The Amptweaker Bass TightMetal Jr is a bass distortion pedal, launched in July 2016 as part of the bass expansion of the Amptweaker Jr. Distortion series alongside the Bass TightDrive Jr and Bass TightRock Jr1. It comes from Amptweaker's James Brown, and Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up the design intent in one line: "Amptweaker's James Brown knows dirt"2.
What it does to a bass tone
Premier Guitar's reviewer described the pedal as delivering "an edgy-yet-thick distortion that's not for the faint-hearted, but it's also not just for metal"2. In other words, it is a heavy dirt box, but the kind of distortion it makes can serve more than one style.
The feature aimed squarely at bass players is the dry low blend knob, carried over from the Bass TightFuzz line's popular feature. Amptweaker describes it as helping maintain the low end while letting the distortion stay chunky and tight1. The tone and tight controls are shifted down an octave compared with the guitar versions, so they work at bass frequencies or on extended-range guitars1.
Low-end retention is where the reviewer found the pedal earned its keep:
"Low-end preservation is probably what I like best about the sounds from the Bass TightMetal Jr."
The review notes that the weight and oomph of notes kept the word thin from ever entering the conversation about the low end2.
Controls and design
The Bass TightMetal Jr shares its platform with the guitar TightMetal Jr, which Amptweaker built on the TightDrive platform with Tight, Tone, Mid and Noise Gate controls. The bass version keeps the series' common feature set: the dry low blend knob, a tight switch, an EQ switch, and a noise gate1.
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tone and Tight controls | Shifted down an octave for bass or extended-range guitars1 |
| Dry low blend knob | Maintains the low end while the distortion stays chunky and tight1 |
| Tight switch | Included across the bass Jr series1 |
| EQ switch | Included across the bass Jr series1 |
| Noise gate | Included across the bass Jr series1 |
Size, power and bypass
The pedal is a mini unit, sized like a Phase 90, with the same features as its guitar counterpart1. It uses true bypass switching, and battery access requires no tools1. Power runs from 9 to 18VDC, and Amptweaker notes the pedal responds with varying dynamics across that range, so a higher supply changes how it feels under the fingers1. MusicRadar's buying guide lists the TightMetal Jr as taking a 9-18V power supply or a 9-18V battery3.
The 9 to 18VDC range means the pedal can run at higher than standard pedalboard voltage. Amptweaker states it operates with varying dynamics across that range, so the supply you choose affects the feel1.
How it compares
The Bass TightMetal Jr sits at the heavy end of the three-pedal bass Jr series, alongside the Bass TightDrive Jr and Bass TightRock Jr1. On the guitar side of the range, the TightMetal Jr is its direct counterpart, with the larger TightMetal Pro and the tweaked FatMetal above it in the wider Amptweaker distortion family1.
What reviewers found
Premier Guitar's quick-hit review tested the pedal through a Fender Precision, a Gallien-Krueger 800RB head, an Orange OBC212 cab and a Focusrite Scarlett 2i42. The reviewer's standout point was the low end: the pedal kept the weight and oomph of notes intact, so the low end never sounded thin2. The verdict on the character was that the distortion is edgy yet thick, demanding but not limited to metal2.
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Questions
Who designed the Amptweaker Bass TightMetal Jr?
The pedal comes from Amptweaker, the company run by James Brown. Premier Guitar's reviewer put it plainly: "Amptweaker's James Brown knows dirt." The Bass TightMetal Jr is the bass version of the compact TightMetal Jr, launched in July 2016 alongside the Bass TightDrive Jr and Bass TightRock Jr as bass versions of the Jr Distortion series.
Is the Bass TightMetal Jr true bypass?
Yes. Amptweaker's press release for the bass Jr series states that all of the pedals use true bypass switching, and MusicRadar's buying guide lists the TightMetal Jr as true bypass as well. The release also notes battery access with no tools required.
What voltage does the Bass TightMetal Jr take?
The pedal operates from 9 to 18VDC, according to Amptweaker's press release, which adds that it runs with varying dynamics across that range. MusicRadar's buying guide lists the TightMetal Jr as taking a 9-18V power supply or a 9-18V battery.
Can the Bass TightMetal Jr be used with extended-range guitars?
Yes. Amptweaker designed the pedal with the tone and tight controls shifted down an octave for bass or extended-range guitars, so a baritone or seven- and eight-string player can dial in the same tight, controlled low end a bassist gets.
How big is the Bass TightMetal Jr?
It is a mini pedal, sized like an MXR Phase 90 according to Amptweaker's press release, which notes that each mini Phase 90-sized pedal carries the same features as its guitar counterpart. That small footprint makes it easy to fit on a crowded pedalboard.
Sources (3)
- Amptweaker Launches New Bass Jr. Pedal Series, Premier Guitar, 2016-07-01
- Quick Hit: Amptweaker Bass TightMetal Jr Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-02-08
- Best distortion pedals for metal: High gain tones, MusicRadar, 2020-12-21
James Brown
