EarthQuaker Devices releases Blumes bass overdrive pedal

January 4, 2024 · 3 sources

EarthQuaker Devices released the Blumes overdrive pedal for bass on January 4, 2024, with a US list price of $99¹². MusicRadar reported the launch under its NAMM 2024 coverage and called the pedal "A Plumes for bassists"¹. Delicious Audio later listed it among new products at NAMM in a post updated January 28, 2024³.

The pedal is based on the Plumes Small Signal Shredder, which EarthQuaker describes as its Small Signal Shredder². MusicRadar describes the Blumes as based on a tube amp-like gain circuit with the same three clipping options as the Plumes: symmetrical LED, asymmetrical silicon, and no diode op-amp drive¹. The circuit has been modified to offer twice as much gain and deeper bass response¹². Gearnews describes the Blumes as an overdrive for bass and guitar².

The clipping modes are selected with a tri-mode soft clipping switch³. Gearnews describes symmetrical LED clipping as crunchier and more compressed, the no-clipping op-amp mode as a wide-open clean boost, and asymmetrical silicon diode clipping as transparent with a looser feel, a warmer low end and lower output². The Blumes uses an internal bipolar power supply, which the makers say provides more headroom and dynamics³².

Controls are three knobs. MusicRadar and Delicious Audio name them Volume, Tone and Gain³¹; Gearnews names them Level, Tone and Gain². The pedal is true bypass and uses EarthQuaker's Flexi-Switch technology, which allows momentary switching by holding the footswitch or latching on and off with a tap¹². It has a metal enclosure, a blue LED indicator and a standard 9V DC power jack³.

MusicRadar gives the price as $99 and says the pedal is available from Sweetwater¹. Gearnews lists an MSRP of USD 99².