The Black Cat Bee Buzz is a fuzz pedal with a separate Boost channel, made in the USA by Black Cat Pedals. Black Cat says its circuit is based on the original Roland Bee Baa design1. The Bee Buzz began as a limited Custom Shop run of 50 pedals that sold out quickly, and Black Cat then made it a permanent part of the line2.
What it does
The Bee Buzz follows the Bee Baa formula: a fuzz circuit plus a boost channel in one box. Black Cat described the Boost as "quite a useful effect (and we worked hard to make ours sound great)" while noting it is not essential for every player1. The boost is also what separates the Bee Buzz from its sibling: when Black Cat introduced the smaller Wee Buzz, the company said "the biggest difference between the Wee and the Bee is the absence of the Boost channel"1.
"the biggest difference between the Wee and the Bee is the absence of the Boost channel"
The Roland original it copies was itself a two-in-one. In a 2025 Premier Guitar interview, builder Cris Vincent recalled145:
"I had picked up a Roland BeeBaa, which has a fuzz and a treble booster"
The Boost channel is a separate effect with its own footswitch, not a second gain stage on the fuzz. A player who only wants the fuzz can skip it, which is exactly what the two-channel-free Wee Buzz offers.
Size, colors and build
Premier Guitar's 2021 review noted the Bee Buzz "packs a ton of functions in a very small enclosure, about a third as big as an original Bee Baa"3. The review unit came in Candy Red, with Candy Blue, Denim Blue, Coppertone and Limeade also available3; the original press release listed the same five custom colors over a brushed aluminum enclosure2.
The five custom colors:
Build features from Black Cat's press release2:
- Hand-wired construction, made in the USA
- 3PDT true-bypass switches
- Switchcraft jacks
- 2.1mm Boss-style power jack
- Internal 9V battery
How it compares
| Bee Buzz | Wee Buzz | Roland Bee Baa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channels | Fuzz plus Boost1 | Fuzz only1 | Fuzz plus treble booster4 |
| Size | About a third of an original Bee Baa3 | Smaller than the Bee Buzz3 | The 1970s original3 |
| Status | Permanent after Custom Shop run2 | Introduced 20122 | Vintage unit |
Where it came from
The Bee Buzz started as a Custom Shop project: a limited run of 50 pedals that sold out quickly, prompting Black Cat to move it into the regular line2. By 2012 it was still, in the company's words, "very popular"1, and that same year Black Cat spun off the Wee Buzz for players who wanted the fuzz without the extra channel1.
Videos
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Questions
How much does the Black Cat Bee Buzz cost?
Premier Guitar's 2021 review listed the Bee Buzz at a street price of $225. It began as a limited Custom Shop run of 50 pedals that sold out quickly, after which Black Cat made it a permanent part of the line.
What colors does the Black Cat Bee Buzz come in?
Black Cat offers the Bee Buzz in five custom colors: Coppertone, Limeade, Candy Blue, Candy Red, and Denim Blue. The 2021 review unit came in Candy Red. The finish sits on a brushed aluminum enclosure.
How big is the Bee Buzz compared with a Roland Bee Baa?
According to Premier Guitar's review, the Bee Buzz packs its functions into an enclosure about a third as big as an original Roland Bee Baa, the 1970s fuzz-and-booster unit its circuit is based on.
Is the Black Cat Bee Buzz true bypass?
Yes. Black Cat's press release specifies 3PDT true-bypass switches and Switchcraft jacks, so both the fuzz and boost channels can be fully removed from the signal path when switched off.
Sources (5)
- Black Cat Introduces the New Wee Buzz, Premier Guitar, 2012-01-21
- Black Cat Pedals Introduces Bee Buzz Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2011-05-22
- Black Cat Bee Buzz Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-18
- Chasing the Sound in Your Head with Cris Vincent, Premier Guitar, 2025-03-05
- Roland™ Bee Baa™ Clone: Fuzz/Booster Kit, PCB & Schematic, General Guitar Gadgets, 2014-05-12
