The Black Sheep is an all-transistor fuzz pedal from Black Arts Toneworks, announced as a new pedal to be debuted at Winter NAMM in January 2014 alongside the Pharaoh Supreme1. The maker describes its sound as "Dirty, mean spirited and a blast to hang around with."2 It is a current product on the maker's site, listed at $189 USD as of October 20262.
Where the circuit comes from
Guitar FX Layouts, the independent circuit-analysis site that published a verified vero layout for the pedal, describes the Black Sheep as "Essentially it's a modded BeeBaa with an input cap selector like you see on the Black Arts Black Forest."3 The BeeBaa reference points to a classic two-channel fuzz design, and the input cap selector gives the player a way to shape how the circuit hits the front end, in the same spirit as the selector Black Arts uses on the Black Forest.
Transistors and what builders found
The original Black Arts pedal uses 2N5089 transistors, according to the Guitar FX Layouts analysis3. Builders working from that layout have tried alternatives:
- The layout's author settled on MPSA18s after trying different transistors, saying "They tamed a bit of the metallic decay that I heard with the" 2N50893.
- Builder AlexS reported in February 2017: "I used 2n5089's and don't have any squeals or annoying oscillation at max gain"3.
- Builder Servant07 verified the layout in January 2016, reporting "the pedal sounds great, definitely getting boxed"3.
The same builder was struck by the level on tap: "Just finished it up and was taken back by the thunderous output."3
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | The gain or fuzz control, using terminology similar to a Big Muff3 |
| Tone | Usable through the whole sweep, "nothing too extreme at either end" per the Guitar FX Layouts author3 |
| Input cap selector | A rotary switch selecting among four input caps; on the layout it is a three-pole, four-position rotary using the A pole in the center and positions 1 through 4 for the caps3 |
Feedback at full gain
The fuzz control does something worth knowing about at the top of its travel. The Guitar FX Layouts author observed that in demo videos "the fuzz knob is never turned up to the max, that's because it will start to feedback" on itself3. Servant07, who built and verified the layout, described the character of that behavior: "yes, there is feedback with gain cranked, but its very musical for lack of a better word, it builds up slow and is contr"olled3. In other words, the pedal feeds back at maximum gain, but builders found the buildup slow and manageable rather than a pile of squeals.
One builder noted the circuit "is really susceptible to picking up radio signals on my practice rig vs. my basement rig"3. If you run the pedal in a radio-heavy environment, that is something to listen for.
Power
The Black Sheep operates on a standard 9VDC power supply and has no battery connection, per the maker's product page2. Since there is no battery option, a 9V DC adapter is required to run the pedal.
Videos
BlackArtsToneworks
BlackArtsToneworks
BlackArtsToneworks
Questions
How much does the Black Arts Toneworks Black Sheep cost?
Black Arts Toneworks lists the Black Sheep at $189 USD on its product page as of October 2026. That is the maker's own list price, so it is the figure to expect at dealers that stock the pedal.
Does the Black Sheep take a battery?
No. The maker's product page states plainly that there is no battery connection. The pedal runs on a standard 9VDC power supply, so plan on a center-negative adapter or an isolated supply output rather than a battery.
What transistors are in the Black Sheep?
The original Black Arts pedal uses 2N5089 transistors, according to the Guitar FX Layouts analysis of the circuit. Builders experimenting with the layout have substituted other types: the layout's author settled on MPSA18s, which tamed what he described as a metallic decay heard with the 2N5089, while another builder reported the pedal sounds great with 2N5089s.
Does the Black Sheep feed back at full gain?
Yes, and builders describe it as a usable kind of feedback. The Guitar FX Layouts author noted that demo videos never turn the fuzz knob to maximum because the pedal starts to feed back on itself there. A builder who verified the layout said the feedback with gain cranked is very musical, builds up slow and is controllable, not just chaotic squeals.
What does the input cap selector do?
It is a rotary switch that selects among four input capacitors, changing how the fuzz responds to the guitar's signal. On the published layout it is wired with a three-pole, four-position rotary switch, using the A pole in the center and positions 1 through 4 for each of the input caps. The maker uses a similar input cap selector on the Black Forest.
Is the Black Sheep available yet?
Yes. Black Arts Toneworks announced the Black Sheep, along with the Pharaoh Supreme, as a new pedal to be debuted at Winter NAMM in January 2014, and it is now a current product on the maker's site with a listed price of $189.
Sources (3)
- FIRST LOOK! Pharaoh Supreme and Black Sheep, Black Arts Toneworks, 2014-01
- Black Sheep, Black Arts Toneworks
- Guitar FX Layouts: Black Arts Toneworks Black Sheep, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2016-02-22
