The CNZ Audio VBL-20 Bluesy is a compact analog overdrive pedal aimed at a vintage blues sound. CNZ Audio describes it as giving your music "a vintage blues sound with a solid, mild overdrive effect," placing it on the gentle end of the drive range rather than among the heavier distortion pedals or fuzz pedals. It sits in the company's overdrive line alongside the CNZ Audio SOD-20 and the CNZ Audio Dumbled Drive, and it is a straightforward option for players looking at overdrive pedals for blues, roots and classic rock styles.1
What it does
The Bluesy is built to produce a mild overdrive in the vintage blues vein. CNZ Audio markets it as the "Bluesy Analog Overdrive Effect" with a "Great Blues Sound," and the circuit is analog throughout. For a player, that means a drive voice intended to sit in the territory of a pushed tube amp rather than a heavy distortion, with the Normal and Fat modes offering two shades of that character.1
Controls and modes
The pedal keeps its control set to three knobs and one toggle switch1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Adjusts the overall output level of the pedal to change the feel of your music1 |
| Tone | Controls the highs and the lows of the effect1 |
| Gain | Adjusts the amount of distortion in your mix1 |
| Normal/Fat toggle | Two-way switch that selects between Normal and Fat modes1 |
The two-way toggle is the pedal's main voicing switch. According to CNZ Audio, "The normal mode will mimic a classic tube overdrive while the Fat mode will add more bottom to your tone by filling out" the lower EQ spectrum. Moving between the two is done simply by flipping the toggle switch up and down, so the two voicings can be compared on the fly.1
Power, bypass and hardware
The VBL-20 Bluesy runs on a 9VDC input with the negative on center and the positive on the outside, drawing 10 mA. That is a light current draw by pedalboard standards, so it fits comfortably alongside other pedals on a shared supply. The pedal is true bypass, which CNZ Audio says "Provides Transparent Tone in Off Setting," meaning the effect is removed from the signal path when switched off.1
The power input is 9VDC with the negative on center and the positive on the outside. As with any center-negative pedal, use a dedicated 9V DC supply rather than a battery-positive or AC adapter.1
The hardware is a solid aluminum housing on all sides with a firm foot switch. The enclosure measures 3.75 inches long by 1.77 inches wide by 1.9 inches high, and the pedal weighs .53 lbs including the box. Input and output are both 1/4 inch connectors, with a 470K Ohms input impedance and a 470 Ohms output impedance.1
Videos
CNZ Audio
Questions
Is the CNZ Audio VBL-20 Bluesy true bypass?
Yes. CNZ Audio describes the VBL-20 Bluesy as true bypass, which the maker says provides a transparent tone in the off setting. When the pedal is switched out of the chain, your guitar's signal passes through without the overdrive circuit coloring it.
What does the Fat mode do on the VBL-20?
The two-way toggle switch selects between Normal and Fat modes. According to CNZ Audio, Normal mode mimics a classic tube overdrive, while Fat mode adds more bottom to your tone by filling out the lower EQ spectrum. You can move between the two by flipping the toggle up and down.
Is the VBL-20 Bluesy analog?
Yes. CNZ Audio lists the VBL-20 Bluesy as an analog overdrive effect. The circuit is built around a straightforward set of controls: Gain for the amount of distortion, Tone for the highs and lows, and Volume for the overall output level.
What power supply does the CNZ VBL-20 need?
The VBL-20 Bluesy runs on a 9VDC input with the negative on center and the positive on the outside, drawing 10 mA. A standard center-negative 9V supply works, and the modest current draw means it sits easily on a pedalboard power supply.
Sources (1)
- VBL-20 | Bluesy Overdrive Pedal | CNZ Audio, CNZ Audio
