The Black Cat Wee Buzz is a fuzz pedal from Black Cat, introduced in January 2012 as a slimmed down, more affordable version of the Bee Buzz. It uses the same circuitry as its bigger sibling, but leaves out the Boost channel and hardwires the fuzz at maximum, so it is, in Black Cat's words, "100% Pure Fuzz"1.
The circuit traces back to the original Roland Bee Baa design, the same lineage as the Bee Buzz. Where the two differ is in the first gain stage: the Wee Buzz uses a higher gain transistor there, giving it slightly more gain and what Black Cat describes as "a bit more of an edge" than the Bee Buzz1.
A Bee Buzz with the fuzz maxed and no boost
The clearest way to understand the Wee Buzz is as a Bee Buzz with two things taken away and one thing added. Black Cat's own announcement framed it exactly that way: the biggest difference between the Wee and the Bee is the absence of the Boost channel, and the fuzz control is gone too, because the fuzz is hardwired to be totally maxed out all the time1.
"It doesn't even have a control to dial in the fuzz because the fuzz is hardwired to be totally maxed out all the time."
For a player, that means the Wee Buzz is a set-and-forget fuzz. There is no fuzz knob to sweep, no boost to stack, just the full-on fuzz sound of the Bee Buzz and the original Bee Baa circuit every time you step on it. Black Cat noted that while the Boost on the Bee Buzz is a useful effect, it is not essential for every player, which is the case the Wee Buzz is built for1.
What the Wee Buzz adds over the Bee Buzz is a higher gain transistor in the first gain stage, for slightly more gain and a bit more of an edge1.
Wee Buzz vs. Bee Buzz
| Wee Buzz | Bee Buzz | |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit | Same Roland Bee Baa based circuitry | Same circuitry1 |
| Boost channel | None, 100% pure fuzz | Boost channel included1 |
| Fuzz control | None, hardwired maxed | Fuzz control1 |
| Gain | Slightly more, higher gain first-stage transistor | Standard1 |
| Size | Smaller, more pedalboard-friendly | Larger1 |
| Price | More affordable | Higher1 |
The Bee Buzz itself is available in five custom colors, Coppertone, Limeade, Candy Blue, Candy Red, and Denim Blue, on a transparent color brushed aluminum enclosure2. Premier Guitar's review of the Bee Buzz confirmed those finishes, noting its test version came in Candy Red3.
Build and power
The Wee Buzz is hand-wired in the USA to what Black Cat calls boutique quality standards. Inside, it uses metal film resistors and audio grade capacitors on a black glass epoxy PCB with yellow silkscreen1.
Power comes from either a 2.1mm Boss style power jack or an internal 9V battery, so it fits a standard pedalboard power supply. Switching is 3PDT true bypass, with Switchcraft jacks for input and output1.
The Wee Buzz has no fuzz knob and no Boost channel. If you want to shape the fuzz amount or stack a boost, the Bee Buzz is the version with those controls1.
Videos
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MrExcane
Questions
Does the Black Cat Wee Buzz have a fuzz knob?
No. Black Cat left the fuzz control off entirely and hardwired the fuzz to be totally maxed out all the time. The only control is the footswitch that turns the effect on and off, so what you get is the Bee Buzz sound with the fuzz wide open.
What is the difference between the Wee Buzz and the Bee Buzz?
The Wee Buzz uses the same circuitry as the Bee Buzz but drops the Boost channel, making it pure fuzz only. It also uses a higher gain transistor in the first gain stage for slightly more gain and a bit more edge, and it comes in a smaller, more pedalboard-friendly enclosure at a lower price.
Is the Black Cat Wee Buzz true bypass?
Yes. The Wee Buzz uses 3PDT true-bypass switching, with Switchcraft jacks for input and output. When the pedal is off, the signal passes through without buffering.
Where is the Black Cat Wee Buzz made?
The Wee Buzz is hand-wired in the USA, built to what Black Cat calls boutique quality. Its black glass epoxy circuit board with yellow silkscreen uses metal film resistors and audio grade capacitors.
Sources (3)
- 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
