The Amptweaker Bass BluesFuzz Jr is a compact bass fuzz pedal built around a germanium transistor. It was unveiled in July 2017 as part of the Jr series of the company's TightFuzz and BluesFuzz pedals, in both guitar and bass versions, at a list price of $18012. The bass versions add a Dry Low knob that blends clean tone with the distortion, a control aimed squarely at the classic bass-fuzz problem of losing low end under the effect2.
Controls and features
The pedal carries Volume, Tone, Fuzz and Dry Low controls, plus a Mid EQ control that Bass Gear Magazine's reviewer found relatively subtle to his ears1. MusicRadar's announcement of the Jr series describes the family's control set as a fat/normal/tight attack switch along with tone, volume and fuzz controls2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Tone | Tone shaping |
| Fuzz | Fuzz amount |
| Dry Low | Blends clean tone with the distortion2 |
| Mid | Mid EQ control, described as relatively subtle by the reviewer1 |
| Fat/Tight switch | Attack switch, fat/normal/tight2 |
| Boost switch | Adds +10dB gain1 |
Other features listed in the Bass Gear Magazine review include true bypass switching, the Boost switch, the Mid control and the Fat/Tight switch1.
How it differs from the Bass TightFuzz Jr
The Bass BluesFuzz Jr shares many features with the Bass TightFuzz Jr, but two things are swapped. Where the TightFuzz Jr has a Germanium/Silicon switch, the BluesFuzz Jr replaces it with a Mid EQ control, and the 60's/70's/Now switch is replaced with a Boost switch that adds 10dB of gain1. The BluesFuzz Jr is built around a germanium transistor, as reviewer Tom Bowlus notes: "The Bass BluesFuzz Jr. features a germanium transistor, by the way."1
The guitar version of the pedal is covered separately on the Amptweaker BluesFuzz JR page, and the wider family includes the Amptweaker BluesFuzz, the Amptweaker TightFuzz Pro and the Amptweaker Bass TightFuzz. For more on the effect type, see Fuzz Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Amptweaker Bass BluesFuzz Jr true bypass?
Yes. Bass Gear Magazine's review lists true bypass switching among the pedal's other features, alongside the Boost switch, Mid control and Fat/Tight switch. That means the fuzz circuit is taken out of the signal path entirely when the pedal is off, so your clean bass tone passes through unchanged.
What does the Dry Low knob do on the Bass BluesFuzz Jr?
The Dry Low knob blends clean tone with the distorted signal. MusicRadar notes that the bass versions of the Jr pedals offer this control, which lets you keep low end intact under the fuzz by mixing your unaffected bass tone back in with the fuzzed signal.
How much boost does the Boost switch add?
The Boost switch adds 10dB of gain, according to Bass Gear Magazine's review. It replaces the 60's/70's/Now switch found on the Bass TightFuzz Jr, giving the BluesFuzz Jr a level push instead of a voicing selector.
Does the Bass BluesFuzz Jr use a germanium transistor?
Yes. Bass Gear Magazine's reviewer Tom Bowlus notes that the Bass BluesFuzz Jr features a germanium transistor, which is the core of its fuzz character and the main thing that sets it apart from the silicon-based Bass TightFuzz Jr.
What does the Fat/Tight switch do?
The Fat/Tight switch shapes the pedal's attack, choosing between a fatter or tighter response. MusicRadar describes the fat/normal/tight attack switch on the BluesFuzz Jr pedals, and Bass Gear Magazine lists the Fat/Tight switch among the bass version's features.
How is the Bass BluesFuzz Jr different from the Bass TightFuzz Jr?
The Bass BluesFuzz Jr shares many features with the Bass TightFuzz Jr, but two controls are swapped: the Germanium/Silicon switch is replaced with a Mid EQ control, and the 60's/70's/Now switch is replaced with a Boost switch that adds 10dB of gain. The BluesFuzz Jr is built around a germanium transistor.
Sources (2)
- Bassic Review, Bass Gear Magazine, 2019-12-05
- Amptweaker reveals TightFuzz and BluesFuzz Jr guitar and bass pedals, MusicRadar, 2017-07-20
