The Shift Line A+ Buzz V.2 Violet is a limited cosmetic edition of the A+ Buzz V.2, a bass drive pedal from Russian maker Shift Line. It is a bass drive that splits your signal into a clean path and a distorted path, each with its own volume control, so you can keep your low end solid while adding as much grit as you want. Shift Line describes it as having excellent dynamic response, running from clean to full-on distortion depending on how hard you play1.
The Violet edition changes nothing but the finish: Shift Line states it is a limited cosmetic edition with no changes to its sound or functions1. The standard Buzz V.2 circuit, controls and power are all identical.
What it does for a bass player
The core idea of the Buzz V.2 is the parallel clean and distorted signal. The DRIVE LEVEL knob controls the distorted signal's volume, and that distorted signal can be turned down to 0 if needed, while separate dry and wet volume controls let you set the clean level independently, with the option to boost the clean signal1. For a bassist, this is the practical answer to the classic problem of drive pedals eating your low end: your fundamental stays in the mix no matter how hard the wet side is pushed.
Shift Line describes the pedal's character as having excellent dynamic response, from clean to full-on distortion, so it can work as a light grind at low playing intensity and open up to heavier distortion when you dig in1.
Where the circuit came from
The Buzz V.2 is an improved revision of the original A+ Buzz, a bass drive pedal that Shift Line says found its place on pedalboards around the world. The original A+ Buzz was Shift Line's own design that borrowed certain parts of its circuit from their Termofuzz and Mr.Blend pedals, ran on a regulated 9V PSU or a 9V battery, and drew 50mA; it is now discontinued2.
The V.2 schematics are based on that first revision with improvements to the sound palette, and some elements of the Shift Line Termofuzz are used in the V.2's schematics1. If needed, the V.2 can sound exactly like the V.1 while offering much deeper control3.
Controls and switching
The control set centers on the blend architecture:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DRIVE LEVEL | Sets the distorted (wet) signal volume; can be turned down to 01 |
| Dry volume | Sets the clean signal level, with the option to boost the clean signal1 |
| BYPASS switch | Turns the effect on or off4 |
Other Buzz V.2 editions document two character switches that shape the wet side. The MID switch shifts the distorted signal's character from vintage to modern depending on position, with frequencies cut with a narrow band and boosted with a wide band. The BITE switch determines how aggressive the pedal sounds, again cutting with a narrow band and boosting with a wide band5. The original A+ Buzz also carried a FAT switch that, in the UP position (two dots), provided the largest amount of low end2.
The Buzz V.2 also has top-mounted jacks for improved connectivity, which keeps the pedal's footprint tight on a crowded board5.
Power and connections
The Violet Buzz V.2 runs on 9V DC at 60mA, negative tip, through a 2.1/5.5mm barrel connector, and Shift Line specifies a regulated PSU only1.
Unlike the original A+ Buzz, which accepted a 9V battery2, the V.2's power spec lists a regulated 9V supply only, with no battery option1. Plan on a pedalboard power supply rather than a battery.
The pedal sits in a compact and lightweight aluminum enclosure, 110 x 67 x 56mm and 240g, with a 1MOhm input impedance and a 100Ohm output impedance, both on 6,3mm mono unbalanced jacks1. The 1MOhm input preserves the tone of passive bass pickups, and the low 100Ohm output impedance drives long cable runs and downstream pedals without losing high end.
How it differs from the original Buzz
| A+ Buzz (V.1) | A+ Buzz V.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued2 | Current1 |
| Signal path | Analog design borrowing circuit parts from Termofuzz and Mr.Blend2 | Fully analog, schematics based on V.1 with improvements to the sound palette1 |
| Power | Regulated 9V PSU or 9V battery, 50mA2 | 9V DC 60mA, regulated PSU only1 |
| Bypass | Not specified | Fail-safe relay-based passive (true) bypass1 |
| Jacks | Not specified | Top-mounted5 |
| Sound | Original design | Can sound exactly like the V.1, with much deeper control3 |
Questions
Does the Violet Buzz V.2 sound different from the standard Buzz V.2?
No. Shift Line describes the Violet as a limited cosmetic edition of the Buzz V.2 with no changes to its sound or functions. The circuit, controls, power requirements and bypass are identical to the standard pedal, so the only difference is the finish.
Can the Buzz V.2 sound like the original Buzz?
Yes. The Buzz V.2 schematics are based on the first revision with improvements to the sound palette, and Shift Line says that if needed the V.2 can sound exactly like the V.1 while offering much deeper control over the drive.
Is the Shift Line Buzz V.2 true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses a fail-safe relay-based passive (true) bypass circuit, so when the effect is off the signal passes through without buffering, and the relay design is built to fail in bypass mode.
Is the Shift Line Buzz V.2 analog?
Yes. Shift Line specifies a fully analog signal path for the Buzz V.2, including the Violet edition. The drive, the dry/wet blend and the tone shaping are all handled in the analog domain.
Does the Buzz V.2 have top-mounted jacks?
Yes. The Buzz V.2 has top-mounted jacks for improved connectivity, which saves horizontal space on a pedalboard compared with side-mounted jacks.
Sources (5)
- A+ Buzz V.2 Violet, Shift Line, 2026
- A+ Buzz, Shift Line, 2026
- A+ Buzz V.2 Black, Shift Line, 2026
- A+ Buzz V.2 Gray, Shift Line, 2026
- A+ Buzz V.2 Deep Blue, Shift Line, 2026
