The Buzzing Bugs BB04 Full Range Drive is a hand-built overdrive pedal from UK builder Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices. Premier Guitar describes it as "a saturated and non-transparent overdrive pedal inspired by the essence of two iconic 'blues' pedals"1, and Guitar World notes the maker has not named which two stompboxes those are2. Reviewers place it in Blues Breaker and Blues Driver territory, with a Body switch that shifts it between lighter, smoother tones and thicker, more saturated ones3.
The circuit uses four op-amp gain stages, which Premier Guitar says deliver "expansive headroom"1, and soft clipping that saturates the signal without aggressively compressing it12. Guitar World says the pedal aims at "a spectrum of overdrive flavors", from edge-of-breakup cleans to biting tube distortion2.
Four op-amp gain stages with soft clipping
The BB04's gain comes from four op-amp gain stages rather than the one or two found in many overdrive circuits. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, notes this gives "increased gain range"3, and Premier Guitar reports the same four-stage topology with expansive headroom1.
The clipping is soft, meaning the signal is rounded off gradually rather than sliced hard at a fixed ceiling. As Premier Guitar puts it, "the softclipping saturates the signal without aggressively compressing it"1. Guitar World makes the same point: soft clipping saturates the signal "without the need for aggressive compression"2. For a player, that means the BB04 leans toward tube-like saturation rather than the tighter, squashed feel of hard-clipped distortion pedals.
The pedal also cleans up with your guitar's volume knob. Karlsson highlights "dynamic guitar volume gain cleanup" as one of its strengths3.
The controls and the Body switch
The BB04 has three knobs and one switch31:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOL | Controls the overall output of the pedal1 |
| GAIN | Sets the amount of drive (Premier Guitar lists it among the controls; Guitar Pedal X describes the four gain stages behind it)31 |
| TONE | A wide-range tone control that dynamically interacts with the GAIN and BODY controls1; Karlsson notes it "extends Highs"3 |
| BODY (Phat) | Changes the EQ parameter, thinning or thickening the tone1; Karlsson notes it "boosts Lower Mids"3 |
The Body switch is the pedal's second voice. With it off, Karlsson found "a lighter and smoother tone, very much reminiscent of the Blues Breaker genre"; switched on, it reaches Keeley Phat-modded Blues Driver territory3. Guitar World describes the switch as offering "thick and thin variants of its output" by shifting the EQ parameters, while also providing a "perceived gain and volume boost when engaged"2. Premier Guitar's description matches: the BODY switch shifts EQ between thicker or thinner tones with that perceived boost1.
Karlsson's suggested starting settings are Volume at 3 o'clock, Gain at 10 o'clock and Tone at maximum3.
Where it came from
The BB04 Full Range Drive is the pedal that brought Buzzing Bugs wider attention, with coverage describing it as swarming the stompbox market2. It is a production pedal rather than a one-off: it is available for orders right now from the Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices Webstore2, built with top-mounted jacks and the usual 9V power requirements3.
The BB04 is hand-built in Cornwall2 and housed in a robust die cast enclosure with tactile gloss artwork, the insect pattern that "swarms over it"12. Jacks are top-mounted2.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson reviewed the BB04 in March 2024 and was enthusiastic:
"This is a genuinely fantastic sounding versatile and dynamic bluesy overdrive with great guitar volume gain cleanup"3
He called it a dual-voiced pedal with "a foot in each of the major blues overdrive genres," and found the £129 price "very reasonable"3.
Premier Guitar and Guitar World both covered the launch as news, highlighting the four op-amp stages, soft clipping, Body switch, true bypass and hand-built construction12.
The BB04's price is quoted in pounds sterling (£129) by both Premier Guitar and Guitar Pedal X, as the pedal is sold through the UK-based Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices Webstore31.
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Questions
Which pedals is the Buzzing Bugs BB04 based on?
The maker describes it as inspired by the essence of two iconic blues pedals but has not named them. Reviewers place it squarely in Blues Breaker and Blues Driver territory: with the Body switch off it sounds like a lighter, smoother Blues Breaker-style overdrive, and switched on it moves toward Keeley Phat-modded Blues Driver sounds.
Is the BB04 Full Range Drive true bypass?
Yes. Both Guitar World and Premier Guitar report true bypass switching, so with the pedal disengaged the signal passes through without active buffering.
What power supply does the BB04 need?
It runs on a standard 9V DC center negative input, the same supply as most pedals. A power supply is not included with the pedal, so you need your own 9V adapter or pedalboard power brick.
Where is the Buzzing Bugs BB04 made?
It is hand-built in Cornwall, England, by Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices. The company spent four years on one-offs and limited runs before launching its first production model, the BB01 Fuzz Pre-Amp, in 2023.
How much does the Buzzing Bugs BB04 cost?
It is priced at £129, sold through the Buzzing Bugs Audio Devices Webstore. As of March 2024 it was available for orders directly from the maker's webstore.
Sources (3)
- BB04 Full Range Drive Pedal Launched by Buzzing Bugs, Premier Guitar, 2024-03-14
- “A spectrum of overdrive tones inspired by two iconic blues pedals”: Burgeoning British firm Buzzing Bugs swarms the stompbox market with the BB04 Full Range Drive, Guitar World, 2024-03-08
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-07
