The JAM Pedals Black Muck is a limited-edition fuzz pedal released in May 2017, built as a variant of the company's Red Muck. JAM describes it as open and harmonically rich, and says that compared to the standard Red Muck it is more aggressive, looser and with fuzzier tendencies1. Where the Red Muck sits between fuzz and distortion, the Black Muck leans harder into the fuzz side of that territory.
It was also a milestone for the company: Premier Guitar reported it as the first official limited run offered by JAM Pedals to date1.
A Red Muck with looser, fuzzier tendencies
The Red Muck is JAM Pedals' fuzz/distortion pedal, and the Black Muck takes that circuit in a dirtier direction. The character comes largely from its transistors: Premier Guitar reported that the Black Mucks host a NOS batch of early 1960s silicon transistors, likely grown-junction devices similar to the 2N335/2N336, made by Transitron, General Instrument, or both12. Gearnews described the pedal more generally as using 1960s silicon transistors delivering dirty fuzz2.
Because the run was built around a single batch of new-old-stock parts, the Black Muck is tied to what those transistors could deliver, which is part of why it was a limited edition rather than a standard catalog pedal1.
The controls
The Black Muck keeps things simple, with three knobs:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume |
| Tone | Tonal shaping |
| Gain | Amount of fuzz and dirt |
Premier Guitar's press release lists the three knobs as controlling Level, Tone and Gain1. Gearnews put it this way: "The Black Muck has three knobs labelled Level, Tone and Gain which are used to control this dirty little box."2
A limited run of 100
Premier Guitar reported the Black Muck as limited to 100 units only1. Each pedal came with unique custom artwork and was packed in a custom wooden box1. At launch they were available at select retailers and directly from the JAM Pedals online store1.
Gearnews' writer found the pedal appealing, saying: "This one really appeals to me, and I could easily find a place for one in my pedal horde."2
With only 100 units made and a single batch of NOS transistors behind them, the Black Muck is a finite run. It is not part of JAM Pedals' standard lineup, and the company has since released other limited and NOS-transistor fuzzes, such as the Eureka! and the Octaurus editions.
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Questions
How is the JAM Pedals Black Muck different from the Red Muck?
JAM Pedals describes the Black Muck as open and harmonically rich, and says that compared to the standard Red Muck it is more aggressive, looser and with fuzzier tendencies. It is a variant of the Red Muck circuit rather than a separate design, built with a batch of early 1960s NOS silicon transistors that shapes its character.
How many Black Muck pedals were made?
Premier Guitar reported that the Black Muck was limited to 100 units only, and noted it was the first official limited run offered by JAM Pedals to date. The pedals came with unique custom artwork and were packed in a custom wooden box.
Is the JAM Pedals Black Muck true bypass?
Yes. The Black Muck has a true bypass on/off switch, according to the Premier Guitar press release covering its launch in May 2017.
What power does the Black Muck need?
The Black Muck runs on 9-volt operation with a standard DC input. It also uses point-to-point wiring internally, in keeping with its hand-built boutique construction.
What transistors does the Black Muck use?
Premier Guitar reported that the Black Mucks host a NOS batch of early 1960s silicon transistors, likely grown-junction devices similar to the 2N335/2N336, made by Transitron, General Instrument, or both. Gearnews described them more generally as a set of 1960s silicon transistors.
Sources (2)
- JAM Pedals Releases the Black Muck, Premier Guitar, 2017-05-09
- JAM Pedals' Black Muck: 1960s silicon transistors delivering dirty fuzz, gearnews.com, 2017-05-09
