow-body neck pickup, create an ’80s metal lead tone, or add heavier distortion with a single coil.

If you want a British sound, the Purple Humper is ideal for correcting amp and pedals as well.

If you need to use amps that are attached to a concert hall or studio, use the Purple Humper with your pedalboard. You can simulate a vintage British amp sound and also make minor tonal adjustments.

It was tested not only with single coil but also with humbuckers, P-90 pickups and active pickups to allow hitting the sweet spot with any pickup.

Why is the Purple Humper so controllable?

While it is naturally because of the underlying dynamic range and British attributes of the original sound, the single Blend control plays an important role in ensuring its high controllability.

The Blend control widens input and boost signals through the buffer. When it is at the minimum level, it hardly changes the tone, but at the same time creates a BJF signature warm buffer sound. When it is at full up, it creates a powerful midrange boost up to eight times (+15db) the input signal.

While the boost level is great, the Purple Humper does not raise the acoustic volume due to its nature, so you can use the full range of the knob without crashing the sound when combining with other distortion effects.

Like many other boosters, the Purple Humper creates different effects depending on the order in which you connect it to other distortion pedals.

You can connect it in any order in your pedal chain, but when you use it for the first time, we recommend creating a clean sound first before thinking about the order in which to connect it.

Set the Blend knob according to your guitar or amp at the level that gives you a clean tone that sounds good to you.

Next, connect another distortion pedal before the Purple Humper if the Blend knob is located on the left side, or connect it after the Purple Humper if the knob is on the right.

In many cases, the Purple Humper allows you to experience a British sound while maintaining a familiar distortion effect.

Try different settings and find the one you like.

If you leave it ON all the time just like a preamp, it works perfectly as a lead booster or as a pedal to turn down an amp that is too bright.

“BJFe does not make a large volume of the Purple Humper (PH).

Owners of this rare product say it is unlike any other mid-booster.

I am looking forward to seeing how One Control is accepted. I believe the world will understand the real value of the PH someday.”

─ Björn Juhl

The post Purple Humper appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed
One Control Lemon Yellow Compressor!

Tone Report…Issue 139…”NOW PLAY THIS // Buzzworthy Gear” Section!

Demos

Sean Gibson

Mike Hermans

Jake Cloudchair

Bobby D

One Control Tourbox Reviews (The Gear Page)

GEAR USED (unknown)

“I like the Lemon Yellow Compressor, and I used the gain control as my only form of drive for the leads. It has clean, snappy attack, which brings out each track I used it on.”  (USA, July 2016)

GEAR USED: PRS S2 Custom 22 Semi-Hollow into both an Archon and Princeton

“…Now I have never owned a compressor pedal before as I tend to not really see it being worth the money or board space for my style of playing. That may have to change now. I tried the pedal in both settings but kept coming back to the sustain mode with a higher gain setting and a relatively high ratio. Something about just brought my clean tone to life through the Archon, which already has a fabulous clean tone. It presented my tone with new character that was both inspiring and surprising as I thought this would be yet another compressor that I struggle to dial in and quickly put back I the box.”  (USA, September 2016)

GEAR USED (unknown)

“I loved this one. It reminds me of a Rothwell Love Squeeze I used to own but more portable. I don’t use too much compression these days. Actually, I really like my Xotic SP Compressor, but I always keep it in the Low setting. The LYC kinds of sounds like the Xotic, with one exception: The Xotic brightens up the tone, even with a low blend. The LYC pretty music retains the tonal character already given. It’s just a matter of what your taste is.

Besides that tonal difference, I would say the LYC generates a tiny bit more noise, even when the Xotic’s blend is at 100%. The Sustain mode reminds me of the Xotic blended at around 9 o’clock, with the Low setting. I actually dig the fact that the SP Comp makes my tone brighter (as it is a little dark), but I wouldn’t mind having a LYC around.”  (USA, September 2016)

The post Lemon Yellow Compressor appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed
One Control Hooker’s Green Bassmachine!

