This item is brand new, sealed and shipped direct from the manufacturer.
The best, most comprehensive and meticulous BluesBreaker clone out there, hands down. Google it for tons of reviews! :) Also see our feedback on Reverb and the many reviews at the bottom of this listing.
BlackBox Overdrive by Snouse Electric Co.
A component-for-component clone of the original Marshall BluesBreaker pedal produced in the early '90s - built better. Handmade, hand-wired from start-to-finish and individually numbered in the RiNo Art District in Denver, Colorado.
METICULOUSLY BUILT TO EXACT SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ORIGINAL.
FEATURES • Carefully and beautifully hand-wired • Gain, Tone and Volume controls • Hand-applied gold lettering • True-Bypass switching for complete bypass transparency • Top-quality components, including Alpha potentiometers, Neutrik jacks, Xicon metal-film resistors, Nichicon electrolytics and Panasonic ECQ poly-film capacitors • Military-grade 24 AWG stranded wire • Davies-style molded cream-colored knobs • Matte black Hammond 1590BB aluminum enclosure • Hand-cut epoxy fiber board • Socketed op-amp • Bright blue LED • Powered by 9V battery or Boss-style 9-18VDC regulated power supply • NOT just hand-assembled on a pre-printed circuit board with shoddy PCB-mounted pots in a pre-drilled box – 100% handmade, hand-drilled, hand-wired on a hand-cut board. Practically the only thing we didn't do by hand is dig up the aluminum! • So clean inside ya can lick it! No rats nest wiring in these here boxes!
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT It seems that most clones available elsewhere at the moment are based on a more readily-available schematic. A lot of players (and apparently builders as well) don't know that there were a few circuit revisions while the original unit was in production - one was smoother and warmer, one was too bright and really harsh - which means it's a toss-up for people who are paying $250+ for the original pedal when some are better than others. This is a clone of the warmer and smoother of the two revisions - the one that should be cloned.
DOES IT SOUND THE SAME AS THE ORIGINAL? Yes, the clone is electronically and 100% sonically identical to the original Marshall BluesBreaker. We didn't just pull up a schematic online to lay out our pedal. We carefully traced the genuine article, value by value, to make sure that what comes out of our box is identical to what comes out of the original.
TRUE-BYPASS Each pedal is handmade, hand-numbered, and hand-wired with True-Bypass that allows the pedal to be completely transparent when bypassed. The original circuit bypassed in much the same way as a vintage wah, with some of the signal being split into the first half of the circuit in bypass mode, sucking up some of your guitar's signal - True-Bypass rectifies this issue, and it does so without altering the circuit itself.
100% ACCURATE CIRCUIT REPRODUCTION Enhanced power filter to filter noise out of the 9V power; otherwise built to exact specifications of the original Marshall BluesBreaker pedal from the early 90's - same op-amp, same clipping diodes, exact same capacitor and resistor values all around, same I/O impedance, signal, and bias voltages as measured with a DMM.
FAQs
Does it sound the same as the original? Yes, the clone is electronically and 100% sonically identical to the original Marshall BluesBreaker circuit.
Yes, but does it sound the same? Contrary to fairly popular lore, the Mojo Fairy did not bless the original pedals before they hit the market. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet about what's better or worse, upgrading to so-and-so capacitors or carbon-comp resistors, but unless you're an electrical engineer, unfortunately you have to rely on what others have to say... and anyone can say anything on the internet. There is truth to some things you'll hear, but not always for the reasons you're given when people are trying to sell you things. Once you do your research, here's what you'll find: The secret is not magic - it's math and physics. A certain value resistor-capacitor value combination will react at a particular frequency, for example, or distort at a particular voltage, and frequencies & voltage coefficients can be measured and predicted precisely. The pedal was not designed by ear, i.e., someone plugging things in and out randomly until they got what they wanted. The circuit was designed with math and physics by an electrical engineer to work with specific frequencies.
In fact, you may find (with close to superhuman hearing and lots of pedals to compare) that this clone sounds more precisely like a BluesBreaker was intended than some originals. This is where the truths about particular types of component upgrades come in, and here's why: Electronic components have something called a tolerance rating. This rating is given as a percentage, which is the percent of the marked value within which the component is allowed to stray to pass inspection. For example, a resistor marked 100 ohms with a 5% tolerance may measure as low as 95 ohms, or it may be as high as 105 ohms, and it will still be allowed to leave the factory. As commercial production pedals often cut costs wherever possible, often times that means using cheaper components.
