The Free The Tone BLACK VEHICLE BV-1V is a bass overdrive pedal, the second release in the maker's Integrated Series and part of the company's 15th anniversary project. Free The Tone describes it as covering everything from a natural overdrive sound, like driving a tube amp, through to distortion, with sparkling harmonics, long sustain, and what the maker calls an amp-like wide range sound1. It sits among bass pedals and overlaps the territory of overdrive pedals and distortion pedals.
Controls
The BV-1V carries seven controls1:
- LEVEL - output volume
- MIX - blend of dry and driven signal
- BASS - low EQ
- TREBLE - high EQ
- GAIN - drive amount
- PRE BOOST - boost ahead of the drive stage
- POST BOOST - boost after the drive stage
Free The Tone's product page lists these controls by name but does not detail the exact operation of the Pre Boost and Post Boost stages beyond their positions in the signal path implied by their names1.
The HTS circuit
The BV-1V uses a newly developed HTS circuit designed specifically for bass1. Free The Tone describes HTS, a fixture of its products, as a circuit that prevents tone loss, matches the tone quality when the effect is switched on and off, and outputs the input signal in optimal condition to the circuits that follow it1. For a bass player, that means the pedal should not thin out your clean tone when engaged, a common complaint with drive pedals on bass.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on a DC9V AC adapter. Free The Tone lists its own adapters, the FA-W0905D-JA and FA-0905D-JA, as sold separately1. Premier Guitar's review notes that the pedal does not use a 9V battery, but that Free The Tone includes a 9V adapter in the box4.
The current draw is about 200mA1. That rules out most daisy chain setups and many standard power supply outputs, so check that your power supply or brick can deliver at least that on a single output before slotting the BV-1V into a board.
Connections are straightforward: two 1/4-inch standard phone jacks for input and output, plus a DC9V input jack for the AC adapter1.
Build and where it came from
The BV-1V was announced in August 2018 as part of Free The Tone's 15th anniversary Integrated Series project, with availability from September 10, 201831. The Integrated Series concept, per the maker, is about selecting and integrating every element that makes up an effects pedal to "shape the ideal sound"1. It followed the first release in the series, and Free The Tone has since built out a range of bass-oriented pedals including the BASS BLASTER BB-2 and the PA-190 BASS.
Premier Guitar's reviewer was struck by the build: "I can vouch that this pedal feels incredibly well built, with highest-quality parts all around"4. The same review details the hardware: "The switches are solid and the 9V input is a completely plastic-free affair. Even the knobs are custom made from brass"4. The company designs and builds everything in Japan, as the review puts it, "in the land of meticulousness"4.
Videos
Distortion LTD
Questions
Does the Free The Tone Black Vehicle run on a 9V battery?
No. Premier Guitar's review notes that the pedal does not use a 9V battery, and Free The Tone includes a 9V adapter in the box. The pedal runs from a DC9V AC adapter, and Free The Tone lists its own adapters, the FA-W0905D-JA and FA-0905D-JA, as sold separately. The current draw is about 200mA, which is well beyond what most pedalboard power supplies deliver on a single output, so plan your power accordingly.
Where is the Black Vehicle BV-1V made?
Japan. Premier Guitar's review states that Free The Tone designs and builds everything in Japan, and the review describes the build quality in detail: solid switches, a completely plastic-free 9V input, and custom knobs made from brass.
What is the HTS circuit in the Black Vehicle?
HTS stands for the circuit Free The Tone builds into its products to prevent tone loss. According to the maker, it matches the tone quality when the effect is switched on and off, and outputs the input signal in optimal condition to the circuits that follow it. The Black Vehicle uses a newly developed version of this circuit designed specifically for bass.
How much current does the BV-1V draw?
Free The Tone lists the current draw at about 200mA on its product page. That is a substantial draw for a single pedal, so a standard daisy chain or a low-output power supply output will not be enough. Use a supply output rated for at least that figure.
What do the Pre Boost and Post Boost controls do?
They are two of the seven controls on the BV-1V, alongside LEVEL, MIX, BASS, TREBLE, and GAIN. Free The Tone's product page lists them as part of the control set but does not detail their exact operation. The Pre Boost sits before the drive circuit and the Post Boost after it, letting you shape the signal on either side of the overdrive stage.
Sources (4)
- BLACK VEHICLE / BV-1V｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
- BLACK VEHICLE / BV-1V｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
- Free the Tone Unveils New BV-1V Bass Overdrive Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2018-08-14
- Free the Tone Black Vehicle BV-1V Review, Premier Guitar, 2019-01-11