Demos

Mike Hermans

Takamune Negishi

Jake Cloudchair

Hooker’s Green Bass Machine. Our first bass effects pedal was very difficult to produce. Development was slow and we were very close to giving up. We were desperate. Yet, thanks to advice and feedback from BJF and all the people involved, we were able to complete the product.

The biggest challenge to overcome was the fact that guitarists and bassists feel things differently. While they pursue the best sound on the same ground, they do it in different ways. Understanding what they visualize was the toughest challenge for us. This pedal can intuitively reproduce the sound that bassists feel and imagine in their heads. When our indefatigable brain incorporated the sound created by the final prototype, there was no doubt that we had experienced something precious. This pedal is a milestone for One Control. It is a turning point for us.

The tone you imagine manifests itself in this pedal.

What does “distortion effect” mean for bassists? They naturally have different ideas depending on their playing styles and genre. Yet, bass distortion effects pedals…especially overdrive pedals… are thought to be an extension of amp simulator/preamp or on-board active preamps.

In order to fulfill the functions of both an amp and a bass, bass overdrive pedals tend to be multi-functional and are large in size due to an increased number of knobs and terminals.

Pedalboards are getting larger, even more so recently. Distortion and various other effects can be used effectively to add color to music. Now, more than ever, bass overdrive pedals need casual usability like a guitar overdrive.

One Control Hooker’s Green Bassmachine embodies everything bassists need in its small body from the bass amp features to tone and deep feelings.

Bass tube amps are essential for an old school rock sound. Nothing can beat the controllable tones and feelings they create.

Moreover, old SUNN bass transistor amps are able to create high-level distortion that modern bass amps cannot achieve and that many professional bassists wouldn’t think of replacing.

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine gives you the tone and feeling of bass tube amps and old transistor amps when used with a modern bass transistor amp that is common in many music venues and studios. When Hooker’s Green Bassmachine is turned off, you can get a modern transistor amp sound.

By combining a modern transistor amp that is most commonly used by contemporary bassists and this small Hooker’s Green Bassmachine, you can cover all the bass amp sounds that many bassists seek.

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine has a dynamic range as wide as a bass tube amp and picks up all the subtle expressions that bassists create with their fingers. Transitions between clean and distorted sounds are smooth and it creates a gorgeous but stable compression tone like an old transistor amp when you increase the distortion. You can control your bass in any way you like.

It won’t miss any finger touches and accurately produces any groove from blues, fusion, or hard rock to metal. Its moderately sharp attack and clear-sounding keys do not decrease the speed realized by picking. Slapping, percussive chunks of sound by thumb popping, and sound created by pulling can be maintained and kept stable. The ability to freely control distortion enables you to play in a relaxed and comfortable way.

For heavy tracks using a multi-string bass, the Low trim pot on the side does its job. Hooker’s Green Bassmachine has enough low-end, but if it’s not enough for you, try turning the trim pot.

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine’s TREBLE knob has limited range to allow subtle adjustment. Many music venues and studios have modern bass amps equipped with powerful EQ and basic bass sound is created using that. What is required for an overdrive pedal is delicate sensory adjustment that is impossible with amp EQ.

While a number of bass effects pedals have knobs for blending and mixing, Hooker’s Green Bassmachine does not have them. The distortion circuit sometimes narrows the dynamic range and as a result creates a “coreless” sound. “Blend” is effective for giving “sound variation” in fuzz and space effects, but blending in bass overdrive pedals is only supplementary to dynamic range. Hooker’s Green Bassmachine introduced a dynamic amplifier circuit that handles bass signals fully. Thus, it does not create any coreless sound that is impossible to distort and therefore the blend knob is unnecessary. It also helped reduce the size of the product.

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine is compact not because it has fewer functions. It is designed to realize the maximum potential to create great sound with minimum body size.

If you absolutely need to blend for sound variation, use our One Control Mosquite Blender for blending any effects.

