The JAM Pedals "Black Data" Fuzz Phrase Si is a silicon fuzz pedal and a hand-painted edition of the company's Fuzz Phrase Si circuit. JAM Pedals built it around BC107 silicon transistors, chosen after what the maker describes as meticulous testing, with the circuit then fine tuned to those transistors. The maker says this secures "all the attributes synonymous with the Fuzz Phrase" legacy, and lists the pedal simply as a "SILICON FUZZ"1. Guitarist Bill Frisell is listed among the artists using this pedal1.
Controls
The Fuzz Phrase Si keeps a compact control set. JAM Pedals describes each control as follows1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of gain. |
| Level | Adjusts the Fuzz Phrase Si's output volume, while also allowing for versatile tonal shaping. |
| Internal Trimmer | Sets transistor bias (factory-set at 4.5V). |
The internal trimmer is worth knowing about before you open the pedal up. Bias shapes how a fuzz circuit behaves, and JAM Pedals ships the Black Data with the trimmer set at 4.5V, its chosen factory setting1.
The Fuzz Phrase family
The Black Data sits within a wider Fuzz Phrase line from JAM Pedals. The original germanium-based Fuzz Phrase is the circuit's root, and the Si versions carry it with silicon transistors. Other hand-painted Si editions the company lists include the "Relic", "IT", "Achenbach", "Mandala", "Shards", "Bad TV" and "Luminous" Fuzz Phrase Si, plus a Black Fuzz Phrase LTD. JAM Pedals also makes other fuzzes outside this line, such as the Eureka!, Red Muck and Black Muck. For the wider category, see Fuzz Pedals1.
Hand-painted artwork and buying details
The Black Data is a limited artwork pedal. JAM Pedals states that every custom artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and that the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown on its page1.
Because each Black Data is hand painted as a one-of-a-kind piece, the artwork on your pedal will not match the product photos exactly. JAM Pedals says so directly on the product page1.
The maker lists the pedal at £294.00 GBP, ships it DDP with 20% UK VAT and all duties included with no extra charges on delivery, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with a refund no questions asked1.
Questions
Is the Black Data Fuzz Phrase Si a limited edition?
JAM Pedals describes the Black Data as a limited artwork pedal. Each unit carries one-of-a-kind hand-painted custom artwork, and the maker states that the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown on its product page. The circuit itself is the Fuzz Phrase Si, the silicon version of the company's Fuzz Phrase.
Does every Black Data pedal look the same as the photos?
No. JAM Pedals states that every custom artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, so the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photographs on the product page. The artwork is part of what distinguishes the Black Data edition from other Fuzz Phrase Si variants.
Is the Black Data Fuzz Phrase Si true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the Black Data Fuzz Phrase Si as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the fuzz circuit in the way.
What power supply does the Black Data Fuzz Phrase Si need?
The pedal works with a 9V battery or a 9V DC adaptor with tip-negative polarity, and JAM Pedals lists power consumption at 3 mA. That low draw is easy on a battery, but note the tip-negative polarity, which is the opposite of the center-negative standard most pedalboard power supplies use.
What bias is the internal trimmer set to from the factory?
The internal trimmer sets the transistor bias, and JAM Pedals factory-sets it at 4.5V. Bias affects how the fuzz responds and cleans up, so the trimmer lets the circuit be adjusted, but it arrives at the maker's chosen setting.
Sources (1)
- “Black Data” Fuzz Phrase Si, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
