The BMF Effects High Roller is a distortion pedal with a simple three-knob layout and a circuit the maker describes as "a classic rodent with a LM308 heart"1. In other words, it belongs to the RAT family of distortion circuits, which use the LM308 op-amp chip. BMF Effects puts it plainly on the product page: "The High Roller may look suave and chic on the outside ... but beneath that classy exterior lies the soul of a rodent"1.
Controls
The pedal keeps things to three knobs, which BMF Effects describes this way: "The High Roller has just three knobs, volume, gain, and tone (which is actually a treble cut as you turn it clockwise)"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion1 |
| Tone | A treble cut: turning it clockwise removes treble1 |
Because the tone knob works as a treble cut rather than a treble boost, the brightest setting is at the bottom of the knob's travel, and rolling it up darkens the sound1.
Power and switching
The High Roller runs on 9V to 18V DC and draws 1mA, with a DC jack for external power1. Premier Guitar's announcement adds that it includes a 9-volt battery compartment and can also use external DC power2. The pedal features true bypass switching12.
The maker's page lists the pedal as sold out as of 26 October 2026, with a current lead time of 4 to 5 weeks, and notes that color and/or graphics are subject to change1.
What it sounds like
BMF Effects describes the pedal's range in its own words: "Face melt? Sure. Full-bodied fusion tones? Aye. Smokey blues with some grease on the side? You know it. Garage grind? Got it right here, man."1. That is the maker's description rather than an independent measurement, but it points to a pedal intended to cover high-gain distortion as well as lower-gain blues and fusion tones.
Price and availability
When Premier Guitar covered the pedal's release on 6 July 2021, it reported that "The High Roller Distortion retails for $189" and that it was "available at BMF Effects retailers or directly online at bmfeffects.com"2. On the maker's own product page as of 26 October 2026, the regular price is listed as £167.00 GBP with a sale price of £144.00 GBP1. The two figures come from different dates and currencies, and the maker's current listing is the newer of the two.
High Roller and High Roller Distortion
The two names refer to the same pedal. BMF Effects lists it as the High Roller Distortion on its product page2, and Premier Guitar's announcement called it the High Roller2. There is no separate model behind either name.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Visual Guy
The Official BMF Effects Channel
Questions
Is the BMF Effects High Roller a RAT-style pedal?
BMF Effects describes the High Roller as having the soul of a rodent, meaning it is based on a classic rodent circuit with an LM308 chip at its heart. Premier Guitar's announcement of the pedal repeated the same description. It is a distortion pedal in the RAT family tradition rather than a copy of any one model.
Does the High Roller tone knob cut treble or add it?
The tone knob cuts treble. BMF Effects says the pedal has volume, gain, and tone knobs, and that the tone control is actually a treble cut as you turn it clockwise. So the full treble is there at the start of the knob's travel, and turning it up removes highs.
Is the High Roller true bypass?
Yes. BMF Effects states that the High Roller Distortion features true bypass switching, and Premier Guitar's announcement listed true bypass switching as well. The pedal also has a DC jack and a 9-volt battery compartment.
What is the difference between the High Roller and the High Roller Distortion?
There is no difference in the pedal itself: High Roller and High Roller Distortion are two names for the same BMF Effects distortion pedal. The maker's product page calls it the High Roller Distortion, while Premier Guitar's 2021 announcement referred to it as the High Roller.
Sources (2)
- High Roller Distortion, BMF Effects
- BMF Effects Releases the High Roller, Premier Guitar, 2021-07-06