The PLBR Effects Narwhal is a fuzz and distortion pedal from the Croatian maker PLBR Effects, announced in May 2018. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as coming "from a family of BMP type pedals", meaning it traces its circuit layout to the Big Muff style of fuzz, and noted that "Like it's big brother Maritimus, it brings numerous possibilities dialing in your favorite fuzz tones."1 Its distinguishing feature is flexibility: two gain stages, each with three clipping options, which the maker's control layout combines into nine distinct sound combinations in one box.1
The controls
The Narwhal carries two rows of controls. Volume, Tone and Fuzz (gain) make up the top row, with the clipping and EQ switches below.3
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOLUME | Controls the output volume1 |
| TONE | Shapes the pedal's EQ1 |
| FUZZ (Gain) | Sets the amount of gain2 |
| 1st Stage Clipping | Silicon, None or LED1 |
| 2nd Stage Clipping | Silicon, None or LED1 |
| SHAPE | Changes the shape of the EQ controlled by the TONE control1 |
| TB (tone bypass) | Disengages the pedal's EQ; the sound is raw and unfiltered, and the TONE and SHAPE controls are disabled1 |
Nine clipping combinations
Each of the two gain stages offers three clipping options: silicon diodes, no diodes, or LED diodes. Together they provide nine distinct sound combinations.1 Pedal of the Day described the choices as "Silicon (compressed) Diode, No Diode (less compressed and loud) and LED (open, with more distortion)".3
Delicious Audio's rundown of the clipping settings:
- Silicon diodes (stock): a compressed fuzz sound
- No diodes: less compression, described as suitable for bass guitar, with a warning of a high increase in volume
- LED diodes: a more open, distortion-like sound1
Switching either stage to the no-diodes setting brings a marked jump in volume, so it is worth lowering the VOLUME knob before flipping to that position.1
The Shape switch and tone bypass
The SHAPE switch has two positions. Position 1 gives a punchy mid-range tone, while position 2 produces a scooped mid character; Delicious Audio lists the two as "1) Punchy mids" and "2) Heavily scooped mids".1 Because SHAPE changes the shape of the EQ that the TONE control governs, the two work together, and both are taken out of the circuit when the TB switch is engaged.1
White and Black versions
The Narwhal was released in two varieties. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, writing in June 2024, described the pair: "the White more aggressive and punchy 'Modern' variety appeared first, and then later we got the Black slightly smoother and softer 'Vintage' style one". Both were listed at $125 when new.2
Relation to the Maritimus
The Narwhal was offered as a pair of Black Vintage and White Modern Muffs at $125 when new2. Its two toggles shape the fuzz from the same basic circuit: the first CLIP switch moves between silicone diodes for a compressed fuzz sound, no diodes for less compression with a warning of a high increase in volume, and LED diodes for a more open, distortion-like sound, while the SHAPE toggle picks between punchy mids and heavily scooped mids1.
What reviewers said
The pedal's own descriptions set out what it does. The maker describes the #1 Mode of the SHAPE toggle as giving "a punchy mid-range tone"3, and the CLIP options run from the stock silicone diodes' compressed fuzz, through a no-diode setting with less compression that the maker flags as suitable for bass guitar with a warning of a high increase in volume, to LED diodes for a more open, distortion-like sound3.
"The Narwhal Distortion Fuzz from PLBR Effects is one of the funnest fuzzes we've seen come through as of late"
For players weighing it against a straight fuzz or a straight distortion pedal, the Narwhal's pitch is that it covers both territories through its clipping and shape switches, in the fuzz tradition of the Big Muff family rather than as a overdrive style circuit.1
Videos
Eirik Stordrange
collector//emitter
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the PLBR Effects Narwhal true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's 2018 writeup of the Narwhal lists a true bypass switch among its features, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is off.
What does the TB switch do on the Narwhal?
TB stands for tone bypass. Engaging it disengages the pedal's EQ, so the sound is raw and unfiltered. Delicious Audio notes that it disables both the TONE and SHAPE controls while engaged.
What does the Shape switch do on the Narwhal?
The SHAPE switch changes the shape of the EQ that the TONE control governs. Position 1 gives a punchy mid-range tone, while position 2 is heavily scooped in the mids, per Delicious Audio's control rundown.
Can you use the Narwhal with bass guitar?
Delicious Audio's guide suggests it can work: the no-diodes clipping setting gives a less compressed fuzz that the writeup describes as suitable for bass guitar. Be aware that setting brings a high increase in volume, so back off the level knob first.
What is the difference between the White and Black Narwhal?
Guitar Pedal X describes the White as the more aggressive and punchy 'Modern' variety, which appeared first, and the Black as the slightly smoother and softer 'Vintage' style version that came later.
How is the Narwhal related to the PLBR Maritimus?
Delicious Audio calls the Narwhal the Maritimus's big brother. Both are BMP type fuzz pedals from the same Croatian maker, and both bring numerous possibilities for dialing in favorite fuzz tones. The Maritimus was PLBR Effects' first pedal, covered earlier in 2018.
Sources (4)
- PLBR Effects Narwhal Distortion Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2018-05-11
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-24
- PLBR Effects Narwhal Distortion Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2018-05-11
- PLBR Effects Maritimus Distortion Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2018-06-18