The original BluesBreaker was made with carbon-film resistors. What does this mean? Doesn't carbon-whatever give you mojo? Unfortunately, no, not carbon-film, which is why they've been upgraded for this clone. Though audibly identical, carbon-film (not carbon-comp) resistors are less expensive components, generally with a tolerance of 5%. The resistors used in this clone are very high-quality metal-film resistors with a tolerance of 1%. This means that the resistors will never shift the frequencies at which the pedal operates farther away than one percent from the exact frequencies at which this pedal was designed to operate when the electrical engineering team measured the frequencies that came out of the BluesBreaker amp they were trying to duplicate. This is also why you often hear of guitarists in the 60's and 70's digging through piles of pedals to find the good ones - because the carbon-comp resistors they typically used at that time have a tolerance rating of 20%, which means the pedals were often up to 20% away from the intended circuit design. In addition to being more imprecise, carbon-film resistors are susceptible to moisture absorption, which degrades the component and changes their value over time. And so it is with the rest of the clone's circuitry - an exact electronic replica of the original circuitry with much more precise, consistent and high-quality components, and a guarantee that you will get the more beautiful-sounding BluesBreaker revision of the two that were produced in the 90's. If you compare to the original, you will find that there is absolutely no difference in tone (underline x100!), only circuit quality, stability, and precision.
But what about carbon comp resistors? Mr. Boutique Man said that carbon comp gives you all the mojo, and he even puts one in just the right place in his pedal. Mr. Boutique Man really puts a high value on his snake oil! Yes, carbon comp resistors may be hiding a little sack of mojo juice deep inside, but those second-order harmonics (the stuff we like about 'em) only come out to play when the voltage and signal swing across the resistor is high enough to distort the resistor. Unless you plug your pedal into a minimum 100V power adapter (not recommended), the benefits of carbon comp in a guitar pedal are limited to a nice bit of extra noise, moisture absorption, imprecision, and a drifting value over time or with climate changes. Sign me up for summadat snake oil!
Ok, so you're telling me that you're using ONLY THE BEST quality name-brand parts, including those fancy 1% metal-film resistors, all HANDMADE and HAND-WIRED from start-to-finish, and you do all this for under $100? I'm supposed to believe that I'm getting exactly what comes out of a $400 pedal for less than 100 meal tickets? What's the catch? How can I believe that I'm getting boutique-quality equipment at such a fantastic deal? This has to be cheap low end stuff! Touché! Great question and I'm very glad you asked! Part of the reason we're able to sell such a high-quality product at such a fair price is that I'm not trying to take advantage of what you don't know. We don't charge you an extra $100 just to toss one carbon comp resistor in there and tell you it will change your life. We won't snag an extra Benjamin from you for buying out some obscure NOS diode just to say we're the only ones that use it and you ain't gon' find it nowhere's else, cause it's the only way you'll ever sound good, EVER, when really it just sounds different, or even worse, depending on who you ask. We won't lie to you and tell you that we got the last JRC chips ever made before they changed 'em (they didn't) so we can knock you for a few extra bones.
Another reason we can sell at such a fair price is betting on order volume. Instead of selling sporadically at a high profit margin, our model is to sell consistently at a modest one. Though we gamble on selling a fair number of these puppies to make a living, that doesn't mean we slop 'em together. Hardcore perfectionism is at the helm, and this is essentially an outlet for our OCD. Because we NEED things to be perfect before they even think about leaving home, and since time is as valuable as parts, we have a system that gets us through the construction and shipping process in a precise amount of time without compromising quality - time that has been very carefully factored into the price. And since this is only one of a few pedals that we make, all based on similar circuits, that means we never have to move equipment around. It also means that we can buy parts in bigger batches, which really helps cut expenses. Efficiency is the key to keeping costs down, and we got it down to a science. Precision, quality and consistency are the keys to keeping sales consistent, and we got that down to an art. YES, your pedal will look like the one in the picture, inside and out.
LETTERS FROM BUYERS: "First and foremost let me say this... I am thoroughly impressed with this pedal. I love it. LOVE it.
Being a devoted tubescreamer user over the last 25 years I really didn't know what to expect. I've been playing through an analog.man Silver mod TS9 (imo, the best TS mod) for a few years and after playing the BB, I took the TS9 out of the chain. Never thought I would do that but the differences are blatantly obvious. And so nice. I finally have a pedal that doesn't suck all the bottom end out of my tone. That alone makes it worth it.
But there's more. Through my Les Paul, neck p'up with volume dialed back a little and tone up I get super lush harmonics that have this gorgeous "hollow tube" sound. Sorry if my description is confusing. That's the only way I can explain the sound. But to hear it you'd love it. It's beautiful. Deep and rich. Earthy. Hell, I could use any number of adjectives. Brother, I'm impressed. This is the sound I've been looking for. And what a steal of a price. This pedal could fetch much more than what I paid. I'd throw down $180-200 for a box like this and not even think twice. And I'm not easy to please when it comes to sound."
