The Malekko Barker Assmaster is a hand built harmonic octave fuzz pedal from Malekko Heavy Industry, described by reviewer Arthur Fleischmann as a hand built clone of the Maestro Bass Brassmaster harmonic octave fuzz1. The original Brassmaster produced raw octave-up fuzz tones with glitchy, expressive artifacts that could be blended against the original guitar signal, and the Barker Assmaster carries that idea into a modern pedal2.
What it does to your sound
An octave fuzz generates notes above what you play, then clips them into fuzz. The Brassmaster approach, which this pedal follows, layers those octave-up fuzz tones against your clean signal so the two can be mixed2. Fleischmann wrote that "This updated version supplies the same classic fuzz tones as the original in a modern, rugged and reliable package"1.
The clean blend is the heart of the design for bass players. No matter how freaky the fuzz, it lets a bassist keep one foot in the pocket, or boost the clean volume to drive an amp or other effects1. The Bass Volume control sets the level of that original, dry signal1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bass Volume | Sets the level of the original, dry signal1 |
| Sensitivity | Sets how the fuzz responds; rolling back yields controlled fuzz for a vintage vibe, rolling clockwise gets crazy fast1 |
| Ass toggle | Acts in conjunction with Harm to thin out the fuzz or unleash it1 |
| Harm toggle | Acts in conjunction with Ass to thin out the fuzz or unleash it1 |
On the Sensitivity knob, Fleischmann found that rolling it back keeps the pedal on its best behavior, yielding controlled fuzz perfect for a vintage vibe, while turning it up delivers for industrial and metal fans at high settings1.
Where it came from
The Maestro Bass Brassmaster was originally a bass effect. According to BLAMMO! Electronics, "At first, just bass players used them but word eventually got out to their six-stringed brethren"2. The circuit has since been revisited by other builders: General Guitar Gadgets offers a Maestro Brass Master replica as a DIY project kit and PCB, credited to GEOFEX, and recommends it only for builders with some experience building effects3.
Who it is for
Although aimed at bassists, the review found the pedal performs equally well on guitars and even synthesizers1. If you are exploring this corner of the effect world, see the site's pages on Fuzz Pedals, Octave & Pitch Pedals and Bass Pedals.
"With its bright pink and brown sparkle appointments the Assmaster may raise some eyebrows"
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Questions
Is the Malekko Barker Assmaster true bypass?
Yes. Arthur Fleischmann's review for Delicious Audio notes that the pedal uses true bypass switching, which keeps your sound clean and unaffected when the effect is switched off. That matters on a pedalboard where fuzz and octave circuits can otherwise load down your signal even when disengaged.
Is the Barker Assmaster only for bass?
No. Although the pedal is aimed at bassists, the Delicious Audio review found it performs equally well on guitars and even synthesizers. The clean blend is the feature that makes it especially useful on bass, since it lets you hold onto your low end while the octave fuzz runs on top.
What is the Maestro Bass Brassmaster?
The Maestro Bass Brassmaster is a harmonic octave fuzz originally made for bass players, known for raw octave-up fuzz tones with glitchy, expressive artifacts that can be blended against the original signal. According to BLAMMO! Electronics, at first just bass players used them, but word eventually got out to their six-stringed brethren.
What does the Ass toggle switch do?
The Ass and Harm toggle switches act in conjunction with one another. Together they thin out the fuzz or unleash it, shaping how aggressive or restrained the octave fuzz character is. They work alongside the Sensitivity knob, which sets how controlled or wild the fuzz behaves.
Can I keep my low end with the Barker Assmaster?
Yes. The pedal's clean blend lets you set the level of the original, dry signal with the Bass Volume control, so bassists can keep one foot in the pocket no matter how freaky the fuzz gets. You can also boost the clean volume to drive an amp or other effects.
Sources (3)
- Review: Malekko Barker Assmaster, Delicious Audio, 2010-01-23
- Brashmaster, BLAMMO! Electronics
- Maestro™ Brass Master™ Clone: Bass Fuzz Kit, PCB & Schematic, General Guitar Gadgets, 2014-05-12
