The Big Joe Empire (B-502) is a dual-preamp overdrive pedal from Big Joe Stomp Box Company, developed in collaboration with Paul "TFO" Allen1. Instead of one drive circuit, it carries two selectable preamp sections that can be used independently or stacked together in either order, which the maker says can "turn any single channel amp into a 4-channel beast that roars with clarity"1. It is an analog overdrive/distortion design with a switchable bypass and an adjustable buffer that doubles as a clean boost1.
The pedal was announced in December 2014 alongside the Big Joe Texas Screamer, debuted at the 2015 NAMM show in Anaheim, California in January, and was set to be available in February 20152.
Two preamps in one pedal
The core idea of the Empire is that its two preamp channels, A and B, each stand on their own but also combine. The maker describes it as a 2-channel analog overdrive/distortion whose "channels A and B can be used simultaneously or individually"1. The 2014 announcement added that the two preamp sections can be combined "in either direction: A/B or B/A"2, and an A/B to B/A toggle on the pedal lets you change the order of the signal flow for both channels3.
For a player, that means one pedal can cover a range of gain stages: Pedal of the Day described the sounds available as running "from slight amp breakup, to sweet and smooth classic rock, British Invasion-type sounds and gorgeous, singing lead tones"3.
Controls
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | A | Adjusts the amount of overdrive saturation3 |
| Presence | A | Controls the high frequencies above the treble range3 |
| Tone | B | Adjusts how dark or bright the overall sound is3 |
| Output | A and B | Sets the level of each channel3 |
| A/B to B/A toggle | Both | Changes the order of the signal flow for both channels3 |
| Firm/Sponge toggle | Each channel | Selects between Firm and Sponge modes1 |
| Bypass toggle | Global | Switches between buffered and true bypass1 |
Sponge and Firm modes
Each channel has its own toggle to select between Firm and Sponge modes1. The maker describes this as "a unique Sponge/Firm function that allows you to customize touch-sensitivity for the tube-like sag, response, and feel"1. In practice, it lets you set how each preamp reacts to your picking: one setting firmer and more immediate, the other with the give, or sag, of a tube amp pushed hard.
Pedal of the Day's reviewers found the drive "touch-sensitive, tone-shaping and dynamic, making it a real powerhouse for limitless sound explorations"3.
"This drive is also touch-sensitive, tone-shaping and dynamic, making it a real powerhouse for limitless sound explorations."
Bypass and the buffer
The Empire's bypass is switchable: a toggle on the pedal selects between true bypass and buffered operation1. The 2014 press release described the pedal as "100% analog with true bypass circuitry"2, and the current product page carries the selectable version32.
The buffered mode is more than a standard buffer. The announcement described an "Adjustable Buffer/Line Driver [that] compensates for pedal board signal loss and also doubles as +15db clean boost"2. Pedal of the Day made the same point from a player's angle: "sometimes you need that buffer to boost your signal a bit (up to +15dB here)"3. That makes the buffer useful both for long pedalboards with signal loss and as a solo boost in front of the drive channels.
Power
The Empire runs on batteries or a line-in power supply2. The maker's page lists 12V and 18V support1, and Pedal of the Day found its power arrangements "friendly to a plethora of power supplies"3.
The pedal supports 12V and 18V operation1, so make sure your power supply delivers a voltage the Empire is built around before plugging in.
Price and where it came from
Big Joe Stomp Box Company announced the Empire in a December 2014 press release, in collaboration with Paul "TFO" Allen, alongside the Texas Screamer2. It debuted at the 2015 NAMM show in Anaheim, California in January and was to be available in February 20152. The announcement described it as a small-footprint design2.
On price, the maker's current product page lists a regular price of $299.951, while the 2014 announcement gave a $299 MSRP2.
Videos
Pete Thorn
Big Joe Stomp Box Company
Shawn Tubbs
Questions
Is the Big Joe Empire true bypass?
It can be. A toggle switch on the pedal lets you choose between true bypass and buffered operation, so you can run it either way depending on your pedalboard. The original 2014 announcement described it as true bypass, and the maker's current page lists the switchable bypass as a feature.
Is the Big Joe Empire fully analog?
Yes. Big Joe Stomp Box Company describes the B-502 Empire as a 2-channel analog overdrive/distortion, and the 2014 press release called it 100 percent analog. There is no digital processing in the signal path.
What does the buffer on the Big Joe Empire do?
The adjustable buffer/line driver compensates for signal loss across a pedalboard and doubles as a +15dB clean boost. Pedal of the Day noted that sometimes you need a buffer to boost your signal, and the Empire offers up to that +15dB in buffer mode.
Can the Big Joe Empire run on a battery?
Yes. The 2014 press release stated that the pedal runs on batteries or a line-in power supply. The maker's current page also lists 12V and 18V support, and Pedal of the Day found it friendly to a wide range of power supplies.
What do the Sponge and Firm modes do?
Each channel has a toggle that selects between Firm and Sponge modes. The maker describes the Sponge/Firm function as a way to customize touch-sensitivity for tube-like sag, response and feel, so each preamp section can be set to react to your picking like a tube amp.
How much does the Big Joe Empire cost?
The maker's product page lists a regular price of $299.95. When the pedal was announced in December 2014, the MSRP was given as $299.
Sources (3)
- B-502 EMPIRE, Big Joe Stomp Box Company
- Big Joe Stompbox Unveils Texas Screamer & Empire, Premier Guitar, 2014-12-22
- Big Joe Stomp Box Company B-502 Empire Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2016-10-12
