The Jacques Effects Black Mamba is a fuzz pedal built to recreate one specific combination: Jimi Hendrix's classic pairing of a Fuzz Face with a cranked Marshall. Premier Guitar reviewed it in June 2023, describing it as the maker's newest pedal and noting that it was built, to some extent, on Jacques' earlier Mercer and Wercer distortion pedals1.
Only five Black Mamba pedals exist. Jacques said the supply of new-old-stock Valvo OC141 germanium transistors, which Premier Guitar called nearly unobtainable, limits production to five units1.
What it does and how it is controlled
The pedal has two gain stages with separate controls, plus a master output. The layout is unconventional: all three knobs are unlabeled, and the arrangement departs from the common Volume/Fuzz/Tone array, with little reference to how the knobs work1. For a player used to standard fuzz controls, it takes a moment to find the way around.
| Knob | What it does |
|---|---|
| Top gain knob | Drives the germanium transistor stage1 |
| Second gain knob | Drives the cranked plexi Marshall emulation1 |
| Bottom knob | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
Jacques recommends that you max out both Gain controls and use the guitar's volume to sweep through the pedal's sonic palette.
That guitar-volume approach is a familiar habit among germanium fuzz players, and here it is the maker's stated method for getting the range of tones the pedal offers1.
Why NPN germanium matters
Most vintage-style germanium fuzz circuits use PNP transistors. The Black Mamba uses NPN Valvo OC141s instead, new-old-stock parts that Premier Guitar called nearly unobtainable. The change from PNP to NPN brings a polarity flip with it, and Jacques says that change enables a burlier tone1. The scarcity of these transistors is also the reason production is limited to five units1.
Build and hardware
Premier Guitar's review describes a pedal with some unusual construction choices inside and out1:
- The input jack is a plastic barrel type like the ones seen on Vox AC30s1
- The output jack is metal and sturdier than the input1
- The circuit board is wrapped in a leatherette pouch that had been stapled shut1
- The LED wiring is covered in red electrical tape wrappings rather than shrink tubing1
The reviewer raised build quality concerns, writing that the wiring inside could have been routed more neatly and that tighter quality control was expected at this price1.
Videos
Premier Guitar
jacquespedals
jacquespedals
Questions
What transistors are in the Jacques Black Mamba?
The Black Mamba uses new-old-stock NPN Valvo OC141 germanium transistors, which Premier Guitar described as nearly unobtainable. Germanium transistors are the classic ingredient of vintage fuzz designs, and the choice of NPN rather than the more common PNP devices shapes both the pedal's polarity and, according to Jacques, its tone.
How many Jacques Black Mamba pedals were built?
Only five units. Premier Guitar reported that Jacques would only be able to build five Black Mamba pedals, because the new-old-stock Valvo OC141 germanium transistors at the heart of the circuit are nearly unobtainable.
How should the Jacques Black Mamba gain knobs be set?
Jacques recommends maxing out both Gain controls and then using the guitar's volume knob to sweep through the pedal's sonic palette. The two gain knobs work separately: one drives the germanium transistor stage and the other drives the cranked plexi Marshall emulation.
How much does the Jacques Black Mamba cost?
Premier Guitar listed a street price of $498 as of its June 2023 review.
Why does the Black Mamba use NPN instead of PNP transistors?
Switching from PNP to NPN transistors brings a polarity flip with it, and Jacques says that change enables a burlier tone. NPN designs also avoid some of the power-supply quirks associated with positive-ground PNP fuzz circuits.
Sources (1)
- Jacques Stompboxes Black Mamba Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-18