- Rich, Utah
"I received the pedal a few days ago. I plugged in and couldnt stop playing, that is exactly what i look for in new music equipment, this bluesbreaker clone is my favorite overdrive to date, and ive owned and played many of them. It is very sweet and warm, but doesnt lack any articulation and clarity, probably the warmest bluesbreaker clone ive ever heard. It is very dynamic, touch sensitive, and it response to volume roll off extremely well. I specifically chose this pedal as my overdrive that is always active, and it surpasses my expectations, this one will have a long road ahead of it on my pedal board. what else can i say... great pedal, love it! (...) ive played the jhs morning glory (suppose to be the best bb around) and i like yours more, it just has warmer sweeter tone, and the morning glory cost a fortune."
- Tony, California
"The Blues Breaker clone sounds great! It is exactly what I've been looking for - a pretty much transparent OD that gives just the right amount of warm grit to do a quality simulated slightly clipping tube amp. I've had some very good quality boutique OD pedals, but none that could do this hard to find sound. Like most guitar players, I expect too much from a pedal - you know, sound like a $2000 tube amp, but cost under $100. Setting that ridiculous comparison aside, this BB Mk1 clone is as close as I've ever come or expect to... thank you for the high quality work at a very good price."
- Seth, South Dakota
"The Black Box arrived yesterday, very nicely packed, thank you. I don't normally comment on pedals, but you did a fantastic job replicating the Bluesbreaker. I have an original and played them side by side and they sound the same. Yours may be a hair warmer. Much better inputs, knobs, and switch. I am really impressed. In an age of over hyped pedals it is nice to play a great sounding pedal with no pretense. My Bluesbreaker is off my board, replaced with the Black Box. Thanks again. I will be taking a look at your other pedals as well ... like I need another pedal :)"
- Sam, Nebraska
"Dude. I freaking LOVE my Black Box OD. It’s the best pedal I’ve ever played, period. I bought mine a few months ago, and it’s been my go-to dirt pedal since. I set my amp at the edge of breakup and let the Black Box do the rest! It works with EVERY amp I’ve used it with, and every guitar I play sounds great through it. It’s the most versatile pedal I’ve ever owned, and I seriously can’t get enough of it. It’s just perfect. The only problem I run in to is stacking it with another pedal, because none of them sound as good. I want to add another flavor to my board, but have a hard time finding anything to push my distortion sound further that doesn’t make it sound worse. It’s obvious you take a ton of pride in your work, and I for one am grateful. Have a great day!" - Jonathan, Oklahoma
"Just got the black box pedal Joshua. Killer tone - thanks. I'm going to order another one or two very soon." - Jasco, Colorado
"I received the pedal today. It sounds great. Superb build quality. Much appreciated."
-Dave, Ontario
"Hi, I purchased your pedal 2 weeks ago. I compared it to my original Marshall BluesBreaker SN/110 one of the early ones. This beauty sounds Exactly like the original only better. I bought two original BluesBreakers when they first came out. They were so good I bought another a few years later, much to my surprise didn’t sound as good. Upon inspecting the guts I noticed a few parts were different and figured they must have changed a few things and returned it.
I sold a mint condition one last year for $500.00 on e-bay. My other original one is going on e-bay also. This baby is the cats meow!! I will be purchasing a pro model also. Superb workmanship with top quality components at a fair price. Glad I jumped bandwagon early because when word gets out you guys are going to be busy!! You should let Guitar Player review these pedals.
In the world of guitar pedals where every hour there is the new pedal getting there 15 minutes of fame, once in a Blue Moon a pedal comes along that stands the test of time and your BluesBreaker pedal is It!"
- Mark, New Jersey
"Just received the pedal today and WOW. Every player has a piece of gear they wouldn't part with and this will surely be on that list. Thanks a ton!"
- Matt, New Hampshire
"I recently got a Black Box OD and absolutely love it - I’m now seriously considering one of your BlueLine pedals, it’s just a fantastic pedal with excellent build quality, as good as any of my other pedals costing several times more and it’s kicked my Timmy from the low-gain position on my board!"
- Danny, Washington
"Finally got the BlackBox! Great, great tone! Really landed me into those John Mayer bluesy tones I've longed chased after. And so easy to find good sounds out of it, too. Couldn't stop playing it last night."
- Marlon, New York
"I am really impressed by the sound of your Bluesbreaker clone pedal and can only recommend it! I've never had a bluesbreaker pedal till now, but I was always impressed by the sound. The originals were alway to expensive for me and you never know which series you get...
As you can see I've just ordered a second one for my other pedal board and look forward to receiving it ;-). You guys really did a great job!"
-Daniel, Switzerland
"Received it today, put a battery in it and plugged it in. Sounds great! Very smooth and very well built too. Thanks!"
- Bob, Tennessee
Handmade in the RiNo artist district in Denver, Colorado.
