The Brooks Blackhawk Balrog V3 is a high gain distortion pedal from Brooks Blackhawk. The builder describes it as "their newest pedal Balrog V3" and says it "will do the job for both Metal and Doom/Sludge guitarists." The pedal is an analog opamp circuit built around three TL072 opamps, and the builder describes its character as that of a super-high gain Muff, suited to players who want a thick, saturated wall of distortion rather than a tight modern drive.1
What the V3 changes
The V3 is the third version of the Balrog, and the revision is aimed squarely at high gain players. According to Delicious Audio, the new version brings more available treble and the ability to scoop the mids, while, in the source's words, "PLENTIFUL mids still on tap." That means a player can dial the midrange out for a modern metal voicing or leave it in for the thicker, mid-forward sound of doom and sludge.1
How it is built and bought
The Balrog V3 is not a mass-produced pedal. Every order is built by hand for the customer, and the builder notes that a build usually needs anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks depending on how many orders are currently in the queue. For a player, that means ordering direct from the builder and waiting for the unit to be assembled, rather than picking one off a store shelf.1
"Every order is built by hand for you, the customer."
Where it sits on a board
As a distortion pedal, the Balrog V3 sits in the same family of pedals as fuzz and overdrive designs, but its super-high gain Muff-like character and mid scoop put it firmly in the heavy music camp. Players comparing it with other drives should weigh its analog opamp construction and hand-built nature against the wider availability of larger builders' pedals.1
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Questions
Is the Balrog V3 analog or digital?
It is an analog opamp circuit. Delicious Audio's write-up describes the pedal as bringing its high gain character through a trio of TL072 opamps, the same common opamp family found in many classic drive and distortion designs. There is no digital processing in the signal path.
How long does a Balrog V3 take to arrive?
Each pedal is built to order by the builder. According to Delicious Audio, the builder usually needs anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to get to a build, depending on how many orders are currently in the queue. Ordering direct means waiting for your unit to be assembled rather than shipped from stock.
Sources (1)
- Brooks Blackhawk Balrog V3, Delicious Audio, 2021-04-08