The Mojo Hand FX 1979 Baja is a fuzz pedal built around op amps rather than transistors. Mojo Hand FX bases it on "the notoriously high gain Big Muffs that were manufactured during the late 70s," and describes the sound as "more raw and aggressive than a typical BMP," adding, "Please do not expect subtlety." The maker also warns that the pedal does not clean up well with the guitar's volume knob, so it is aimed at players who want full-on fuzz rather than a pedal that fades to overdrive1.
Where it came from
The 1979 Baja is a Mojo Hand FX pedal related to the Mojo Hand FX 1979, listed at $169.00 USD1. It runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included, and draws about 8mA1. The pedal is housed in a sturdy, die-cast aluminum enclosure with professional powder coating and printing1. Mojo Hand FX describes its sound as more raw and aggressive than a typical BMP, warning players not to expect subtlety and noting that the pedal does not clean up well with the volume knob123.
The 1978 is discontinued. The 1979 Baja is the current version of this circuit in the Mojo Hand FX range.
For context on the maker's fuzz line: Premier Guitar noted that Mojo Hand FX "based its Colossus Fuzz on the Sovtek Big Muffs of the early '90s," a different era of the Big Muff family from the late-70s units behind the 197941. You can read more about that pedal on the Mojo Hand FX Colossus page, or browse the wider field in Fuzz Pedals.
Controls and footswitches
The 1979 Baja's distinguishing feature is that its two footswitches do different jobs1:
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Right stomp switch | Bypasses or engages the fuzz circuit1 |
| Left stomp switch | Bypasses or engages the tone circuit1 |
| Tone knob | Shaped by the left footswitch, which can remove it from the circuit1 |
Mojo Hand FX explains the point of the tone bypass switch: "The 1979 features a footswitch to bypass the tone knob, so you get ALL the bass, ALL the treble, and a HUGE helping of e[xtreme]." In practice that means you can stomp between the voiced tone setting and the full, unfiltered fuzz sound without touching a knob1.
Power and size
The pedal runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included, and draws approximately 8mA1. It is housed in "a sturdy, die-cast aluminum enclosure with professional powder coating and printing," measuring 4.7" L x 3.69" W x 1.37" H1.
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Questions
Is the Mojo Hand FX 1979 Baja true bypass?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX lists the 1979 Baja as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without loading or coloring. Note that the pedal has two footswitches: the right one bypasses or engages the fuzz circuit, and the left one bypasses or engages the tone circuit.
Does the 1979 Baja come with a power supply?
No. Mojo Hand FX specifies a standard center negative 9V DC supply, and the supply is not included with the pedal. The current draw is listed at approximately 8mA, which is light enough for most pedalboard power supplies.
Can the 1979 Baja run on a battery?
Mojo Hand FX's product page does not mention battery operation. It specifies a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included, so plan on powering the pedal from a 9V DC adapter or a pedalboard power supply output.
What does the left footswitch do on the 1979 Baja?
The left stomp switch bypasses or engages the tone circuit. Mojo Hand FX describes this as a footswitch to bypass the tone knob, so you get all the bass and all the treble. The right stomp switch bypasses or engages the fuzz circuit itself.
How big is the 1979 Baja?
The 1979 Baja measures 4.7 inches long by 3.69 inches wide by 1.37 inches high, in a die-cast aluminum enclosure with powder coating and printing. That is a compact footprint by pedalboard standards.
Is the Mojo Hand FX 1978 still made?
No. Mojo Hand FX describes the 1979 Baja as an evolution of the now discontinued 1978. The 1978 fuzz was also reported as discontinued by gearnews.com back in 2017, when the 1979 was first announced as its successor.
Sources (4)
- 1979 Baja, Mojo Hand FX
- MojoHandFX, MojoHandFX
- 1979 fuzz by Mojo Hand Fx: A late 70s Big Muff you can rely on?, gearnews.com, 2017-01-27
- Mojo Hand Colossus Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-18
