Features

Throughout history, various fuzz pedals have been made. They have created many legends, and there is no end to players who are looking for vintage fuzz tones.

Among them, the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi is a rare fuzz pedal in the world that has continued to receive brilliant results and high praise for decades and continues to evolve today.

Mike Matthews once described the Big Muff circuit as "a fuzz with a strong filter." The One Control BALTIC BLUE FUZZ is a new-generation vintage fuzz pedal designed by BJF based on that idea.

It is said that the world's first fuzz pedal was the Maestro Fuzz Tone FZ-1, which was released in 1962. Originally developed in the United States, the fuzz pedal was refined in 1965 and improved as the FZ-1A.

However, around the same time, a fuzz pedal that would later become legendary was being born in the UK. Developed by Gary Hurst and named "Tone Bender," the pedal was known for its original tone while being influenced by the FZ-1 circuitry, and evolved into the first Mk1, the transitional Mk1.5 in 1966, and then the Mk2, which led to an explosive increase in the popularity of fuzz pedals, including clone models, advanced models, and OEM models.

In 1966, the world-famous "Fuzz Face" was released alongside the Tone Bender. This circuit is also known for being very similar to the transitional Tone Bender now known as the Mk1.5.

The Tone Bender was further released as the Mk3 in 1968 and the Mk4 in 1969.

Thus, the fuzz pedal that began with the FZ-1 has undergone many variations and matured over the years.

In response to these UK fuzz pedals, a certain fuzz pedal was developed in New York in 1969. This fuzz pedal, created by Bob Meyer, an engineer at Electro-Harmonix at the time, was the first Big Muff Pi, now known as the "Triangle." This model was sold until around 1973, when the case was updated to a model called the "Ram's Head."

The Big Muff Pi is a newly developed fuzz pedal that was developed based on research into the fuzz effect, which was originally developed in the US and then brought to the UK where it was further developed. We believe that this is the origin of the "fuzz sound" that guitarists today are looking for.

The BALTIC BLUE FUZZ circuit is not a clone of the Big Muff, but the topology is the same.

The Big Muff tones that modern guitarists are particularly looking for are often those of the "Triangle" and "Ram's Head". Although there are differences when comparing the actual machines, the circuits of the "Triangle" and "Ram's Head" are almost the same and the tones are similar. The BALTIC BLUE FUZZ was developed to create the tones of this era.

Recreating vintage fuzz. Builders all over the world are working on it. In particular, if you want to reproduce the sound of that time 100% perfectly, you need to be particular about not only the vintage NOS components used, but also the casing, pots, and circuit pattern.

The One Control BJF series is an effector that uses an overwhelmingly small body and an original circuit designed by BJF using components that are currently readily available. We believe that it is important that it is a universal model that can be easily obtained anywhere, even if something were to happen.

When designing the BALTIC BLUE FUZZ, BJF combined multiple amplification stages and filters. This design concept is similar to that of the Big Muff, but uses an Op-Amp for stability and compatibility with modern components.

The first Big Muff...the sound that comes to mind when you hear "Triangle" or "Ram's Head." That's the image of BALTIC BLUE FUZZ.

The moment the effect is turned on and a sound is played, everyone will recognize it as "that sound." At the same time, it should be a sound that stands out in the ensemble.

This means that whenever you want that "vintage Muff" sound, you can easily carry it around on your pedal board or gig bag and use it with the same confidence as an overdrive or distortion pedal.

The BALTIC BLUE FUZZ is a pedal that creates a vintage muff sound, but also places importance on the sound coming out in front. For this reason, it has the same gain range as the vintage BIG MUFF, but is adjusted to be a little tighter and a little lower in gain than the original.

In addition, it is tuned for use with electric guitars and filtered to produce a powerful feedback tone. It is free of the peakiness that is common in vintage fuzz pedals and their clone models, and it also improves the stability of your playing.

In addition, BJF gave the BALTIC BLUE FUZZ a Tone control that is much easier to use than the vintage original model. It is designed to allow you to adjust the guitar tone over the entire knob range without compromising it, and has a high response that allows the knob movement to be immediately transmitted as sound. A legendary player had several identical fuzzes prepared and used them interchangeably in order to find the sound he wanted at that moment, but with the BALTIC BLUE FUZZ, you can find the sound you want just by turning the Tone knob.

Vintage fuzz pedals have a certain magic. The real legendary vintage fuzz pedals are certainly amazing. And the high-end clone models, which have been carefully crafted and researched to reproduce the tone of those pedals, are just as powerful.

The BALTIC BLUE FUZZ is not a vintage fuzz pedal, nor is it a pedal that is entirely dedicated to recreating it. However, it is the most familiar "vintage muff" pedal, allowing you to freely control the sound that you will recognize as a vintage muff tone at first listen to it according to your preferences and equipment, and can be easily carried anywhere.

Features: A completely new fuzz pedal designed by BJF. A vintage muff tone that is instantly recognizable. TONE control allows you to instantly adjust the sound to your liking. A clear sound even in an ensemble. High-quality mini-sized case made from machined aluminum. Can also be equipped with a built-in battery.

●Specification
Input impedance: 40K
Output impedance: 50K
Drive voltage: 9V
Current consumption: 6mA
S/N ratio: -70dBm
Size: 39Wx100Dx31H mm (excluding protrusions)
47Wx100Dx48H mm (including protrusions)
Weight: Approximately 160 grams (200 grams with battery inserted)
True Bypass Switching

*Batteries are not included.

*The names Electro-Harmonix, Big Muff Pi, Maestro, Fuzz Tone, FZ-1, FZ-1A, Tone Bender, and Fuzz Face mentioned in this article are for explanatory purposes only and are in no way affiliated with New Sensor Corp, Gibson Guitar Corporation, Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc., or Macaris.

I received the BALTIC BLUE FUZZ (BBF) and tested it with various guitars and amplifiers. When used with a humbucker guitar, the BBF produces a focused, detailed sound, making it easy to achieve a Carlos Santana-like tone.

I then plugged in a Stratocaster with a BJF/Lundgren set and it reminded me of the records I listened to in my brother's bedroom in the 70's. My Hiwatt amp doesn't sound like Gilmour even with the Big Muff, but with the BBF I got that Gilmour tone. You could also enjoy it with a P-90 or a Telecaster.

Using a guitar with low impedance active pickups changes the filtering response and instantly creates a modern fuzz tone. The same effect was achieved using passive pickups and placing a BJF Buffer in front of the BBF.

The BBF makes it easy to set up the sound for British amps as well as Fender amps like the 1967 Super Reverb.

When combined with a booster such as the GRANITH GREY BOOSTER (GGB), connecting the GGB first will give you a modern tone. Connecting the GGB after the booster will allow you to set two volume levels. Either is recommended.

─── Bjorn Juhl

His ears, intuition and determination ultimately led to the creation of One Control's first fuzz.
A sound you've heard, imagined, but never experienced.
We look to the past, we look to the future, and we create sound in the here and now.

One Control and BJF have created another legend.