The Mystery Brain BS-301 from The Nocturne Brain is a vintage Japanese preamp and digital tape echo pedal in one box. The preamp section is a 100% analog replication of the 1970s Japanese RE-301 Space Echo input preamp, with an Abby solo boost mode built into the same preamp section1. Guitar World's Huw Price has placed Nocturne's Space Echo-inspired BS-301 design among the pedals players reach for when they want tape echo preamp tones2.
How the echo works
The tape echo side is not analog. The maker describes it as using a low res digi chip and a saturation circuit for what it calls silky smeared repeats, with photocell controlled warble for the tape-style movement. The dry signal, though, stays 100% analog at all times: the wet/dry mix control keeps that path analog and lets you decide how much of it is fed to the delay signal1. That makes it a hybrid design, sitting alongside other delay pedals that pair an analog dry path with a digital repeat engine.
The delay time control rates from about 15ms to 600ms of tape delay time. The maker sketches the range in musical terms: "Bathtub funk, honky tonk to vintage Sun Studio era Gallup and Scotty tape slap, to 70's/80's vintage DMM'ish Edge vibe and Space Rock"1.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Delay time | Rates from about 15ms to 600ms tape delay times1 |
| Repeats | From 1 slap to infinite feedback naturally1 |
| Wet/dry mix | Keeps the dry signal 100% analog and sets how much is fed to the delay signal1 |
| Gain | Control of the preamp1 |
| Speed | Speed control for the analog vibrato/chorus modulation1 |
| Depth | Depth control for the analog vibrato/chorus modulation1 |
| On/Off stomp switch | 100% true bypass1 |
The Speed and Depth pair drive an analog vibrato/chorus modulation, the kind of pitch wobble associated with a tape machine's transport1.
Abby Mode and the internal trim pot
Abby Mode is the solo boost on the Atomic Brain preamp section. The maker says it "really takes on an almost light overdrive boost" when the tape echo emulator is engaged and the Bass Cut control is turned all the way right, at 5 o'clock. It works by switching input gain sensitivity rather than acting as a simple volume boost, which puts it closer in behavior to the boost and overdrive pedals players use to push a solo forward1.
Inside the pedal there is also a micro sized metal trim pot that controls the boost or cut of a secondary echoplex preamp sitting after the Space Echo preamp. The maker sets it a hair above neutral and gives two cautions: turning it up makes the repeats dirty and noisier, turning it down cleans them up, and it is not meant to be continually turned, as it will snap off if over turned1.
The internal echoplex preamp trim pot is a set-and-forget control. The maker warns it is not meant to be continually turned and will snap off if over turned1.
Power, size and the Circuit Rider edition
The pedal is powered by a 9v power supply, which is not included, and draws 85mA max1. Its footprint is 5 5/8" x 4 5/8" x 1 9/16"1. The maker sells it with a 1 year warranty on all parts and labor, shipping not included, and notes that all sales are final1.
There is also a limited edition: the MYSTERY BRAIN BS-301 Circuit Rider ltd. tape echo3. The maker describes it as the same pedal with new ltd "circuit rider" graphics in High Noon blue, "just a newer cooler design"1.
Videos
The Nocturne Brain
The Nocturne Brain
The TeleDynes
Questions
Is the Nocturne Brain Mystery Brain BS-301 true bypass?
Yes. The maker states that the On/Off stomp switch is 100% true bypass, and that the analog dry signal stays analog throughout. When the pedal is off, your guitar signal passes through without conversion, and when it is on, the wet/dry mix control keeps the dry path 100% analog while you decide how much of it is fed to the delay signal.
Is the dry signal analog on the Mystery Brain BS-301?
Yes. The maker describes the wet/dry mix as keeping the dry signal 100% analog, with the player deciding how much of it is fed to the delay signal. Only the tape echo itself uses a low resolution digital chip and a saturation circuit for its repeats, with photocell controlled warble, while the dry path remains analog.
What does Abby Mode do on the Mystery Brain BS-301?
Abby Mode is a solo boost on the Atomic Brain preamp section. The maker says it takes on an almost light overdrive boost character when the tape echo emulator is engaged and the Bass Cut control is turned all the way right, at 5 o'clock. It works by switching input gain sensitivity rather than acting as a simple volume boost.
Does the Mystery Brain BS-301 come with a power supply?
No. The maker lists the pedal as powered by a 9v power supply that is not included, so you will need to provide your own. The pedal draws a maximum of 85mA, which is worth checking against your supply's spare current before adding it to a daisy chain.
How long are the delay times on the Mystery Brain BS-301?
The delay time control rates from about 15ms to 600ms of tape delay time. The maker describes that span as covering everything from short tape slap in the style of Sun Studio era recordings up to longer, 70's and 80's style echoes.
What is the Circuit Rider edition of the Mystery Brain?
The Circuit Rider edition is a limited run of the Mystery Brain BS-301 tape echo with new Circuit Rider graphics in High Noon blue. The maker describes it as the same pedal, just with a newer design, so the circuit and features are unchanged from the standard version.
Sources (3)
- MYSTERY BRAIN BS-301 ™ Circuit Rider ltd. tape echo by The NOCTURNE Br, The Nocturne Brain (thenocturnebrain.com)
- Boost pedals: the history of the stompbox that supercharged the sound of rock 'n' roll, Guitar World, 2023-07-26
- ATOMIC BRAIN® 301 Analog preamp, The Nocturne Brain (thenocturnebrain.com)