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine does not have a balanced out connector. You can create a lively bass sound with a line connector if you connect it to a mixing board directly and use it as a DI pedal.

● As a guitar overdrive pedal

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine was originally designed to be a bass overdrive pedal but can function as a guitar overdrive pedal as well.

Its wide dynamic range covers the full range of the guitar frequency and creates various sounds from a clean sound (after applying the highest quality compression available) to a thicker medium overdrive sound. It’s highly responsive and its ability to express various distortions with the guitar’s volume control is beyond many guitar overdrive pedals. Its response is comparable with our One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive and Anodized Brown Distortion that have the highest response level.

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine creates BJF’s “trademark” unique, solid dark European tones when it is used as a guitar overdrive pedal.

The frequency range that also supports multi-string bass is ideal for guitars tuned low as well as seven, eight, and nine-string modern guitars.

● High-voltage operation

Hooker’s Green Bassmachine operates under high voltage when used with up to an 18V adapter. With higher voltage, headroom is increased to allow even richer expression while reducing the gain slightly.

Although it’s most effective for solo bass or guitar, 9V operation might give a stronger core when used in ensemble or guitar riffs. You can change the voltage according to your needs.

“Hooker’s Green Bassmachine (HGB) is an all-purpose bass machine for any genre after the 1950’s. The impression I get when I increase DRIVE to full is like the bass sound that Lemmy of Motörhead made.

I tested it with a guitar, both with transistor and tube amps. It worked well with any guitar amps and pickups. It could be a great trick to improve your sound.”

— Björn Juhl

The post Hooker’s Green Bassmachine appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed
One Control Granith Grey Booster!

Demos

Mike Hermans

David Henriksson

MrExcane (Granith Grey Booster w/Anodized Brown Distortion)

The booster is an effect that amplifies incoming signals. If the incoming signal has noise in it, the noise is also amplified. This is an undeniable fact. However, you don’t have to compromise by thinking that this is unavoidable when you use a booster.

Try a truly noiseless booster. A world you’ve never experienced will unfold before you.

The One Control Granith Grey Booster is thoroughly dedicated to low noise. From the designing stage of the circuit, we tried to eliminate noise up to the limit of possibility. After repeated consultations between BJF and One Control, the booster now has a completely newly-designed circuit by BJF. It is full of BJF’s unique ideas that are liberated from conventional circuits. The case is made of high quality cut-out aluminum to protect the precious sound signals from inside and outside noises. It is also much more durable than die cast cases.

Furthermore, the switching noise that is inevitable with true bypass switching is minimized with our original filter circuit.

As a result, the Granith Grey Booster went beyond the capabilities of a compact pedal and attained an S/N ratio equivalent to a high-end vacuum tube audio amp.

Relevant and easy-to-handle boost gain

The One Control Granith Grey Booster allows a boost of about +16dB with the level knob set at the maximum level. You might think this is nothing extraordinary but we went through a number of tests with different values at our trial stage.

After repeated tests at different levels, it turned out that securing a +16dB boost was sufficient when a clean booster boosts up amps and distortion pedals or when enhancing the level of sound after distortion.

It might be impossible to create distortion with a booster alone. But in order to use a clean booster as a clean booster without losing dynamic range and outputting the guitar and bass sound while amplifying but basically keeping their original sound, and to realize the natural usability with any equipment with any connection, we determined the amplification at around +15dB which is appropriate for a clean booster.

And, if you turn the level knob down to the minimum, you can mute the sound and this allows the setting level cut and unity gain as well.

Pure texture

The One Control Granith Grey Booster will quickly make you aware of the pure tone that this pedal provides.

The frequency characteristic of the Granith Grey Booster is unique. A booster amplifies the incoming signals themselves. If you turn up the output without changing the frequency characteristic of incoming signals at all, you won’t be able to ignore the unnatural feeling it creates. It is the discomfort that was brought about by the difference between the frequency characteristic at the original output level and the actual output level.

