The Magnetic Effects Black Moon is a fuzz pedal from the UK builder, released with the company's announcement: "Magnetic Effects are pleased to release the Black Moon."1. It was offered at a retail price of £125 plus shipping1.
What it does
The Black Moon is built for classic fuzz tones in a more flexible package. gearnews.com put it plainly: "The Black Moon is based on the near-legendary Fuzz Face circuit"2. Magnetic Effects describes it as a limited-edition Fuzz Face clone with expanded features that allows for classic fuzz tones in a more usable form1.
The added Input control is the main departure from the original design. According to the maker, it "alters the signal level and impedance at the input of the fuzz circuit. Fully clockwise (all the way t[urned up] is the original Fuzz Face setting", and turning it down affects the overall gain and impedance, which can let pedals such as a wah interact better with the fuzz1. That addresses a known friction point between Fuzz Face-style circuits and other pedals.
Controls and features
- Input: sets signal level and impedance at the fuzz circuit's input; fully clockwise is the original Fuzz Face setting1
- Bias and Input controls plus a three-position low toggle switch, per the release announcement1
- True Bypass switching1
- Top-mounted jacks and DC socket1
The Black Moon was announced as a limited edition, so it was not intended as a permanent catalog pedal1.
Power and price
The pedal runs on a standard 9V DC adapter1. No battery option or current draw figure is given in the maker's announcement. The retail price at release was £125 plus shipping1.
Videos
Alberto Barrero
Jackson Brooksby
Questions
Is the Magnetic Effects Black Moon true bypass?
Yes. Magnetic Effects lists True Bypass among the Black Moon's features, so the pedal takes itself out of the signal path when switched off. It also has top-mounted jacks and a top-mounted DC socket, which helps it fit on crowded pedalboards.
Is the Black Moon based on a Fuzz Face?
Yes. Magnetic Effects describes the Black Moon as a limited-edition Fuzz Face clone with expanded features, and gearnews.com likewise reported that the pedal is based on the Fuzz Face circuit. The Input control's fully clockwise position is described as the original Fuzz Face setting.
What transistors does the Black Moon use?
The Black Moon is loaded with a pair of selected and tested NOS (new old stock) germanium transistors. Germanium is the transistor type used in vintage Fuzz Face pedals, and Magnetic Effects says the pair gives the pedal a dynamic, vintage fuzz character.
What power does the Black Moon need?
The Black Moon runs on a standard 9V DC adapter. No battery option or current draw figure is given in the maker's announcement, so plan your pedalboard power around a 9V DC centre-negative supply.
Does the Black Moon clean up with the guitar's volume knob?
Magnetic Effects says the Black Moon yields dynamic, vintage fuzz that responds excellently to the guitar's volume control, which is a hallmark of germanium Fuzz Face-style circuits: roll the guitar volume down and the fuzz cleans up.
Sources (2)
- Magnetic Effects Unveils Lonely Robot & Black Moon, Premier Guitar, 2018-11-21
- Lonely Robot and Black Moon: Magnetic Effects revisits the Fuzz Face and RAT circuits, gearnews.com, 2018-11-24