The Valco BloodBuzz is a dual fuzz and overdrive pedal: two completely separate effects housed together in one enclosure. It was the first pedal in the Valco series, and it was inspired by the rare Lovetone Cheese Source, a 1990s pedal that combined fuzz and overdrive in one box1. The circuit puts a Fuzz and a Drive circuit in parallel, which stacks gated fuzz with a warm, dynamic overdrive or distortion2. The BloodBuzz was released in 2020 by Valco, a Canadian company2.
Two effects in one box
The BloodBuzz is essentially two pedals in one housing. Pedal of the Day described it as "basically two completely separate FX pedals housed together in one enclosure"3. Each effect is independent and is designed to be used on its own or in any configuration, thanks to separate input and output jacks2. Both sides work in tandem or separate, allowing a multitude of sonic combinations3.
For a player, that means the fuzz and the drive can each be patched into a chain on their own, or stacked in either order depending on which circuit you want first2.
"The BloodBuzz delivers all this in a familiar wedge enclosure with different voicings for each effect"
The BloodBuzz puts two effects in one box: a fuzz and a drive circuit, each with its own voicing, in the familiar wedge enclosure Valco uses across its pedals. The pedal can run on a battery or standard 9V power2.
The controls and Voice switches
Each side of the pedal has its own four-way Voice switch, giving the BloodBuzz different voicings for each effect2.
Fuzz side. The four-way Voice switch gives the Fuzz side a tone bypass for a classic two-knob 60s psych sound, a muffy 1kHz mid scoop, or a familiar gated, sputtery sound2. Pedal of the Day called it "a brilliant 4-way Voice Selector, with four distinct and unique fuzz sounds"3.
Drive side. The Drive section has its own 4-way Voice switch that works in tandem with the Tone control. With the tone bypassed you get a full range drive or boost; Voice 1 adjusts the highs, and Voices 2 and 3 apply low end shelving2. Pedal of the Day's description of the drive voicings differs in detail from Delicious Audio's, with one describing a higher frequency shift to increase the bass roll off on the drive side3; the two accounts agree that the switch reshapes the drive's low end against the Tone control.
Where it came from
The BloodBuzz is a tribute to the Lovetone Cheesesource pedal from the 90s2. As JHS Pedals puts it: "The Cheese Source is simply this: it's the Big Cheese and the Brown Source. Buzz and overdrive, two in one."4 The BloodBuzz carries that two-in-one idea into a modern, road-rugged pedal23.
Valco followed the BloodBuzz with the Valco KGB Fuzz and later the smaller Valco KGB Fuzz JR1. If you are exploring this corner of effects, the Fuzz Pedals and Overdrive Pedals pages cover the two effect types the BloodBuzz combines.
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Questions
Can I use the fuzz and drive sides of the BloodBuzz separately?
Yes. Each effect is independent and designed to be used on its own or in any configuration, thanks to separate input and output jacks. Pedal of the Day puts it the same way: both sides work in tandem or separate, allowing a multitude of sonic combinations. That means you can run the fuzz alone, the drive alone, or stack them in either order.
What is the Lovetone Cheesesource?
The Lovetone Cheese Source was a rare 1990s pedal that combined two effects in one box. As JHS Pedals explains it, the Cheese Source is simply the Big Cheese and the Brown Source: buzz and overdrive, two in one. The Valco BloodBuzz is a tribute to that pedal.
Does the Valco BloodBuzz run on a battery?
Yes. According to Delicious Audio, the BloodBuzz can run on a battery or standard 9V power, so it works with either a battery or a typical pedalboard power supply.
Where is the Valco BloodBuzz made?
The Valco BloodBuzz is made in Canada with high quality, road rugged components, according to Delicious Audio. Valco itself is a Canadian company.
What do the Voice switches do on the BloodBuzz?
Each side of the pedal has a four-way Voice switch. On the fuzz side, the switch gives you a tone bypass for a classic two-knob 60s psych sound, a muffy 1kHz mid scoop, or a familiar gated, sputtery sound. On the drive side, the switch works with the Tone control: full range drive or boost with the tone bypassed, highs adjusted in Voice 1, and low end shelving in Voices 2 and 3.
Sources (4)
- Valco KGB Fuzz Review, GuitarPlayer, 2021-12-17
- Valco BloodBuzz, Delicious Audio, 2020-10-14
- Eastwood VALCO BloodBuzz Fuzz Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2020-05-02
- THE LEGEND OF LOVETONE, JHS Pedals
