The Shift Line A+ Buzz V.2 Deep Blue is a bass drive pedal: a limited cosmetic edition of the A+ Buzz V.2, finished in deep blue, with no changes to its sound or functions1. It sits in the bass pedals world as an analog drive and distortion pedal, built to take a bass from clean to full-on distortion with what Shift Line describes as excellent dynamic response1.
The Buzz V.2 is an improved revision of the original A+ Buzz, a bass drive that Shift Line says found its place on pedalboards around the world. Its schematics are based on that first revision, with improvements to the sound palette, and if needed the V.2 can sound exactly like the V.11. Some elements of the Shift Line Termofuzz are also used in the schematics1.
The Deep Blue edition is a limited cosmetic edition of the pedal with no changes to its sound or functions, and the original Buzz V.1 is discontinued12. The standard Buzz V.2 finishes carry the same circuit and controls.
What the Buzz V.2 Deep Blue does
As a drive pedal for bass, the Buzz V.2 blends a clean signal with a distorted one, which is how it keeps low end intact while adding grit. Shift Line's own framing is simple: "Bass and distortion go hand in hand"1. The maker describes the result as a strong core sound with a wide sweet spot, covering everything from a clean edge to full-on distortion depending on where the GAIN knob sits1.
The circuit's family tree matters to how it behaves. Because the schematics are based on the Buzz V.1, a player who liked the original can dial the V.2 back to that sound, while the improvements to the sound palette and the borrowed Termofuzz elements open up voicings the V.1 did not have1. Shift Line also says the Buzz V.2 has been tested with both high-end and budget instruments and equipment3.
The pedal comes in a compact and lightweight aluminum enclosure with top-mounted jacks for improved connectivity, which helps on a crowded pedalboard where side jacks would fight for space1.
The controls: gain, clean and drive levels, MID and BITE
The control set is small: two knobs, two switches and a footswitch. What each one does:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN knob | Controls the intensity of the drive1 |
| CLEAN LEVEL knob | Controls the clean signal volume; can be boosted up to +12dB or turned down to 0 if needed1 |
| MID switch | Shifts the distorted signal's character from vintage to modern depending on position1 |
| BITE switch | Fine control over high mids (2900Hz) in the distorted signal: UP +6dB, DOWN -6dB1 |
| BYPASS switch | Turns the effect on or off1 |
The CLEAN LEVEL knob is the heart of the parallel design. Because the clean and distorted signals are handled separately, the clean side can be boosted up to +12dB to stay present over the drive, or turned down to 0 for a fully distorted sound with no clean blend at all1.
The two voicing switches shape the distorted signal only. The MID switch moves its character from vintage to modern: frequencies are cut with a narrow band and boosted with a wide band1. The BITE switch determines how aggressive the pedal sounds, working on the high mids at 2900Hz with +6dB up and -6dB down, again cutting with a narrow band and boosting with a wide band1. Together they give four voicings of the same drive before the GAIN knob is even touched.
Power and connections
The Buzz V.2 runs on 9V DC at 60mA, negative tip, through a 2.1/5.5mm barrel jack, and Shift Line specifies a regulated PSU only1. The input and output are both 6,3mm mono unbalanced jacks, at 1MOhm in and 100Ohm out, both top-mounted for improved connectivity1.
The 60mA draw and the regulated-PSU-only specification mean this is not a battery pedal, and it should not share an unregulated daisy chain with pedals that need a clean supply1.
Videos
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MrExcane
Real Bassist
Questions
Does the Deep Blue Buzz sound different from other Buzz V.2 colors?
No. Shift Line describes the Deep Blue as a limited cosmetic edition of the A+ Buzz V.2 with no changes to its sound or functions. The circuit, controls, power requirements and bypass are the same as the other Buzz V.2 finishes, so the only difference is the look of the enclosure.
How much current does the Shift Line Buzz V.2 draw?
The Buzz V.2 draws 60mA at 9V DC, center negative, through a 2.1/5.5mm barrel jack. Shift Line specifies a regulated power supply only. For comparison, the earlier Buzz V.1 drew 50mA, so the V.2 asks a little more of a power supply.
Is the Buzz V.2 Deep Blue analog?
Yes. Shift Line describes a fully analog signal path. The schematics are based on the first revision of the Buzz with improvements to the sound palette, and some elements of the Shift Line Termofuzz are used in the circuit.
Is the Shift Line Buzz V.2 true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses a fail-safe relay-based passive (true) bypass circuit, switched by the BYPASS footswitch. The fail-safe design means the signal path defaults to bypass if the relay circuit fails.
Sources (3)
- A+ Buzz V.2 Deep Blue, Shift Line, 2026
- A+ Buzz, Shift Line, 2026
- A+ Buzz V.2 Gray, Shift Line, 2026
