The Keeley Black Glass British Fuzz is a limited-run germanium fuzz pedal from Keeley Electronics, announced and put on sale on June 25, 2014, at $2991. It is a modern, compact take on the classic OC81-based MkIII-style fuzz circuit, built with a stash of OC81D PNP germanium transistors, and it was limited to 150 hand-built units1. Vintage Guitar magazine likewise described it as hand-built in the U.S. using an OC81-based design2.
What it does to your sound
Keeley describes the Black Glass as offering "a wealth of tone bending vintage musical MkIII sounds with reduced noise and treble response"1. The MkIII name points to the third-generation fuzz circuits of the 1960s, the design family behind some of the most sought-after vintage fuzz tones. Keeley's modifications to the circuit, the company says, allow for increased high frequency response not heard of before as well as ultra-low noise, addressing two common complaints about old germanium fuzzes: dark, dull top end and hiss1.
"The 100% hand-built Black Glass is a modern compact circuit of the classic OC81 based design."
Keeley also says the design borrows technical innovations from the company's Time Machine Boost and Holy Fuzz designs1.
Controls and power
The pedal keeps things simple, with three controls1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Dials in the amount of fuzz, from moderate to very wild amounts1 |
| Tone | Shapes the pedal's treble response1 |
| Level | Sets the output volume1 |
PNP germanium pedals traditionally need inverted power. Keeley built the needed power supply inversion into the Black Glass, so players can use a regular 9 Volt power supply rather than hunting for a special adapter or running a battery with reversed leads1. Vintage Guitar confirms it accepts a standard/modern 9-volt power supply2.
A limited, hand-built run
The Black Glass was announced as a limited edition of 150 units, each hand-built in the USA using what Keeley calls the finest components and construction techniques1. It went on sale the evening of June 25, 20141. Because of that limited run, it is not a pedal Keeley keeps in regular production, and it sits apart from the builder's later fuzz releases such as the Keeley Moon Fuzz, the Moon Op Amp Fuzz, and the Octa Psi Transfigurating Fuzz.
The pedal carries a 2-year limited lifetime warranty with what Keeley calls world-class customer support1.
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Questions
Is the Keeley Black Glass British Fuzz true bypass?
Yes. Keeley's announcement describes the Black Glass British Fuzz as including true bypass switching, so the pedal takes itself fully out of the signal path when switched off. That matters on a pedalboard where germanium fuzz circuits can otherwise load the guitar's signal even when not in use.
How many Black Glass British Fuzz pedals did Keeley make?
The Black Glass British Fuzz was announced as a limited run of 150 units. Each pedal was described as 100% hand-built, and the run went on sale on the evening of June 25, 2014. As a limited edition pedal, it has not been part of Keeley's regular catalog since.
What transistors does the Black Glass British Fuzz use?
The pedal uses OC81D PNP germanium transistors in a MkIII-style circuit. Keeley's design team described building the circuit around a stash of OC81D transistors, the classic transistor type behind the original MkIII-era fuzz designs.
Who designed the Keeley Black Glass British Fuzz?
Robert Keeley, founder and chief engineer of Keeley Electronics, is named as the designer. He described the pedal as a modern compact circuit of the classic OC81-based design, with technical innovations drawn from Keeley's Time Machine Boost and Holy Fuzz designs.
What was the launch price of the Black Glass British Fuzz?
The Black Glass British Fuzz went on sale on Wednesday evening, June 25, 2014, for $299. That was the announced sale price at launch for the limited run of 150 hand-built units.
Where is the Black Glass British Fuzz built?
The pedal is hand-built in the USA. Keeley described it as built in the United States using what the company calls the finest components and construction techniques, in keeping with the limited, hand-built nature of the run.
Sources (2)
- Keeley Electronics Announces Black Glass British Fuzz, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-06-25
- Keeley Offers Black Glass British Fuzz, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2014-06-24
