The Beetronics Royal Jelly Limited Edition "Plumbee" is a limited-run finish of the Beetronics Royal Jelly, an overdrive/fuzz blender pedal. Beetronics describes the Royal Jelly as "an overdrive/fuzz blender like no other pedal," running two circuits in parallel: an overdrive and a fuzz that you can blend in any proportion or use separately1. The Plumbee edition carries the same circuit in a distinct limited finish, hand made in California1.
The core idea is the blend. Instead of choosing between an overdrive pedal and a fuzz pedal, the Royal Jelly runs both at once and lets you mix their levels, covering ground from a light drive edge to full fuzz. Two presets of that blend, called Queen and King, give you two distinct overdrive/fuzz sounds you can switch between on the fly, and Beetronics says mixing the overdrive and fuzz levels also makes for a very natural transition between presets12.
From overdrive to fuzz with one blend
The Royal Jelly's two parallel circuits are the whole point of the pedal. Beetronics says it "can cover any ground from overdrive to fuzz, running two circuits in parallel and giving you the possibility of blending" the two1. For a player, that means one box can sit at several points on the gain spectrum: mostly overdrive with a touch of fuzz for thickness, an even mix, or mostly fuzz with the overdrive circuit fattening the bottom.
The Queen and King modes are the two stored blends. Beetronics describes them as offering "two distinct overdrive/fuzz blends"1, so you can set one preset as your rhythm sound and the other as your lead sound, then footswitch between them. The maker also notes that because the presets are blends rather than completely separate voicings, moving between them sounds natural rather than like swapping pedals1.
A BUZZ switch adds character to the fuzz side. On the Plumbee page, Beetronics says the switch "adds that nasty high end usually found on the vintage fuzz boxes to its fuzz circuit"1; the general Royal Jelly page describes it as a high-end boost to the fuzz for extra bite and presence2.
The controls
The control set breaks into three jobs: the blend, the EQ, and the dry mix.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Blend (Queen/King presets) | Two stored overdrive/fuzz blends, switchable on the fly12 |
| HI and LO EQ | 10dB of cut/boost each, for shaping the tone1 |
| DRY | Blends in the dry signal; on guitar, creates clean tones with a fuzzy background1 |
| BUZZ switch | Adds a nasty high end, like vintage fuzz boxes, to the fuzz circuit1 |
The EQ is generous for a drive pedal. The HI and LO controls each offer 10dB of cut or boost, which Beetronics calls a powerful EQ that makes it possible to shape your tone in many different ways1. Ten dB is a lot of swing: full boost on LO can thicken a thin fuzz, while cutting HI can tame the harshness the BUZZ switch introduces.
The DRY control is the feature Beetronics highlights most across the whole Royal Jelly line. On guitar, the maker says it "is great to create unique clean tones with a fuzzy background"1, a layered sound rather than a simple clean or dirty choice. Elsewhere in the line, the same control is described as keeping your tone tight and articulate with an adjustable dry mix3.
Power and hardware
The Plumbee requires a 9V DC power supply with a center negative plug, the standard arrangement for most modern pedals, and the power supply is not included1.
The Royal Jelly needs a 9V DC center negative supply, and one is not included with the pedal. Any standard center negative 9V pedal supply works; there is no battery option in the listed specifications.
The pedal is a substantial piece of hardware: 6-1/8" x 5-1/16" x 2-3/4" and 2 lbs (1 kg), with the packaged pedal at 2.5 lbs (1.25 kg) in a 7-1/2" x 6-1/4" x 3-1/4" box1. That is larger and heavier than a typical compact fuzz, so board space is worth planning for.
On bass, synths and in the studio
Beetronics explicitly pitches the dry blend beyond guitar. The maker says "it's also possible to blend in your dry signal, a great feature for bass, drums and synths or any studio use"1, and the same wording appears across the Royal Jelly limited editions14. The reason is simple: fuzz circuits can thin out a bass's low end or smear a synth's attack, and the DRY control lets you keep the original signal underneath the effect. For a bassist, that means fuzz texture with the fundamental intact; in the studio, it works as an outboard drive for drums or keys.
A limited edition finish in the Royal Series
The Plumbee is one of many limited edition finishes of the Royal Jelly, which Beetronics groups under its Royal Series15. Each edition is the same overdrive/fuzz blender circuit in a different paint job, produced in a limited run. Editions in the line include:
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition "Pomegranate"6
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition "Beeliever", color series 047
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition Pink/Blue8
- Royal Jelly Valentine Limited Edition, Royal Series9
The maker lists the Plumbee as sold out1, and other editions such as the Pomegranate and Beeliever are shown as sold out as well67. The list price on the Plumbee page is £223.00 GBP1. Beetronics also offers a 14-day money back guarantee on the line2.
Questions
What does the Dry knob do on the Royal Jelly?
The DRY control blends your unprocessed signal in with the effected one. On guitar, Beetronics describes it as a way to create unique clean tones with a fuzzy background. It also keeps things tight and articulate, which is what makes the pedal useful beyond guitar, since bass, drums and synths all benefit from keeping some of their original signal in the mix.
How much cut and boost do the Hi and Lo controls give?
The HI and LO EQ controls each give 10dB of cut or boost. That is a wide range for a two-band EQ on a drive pedal, and Beetronics positions it as the tool for shaping your tone in many different ways once you have set the overdrive and fuzz blend.
Can you use the Royal Jelly on bass or synths?
Yes. Beetronics specifically calls out the dry signal blend as a great feature for bass, drums and synths, or any studio use. Because the DRY control lets you keep the low end and character of the source intact while adding drive or fuzz on top, the pedal works as an outboard distortion for instruments other than guitar.
Is the Royal Jelly Plumbee still available?
No. The Plumbee is a limited edition and the maker's product page lists it as sold out. Other Royal Jelly limited editions, such as the Pomegranate and the Beeliever color series, are also shown as sold out, so this run appears to have closed. The standard Royal Jelly line is covered separately.
How heavy is the Beetronics Royal Jelly?
The pedal itself weighs 2 lbs (1 kg), and the packaged pedal weighs 2.5 lbs (1.25 kg). The package measures 7-1/2 by 6-1/4 by 3-1/4 inches, while the pedal itself is 6-1/8 by 5-1/16 by 2-3/4 inches, so it is a fairly large, substantial enclosure by compact pedal standards.
Sources (9)
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition, Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition Royal Series, Beetronics
- Royal Jelly • Beezarre Bazaar • RJ3540, Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition, Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition, Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition "Pomegranate", Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition "Beeliever", Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Limited Edition, Beetronics
- Royal Jelly Valentine Limited Edition Royal Series, Beetronics
