The EBS Black Haze is an analog overdrive pedal from EBS, announced for NAMM 2017 alongside two companion drive pedals, the Drive Me Crazy and The Drive1. What sets it apart from a straight overdrive is its character: EBS positions it as covering a range from overdrive to fuzz-like saturation, and reviewers found it sits between the two camps. At MusicPlayers.com, Bruce Sokolovic and Kel Pilshaw described the sound as "somewhere in between '60s Hendrix type fuzz and a good overdrive sound"2.
All three pedals in the line were developed for guitar but, as the company says, work with bass too1. EBS is a bass-focused maker, and the Black Haze has since been superseded by the EBS Black Haze 2, released in 2024 with a Blend control added3.
What it does to your sound
The Black Haze is an overdrive with fuzz character. Its three-way character switch, which EBS calls the 3-Mode Distortion button, sets the voicing: Thin, Regular or Deep24. Regular gives a classic overdrive character, Deep pushes into a low-end fuzzy drive, and Thin tightens things up2.
With the Drive control turned up, the pedal can reach a fuzzy type of distortion, though EBS notes it is not technically a fuzz effect5. For a player, that means it covers the ground between a conventional overdrive and a full distortion pedal without committing to either.
Controls and modes
The original pedal keeps the control set simple: Drive, Tone and Volume knobs plus the three-way character switch24.
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of gain, from overdrive up to fuzz-like saturation52 |
| Tone | Shapes the frequency balance4 |
| Volume | Sets the output level4 |
| Character switch (Thin / Regular / Deep) | Selects the voicing2 |
The three modes each have their own character:
- Regular: a classic overdrive character, described by RockBoard as a more gnarly overdrive56
- Deep: a low-end fuzzy drive that can break into fuzz territory63
- Thin: adds tightness and presence, a more cutting drive sound that Guitar World's Joel McIver and Mike Brooks called great for modern rock tones63
Power and connections
The Black Haze runs on 9 to 12V DC and draws 30mA24. It has a 9V barrel-type power supply jack and can also run on a battery2. Connections are simple: 1/4" mono input and output jacks, with true bypass switching so the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off2.
The Black Haze 2 that replaced this pedal in 2024 changed the power requirement to 9 to 18V DC, with up to 18V supported for extra headroom and dynamic range, and added a Blend control53. If you are buying today, check which version you are getting.
Size and housing
The pedal uses a compact housing design with recessed jacks to reduce the space needed between pedals on a pedalboard, and a comfortable pedal angle1. Reviewers measured it at 2.6 inches wide and 1.9 inches deep, and noted that at 0.66 lbs weight is not a concern for players with cramped pedalboards2.
Where it came from
EBS announced the Black Haze at NAMM 2017 as one of three new analog overdrive pedals, alongside the Drive Me Crazy and The Drive1. All three launched at $99.95 MAP with a $199.95 MSRP2.
In 2024 the Haze evolved into its current mk2 form, with the key addition being the Blend control, which lets you mix your clean signal back in with the drive3. Bass Musician Magazine described the Black Haze 2 as created with the bass player in mind but also suitable for guitar7.
What reviewers said
MusicPlayers.com's Bruce Sokolovic and Kel Pilshaw reviewed the Black Haze in July 2017 and gave it an overall rating of 3.7 stars, which earned it a WIHO Award2. Their verdict on the sound:
"This sound was somewhere in between '60s Hendrix type fuzz and a good overdrive sound."
Guitar World's bass overdrive buying guide has since covered the mk2 version, noting its two drive modes and the added Blend control3.
Videos
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Patrick Hunter
Questions
Does the EBS Black Haze work on bass?
Yes. EBS introduced the Black Haze alongside two other drive pedals that were developed for guitar but, as the company says, work with bass too. Reviewers at MusicPlayers.com confirmed each is usable for bass, and the pedal runs at 9 to 12V DC drawing 30mA, so it fits a standard bass pedalboard power supply.
What do the Thin, Regular and Deep modes do?
The three-way character switch sets the pedal's voicing. Regular gives a classic overdrive character, Deep delivers a low-end fuzzy drive that can break into fuzz territory, and Thin adds tightness and presence for a more cutting drive sound. The modes are selected with a toggle on the face of the pedal.
Is the EBS Black Haze true bypass?
Yes. The original Black Haze uses true bypass switching, listed both by EBS and in the MusicPlayers.com review, so the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off. It has simple 1/4 inch mono input and output jacks.
How big is the EBS Black Haze?
The original pedal measures about 2.6 inches wide and 1.9 inches deep and weighs 0.66 lbs, which reviewers noted suits cramped pedalboards. The housing is a compact design with recessed jacks to reduce the space needed between pedals.
Sources (7)
- EBS Announces Three New Analogue Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2017-01-18
- EBS The Drive, Black Haze, and Drive Me Crazy Overdrive Pedals, MusicPlayers.com, 2017-07-11
- Best overdrive pedals for bass 2026: The ultimate in bass saturation at all price points, Guitar World, 2026-06-01
- Best distortion pedals for bass: thicken up your low end, Guitar World, 2022-08-17
- EBS Black Haze 2, EBS Professional Bass Equipment
- Black Haze 2 by EBS, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- New Gear: EBS Black Haze 2, Bass Musician Magazine, 2024-01-25
