The FATBEE Overdrive "FB971" Custom Series is an overdrive pedal from Beetronics, built around what the company calls "A Jfet drive like no other, breaks up sweet and smooth like a tubee amp"1. JFET refers to the junction field-effect transistor used in the circuit, a component often chosen in overdrive designs because of how it responds like the stages of a tube amplifier. Beetronics describes the FATBEE as a fully original overdrive circuit, designed in collaboration with the pedal designer Howard Davis, and it is the first pedal in the company's Babee Series1. If you are new to this corner of the pedal world, the FATBEE sits in the broader family of overdrive pedals, circuits that push a signal into gentle or aggressive breakup depending on how hard they are driven.
Availability and buying terms
The FATBEE "FB971" Custom Series is listed as sold out on the Beetronics product page as of 25 October 2026. Beetronics has issued the FATBEE circuit in other editions, such as the Fatbee FB941 and the FATBEE Overdrive "Vitral", so the circuit itself has appeared in more than one run.
The regular price is given as £192.00 GBP1. On returns, Beetronics states there "might be a modest restocking fee of 15%, or the possibility of receiving store credit instead" if a returned product shows wear or is missing accessories1.
Power and size
The FATBEE requires a 9VDC power supply with a center negative plug and draws 36mA1. Beetronics notes the pedal does not include a power supply, so a supply is a separate purchase1. At 36mA, the draw is high enough that a low-output daisy-chain output may not be the right home for it on a crowded board.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Power requirement | 9VDC, center negative1 |
| Current draw | 36mA1 |
| Power supply included | No1 |
| Pedal size | 5.5" x 3.5" x 2.75" including knobs, switches and etc1 |
| Pedal weight | 0.5 lbs / 0.25 kilos1 |
| Package size | 6.75" x 5.25" x 3.25"1 |
| Package weight | 0.75 lbs / 0.5 kilos1 |
Beetronics' own page also lists a second set of pedal dimensions, 4 1/2" x 2 1/4" x 2 1/4", alongside the 5.5" x 3.5" x 2.75" figure, and the two do not agree. The larger figure is the one the page labels as pedal size including knobs and switches.
Questions
Does the Beetronics FATBEE come with a power supply?
No. Beetronics states on the product page that the FATBEE does not include a power supply. It requires a 9VDC supply with a center negative plug and draws 36mA, so plan to use a supply you already own or buy one separately.
Is the FATBEE FB971 still available?
As of 25 October 2026, the Beetronics product page lists the FATBEE Overdrive "FB971" Custom Series as sold out. Beetronics has released the FATBEE circuit in other editions, so other versions may be available when this one is not.
Who designed the Beetronics FATBEE?
Beetronics describes the FATBEE as a fully original overdrive circuit designed in collaboration with the pedal designer Howard Davis, whom the company calls legendary. It is sold under the Beetronics name as part of the Babee Series.
How big is the Beetronics FATBEE?
Beetronics lists the pedal size as 5.5" x 3.5" x 2.75" including knobs and switches, weighing 0.5 lbs (0.25 kilos). The shipping package is 6.75" x 5.25" x 3.25" and weighs 0.75 lbs (0.5 kilos).
Sources (1)
- FATBEE Overdrive "FB971" Custom Series, Beetronics (www.beetronicsfx.com)
