The Barefaced Machinist is a bass guitar effects pedal in the distortion family, and it marks Barefaced's first foray into bass guitar effects1. It is an analog unit built as three circuits running in parallel: an overdrive/distortion, a fuzz, and a clean section with its own volume and low pass filter12. The pedal is the result of a collaboration between boutique effects manufacturer COG and Barefaced, and it is made in the UK1.
Three circuits in parallel
The Machinist's layout is unusual among bass pedals: rather than one effect with modes, it puts three separate sections in parallel, each with its own footswitch1. The three footswitches are Parallel Clean, Fuzz and Overdrive/Distortion on/off1.
Overdrive/distortion section. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the gain control as going from subtle overdrive to roaring distortion, with a two band bass and treble EQ using shelving curves to dial in tonal balance, and a level control for the section's output2. Guitar World's review notes the shelved bass and treble tone controls on this section and describes the intensity of the distortion or overdrive as depending on how hard you play1.
Fuzz section. The fuzz control is described by RockBoard's PedalPedia as a square wave that, turned up, gets more and more fuzz2. Guitar World's reviewer found the fuzz is more of an effect than a core dirt tone, calling it perfect for a Seventies Geezer Butler sound1.
Clean section. This channel has a level control and a tone knob that RockBoard's PedalPedia describes as a low pass filter, rolling off the highs and mids2. Because it runs in parallel, it can be blended under either dirty channel. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the clean footswitch as running the low pass filtered clean sound in parallel with a dirty sound, or adding or removing it when a dirty sound is already on; if neither fuzz nor distortion is on, stomping the clean footswitch just lights the LED and passes the filtered clean sound2. Guitar World likewise notes the clean section can be preselected and added to the distortion when overdrive or fuzz is switched on1.
Each of the dirty channels shows its state with a red LED, and the distortion channel is engaged via what RockBoard's PedalPedia calls a virtual true bypass switch2.
Controls at a glance
| Section | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Overdrive/distortion | Gain | Subtle overdrive to roaring distortion2 |
| Overdrive/distortion | Bass and treble EQ | Two band shelving curves for tonal balance2 |
| Overdrive/distortion | Level | Sets the distortion channel's level2 |
| Fuzz | Fuzz | Square wave fuzz, more and more as it is turned up2 |
| Clean | Level | Sets the clean channel's level2 |
| Clean | Tone | Low pass filter, rolls off highs and mids2 |
Power and connections
The Machinist runs on 9 to 18V DC1. There is no battery option: Guitar World's review states plainly that there is no provision for running the Machinist on batteries1, so a DC supply is required.
The Machinist has no battery provision and needs its own DC input at 9 to 18V DC1. Plan your pedalboard power accordingly.
Connections are minimal. The pedal is housed in a plain aluminum project box with just a single jack in and out, plus a DC input1. Guitar World describes it as a large format pedal, measuring 5.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches deep by 2.5 inches high1, so it occupies more board space than a compact enclosure.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review is the published verdict on record. The reviewer summed the pedal up this way1:
"A great effects pedal, but we'd like to see a little more thought given to the aesthetics."
The same review notes there is a money-back guarantee, which softens the risk of trying a first-of-its-kind product from a maker new to effects1.
Videos
Barefaced Audio
Barefaced Audio
Guitar Interactive Magazine
Questions
Is the Barefaced Machinist made for bass guitar?
Yes. The Machinist is Barefaced's first foray into bass guitar effects, according to Guitar World's review. It is a bass distortion pedal built around three parallel sections: an overdrive/distortion with shelved bass and treble controls, a fuzz, and a clean channel with its own level and low pass filter. It came out of a collaboration between Barefaced and the boutique effects maker COG.
Does the Barefaced Machinist run on a battery?
No. Guitar World's review notes there is no provision for running the Machinist on batteries. It is powered from a DC input at 9 to 18 volts DC, so a standard pedalboard power supply is required and a daisy chain with a battery option is not part of the picture.
Can the clean channel run at the same time as the fuzz?
Yes. The clean section runs in parallel with the dirty channels. Barefaced describes the clean footswitch as running the low pass filtered clean sound alongside a dirty sound, or adding and removing it when a dirty sound is already on. If neither fuzz nor distortion is engaged, the clean footswitch simply lights the LED and passes the filtered clean sound.
Where is the Barefaced Machinist made?
The Machinist is made in the UK, according to Guitar World's review. Barefaced is a UK company, and the pedal came out of a collaboration between Barefaced and the boutique effects manufacturer COG.
How big is the Barefaced Machinist?
Guitar World lists the dimensions as 5.5 inches wide by 4.5 inches deep by 2.5 inches high. The review describes it as a large format pedal housed in a plain aluminum project box, so it takes up more board space than a standard compact enclosure.
Sources (2)
- Barefaced Machinist Distortion review, Guitar World, 2022-06-03
- Machinist by Barefaced, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026