The Granith Grey Booster is made in such a way that it outputs the incoming sounds just as they are while creating relevant frequency characteristics according to the output level when going through the boost circuit.

By doing so, the Granith Grey Booster realizes a pure and high quality boost sound without solidifying the sound or narrowing the dynamic range.

Suitable for any guitar, bass or equipment

The One Control Granith Grey Booster secured the 500kΩ input impedance to support any guitar and bass. You can use it by directly connecting to various guitars and basses regardless of types ranging from single coil, humbucking, active or passive.

Output impedance was kept low up to 2kΩ at most, which fits almost all pedal input and effects loop return on the amp.

Awakening amp potential

The One Control Granith Grey Booster is great with any guitar amp. It not only pushes a tube amp, but also is suitable for boosting drive channels inside transistor amps. It can also be used just like other amps for analog circuits even when used with a number of digital amps.

If you are using high-gain amps, connecting the Granith Grey Booster to the effects loop will allow the volume to be boosted with power amp distortion while taking advantage of strong preamp distortion at the same time.

The Granith Grey Booster will maximize the potential of any amp to awaken its true capability.

For any pedalboards

Even the greatest booster cannot be called user-friendly if it requires special care while transporting it.

One Control introduced an original super compact cut-out aluminum case for the Granith Grey Booster. The size allows compatibility with small pedalboards as well as larger ones.

We also made pedals this size to be battery-powered to allow usage without an outlet. The innovative technologies that arrange four PCBs inside secured the space to hold batteries while preserving the standard mini size.

The power consumption is kept below 1mA to allow longer battery power.

The One Control Granith Grey Booster works with center negative 9VDC adapters (EPA-2000 is recommended) or 006P 9V batteries.

• When batteries need to be replaced the LED lights turn off and the sound starts to be distorted.

The drive voltage of the Granith Grey Booster is set at higher than the normal level (8.8-9.6V) to realize high quality sound. So the batteries need to be replaced before they get down to zero. Please use new batteries when you replace them.

The current consumption of the Granith Grey Booster is quite low, staying under 1mA, and allows longer battery life even at higher voltage.

Major usage of a clean booster

・As a gain booster for pedalboards

A clean booster amplifies incoming signals into the distortion pedal by connecting before other distortion pedals. This, as a result, creates effects like the ones created by moving gain knobs. You can adjust the output sound volume using the distortion pedal. And if you connect a spatial pedal after the clean booster, input to these effects is amplified and sometimes create its own unique effect.

・As a master volume on the pedalboard

If you connect a clean booster at the end of the pedalboard or after the distortion pedal, you can adjust the volume while maintaining the distortion created by other pedals. You can switch the booster on and off to switch levels of sound volume all at once, like switching between the rhythm and lead.

・As a gain adjuster for a tube amp

If you connect a clean booster before the tube amp input to adjust the volume boost setting, you can increase the strength of the distortion by turning on the booster.

On the other hand, if you distort the amp first and set the clean booster to lower the volume when it’s turned on, you can decrease the gain on the amp when it’s turned on.

・As a volume adjuster for tube amps

If you set a clean booster in the amp’s effects loop, you can adjust the output level of the signal sent to the power amp while preserving the preamp distortion. Set it to increase volume and you will be able to give power amp distortion along with the high volume when it’s turned on. Set it to lower the volume to use it like an attenuator.

“As a clean booster it is excellent and boost range is 15dB which is more than you’d need to set level for rhythm solo but 15dB is perfect for heating up a stale amplifier input and so it can work as a spare tube.

Indeed noise level is very low and among the very best I have ever heard in a booster.

One key to this is that the filtering of the circuit is made to fit the frequency range of an electric guitar and that lowers some overtones that could otherwise be present.”

— Björn Juhl

The post Granith Grey Booster appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX presents the BJF-designed One Control Fluorescent Orange Amp In A Box!

Demo

Mike Hermans

Burgs

Hans Johansson

Sean Gibson

Jake Cloudchair

One Control Tourbox Reviews (The Gear Page)

GEAR USED: Fender MIM Telecaster 72 Deluxe, Epiphone Les Paul, Vox AC15c1, Orange OR15, Fender Blues Deville

“boy was it ever. i borrowed my friend’s orange to see how this compared to an actual orange. crank the gain on the amp and the pedal with some drop C was instant stoner heaven and the pedal copped the amp’s sound one thousand percent. the pedal was less saggy than the amp, which i liked, and got a lot brighter and crisper sounding (e.g., less “vintage fuzzy orange” and more “modern tight orange”). roll that presence back and it gets much more vintage-y and reminiscent of the or15. with the pedal set cleaner the cool cat fuzz melted into it exactly like the amp. i feel like a few pedals have tried to cop this sound but i feel like a lot sacrifice clarity for that fuzzy woof. not here. don’t skip this one.”  (USA, Feb. 2017)

GEAR USED: Tele through a 2X12 combo which combines Vox & Tweed characteristics. I’m running Weber Alnico Blue & Silver speakers, so keep in mind that my impressions are based on single coils through an amp with strong mids and alnico speakers.

“When I originally signed up for the tour box, I was most excited to try the Flourescent Orange Amp in a Box since I’m a big fan of the classic Matamp / Orange amps of old. I was certainly not disappointed, and I was immediately able to dial in the grunt & heft of those old Oranges. One thing that surprised me when playing the FOAB was that it has plenty of sheen and presence available is you seek more clarity. I often associate the “Orange Sound” with a bold midrange & fast attack with solid lows but not much high end sheen. The FOAB is capable of more chime & presence than my old (sadly sold) Matamp 2X12 combo, for instance, and I think this makes the pedal that much more flexible. Crank the VOLUME pot up around 3:00, roll the MASTER back a bit, and keep the presence around 10:00 or so and you’ve got a thick British voice with the response of the big solid state rectified Orange beasts. Terrific box.”  (USA, Feb. 2017)

The post Fluorescent Orange Amp In a Box appeared first on BearFoot FX.

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BearFoot FX brings you the BJFe Baby Blue OD Deluxe…limited to ONE unit, available NOW!

Designed and built by Sweden’s Björn Juhl!

The post BJFe Baby Blue OD Deluxe appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BJFe Baby Blue OD 4-Knob from BearFoot FX! Very limited availability (ONLY ONE!)…get yours NOW!

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BearFoot FX brings you the BJFe Baby Blue OD 3-Knob v2! Very limited supply…get one NOW while you can!

The post BJFe Baby Blue OD (3-Knob) appeared first on BearFoot FX.

See our standard edition Emerald Green Distortion Machine Silver for details, demos, and reviews!

The post Emerald Green Distortion Machine Silver (BLEM) appeared first on BearFoot FX.

See our standard edition Red Rooster Boosters (1, 2 & 3) for details, demo, and reviews!

The post Red Rooster Booster #2 (BLEM) appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX Candy Apple Fuzz SILVER

For reviews, demos and further details,
see our regularly-priced Candy Apple Fuzz Silicon!

The post Candy Apple Fuzz SILVER (Silicon) (BLEM) appeared first on BearFoot FX.

BearFoot FX Candiru Fuzz Silicon

The Candiru was the rudest and rippingest of the Candy Apple Foursome, featuring increased gating abilities to the left side of the Nature knob, and a silicon velcro heart overall. Now the Candiru Apple Fuzz is history…featured in our archives. In its place is…

Our new Candiru Fuzz, which adds a 5th knob for greater versatility. The new Candiru puts the inner trimpot of the old Candiru Apple on the outside of the pedal in the form of the 5th knob, a rotary switch.  This knob is for greater gating capabilities…something MOST of you seem to appreciate! It’s still silicon-based, so you can expect sharper teeth and gnarlier YOWL!

For reviews, demos and further details,
see our regularly-priced Candiru Fuzz!

The post Candiru Fuzz (Silicon) (BLEM) appeared first on BearFoot FX.