Black Arts Toneworks

In this post I am going to introduce you to my favorite boutique pedal makers (boutique pedals usually mean high-quality, hand-built stuff), Black Arts Toneworks. They have 3 main models, the Pharaoh, the LSTR, and the Black Forest, all of them being some sort of overdrive/distortion/fuzz effects. Every BAT pedal is hand-built, and their quality and appearance separates them from all other companies, but Mark still manages to keep prices relatively low. BAT's collaborator, Gr8Scott Graphics also offers custom graphics for a few more dollars.

Pharaoh

First of all, the Pharaoh is a killer looking Fuzz pedal, absolutely wonderful. It is also probably the most verstatile of the three. It has four knobs (Tone, High, Fuzz, Volume), and two switches (Hi-Lo output, Germanium-No diodes-Silicon). This fuzz is capable of giving you from a cleanish boost, through a gentle overdrive, to a facemelting fuzz tone. It's special characteristic is that it lets through enough of your mids so that your guitar sound won't be "highjacked", you'll still retain your guitar's sound. The Hi-Lo switch sets the headroom, so Hi will sound a bit more saturated and distorted (fuzzy) than Lo. The most intriguing part is the 3-way switch, which lets you choose between a Germanium or Silicon diode/transistor, or you can bypass them if you leave the switch in the middle position. Another interesting thing is that Pharaoh is capable of functioning with bass guitars, and some people actually use it for that.



LSTR

Another fuzz pedal, the LSTR ("Lester") is "the Pharaoh's unruly brother, LSTR provides the opposite of the Pharaoh. The LSTR is an all out rock machine tuned and blended to deliver the signature Black Arts low end along with more fuzz than mamma allows , unique tone controls and LSTR's understated, striking beauty. Teaching kids to smoke, play games and drink beer." After these words there is not much more there to say. While the Pharaoh is a bit dialed back, this fuzz's gain is over the top. Its 4 switches (Tone, Scoop, Fuzz, Volume) lets you create a variety of sounds, from the classic Big Muff to a Pharaoh-ish open sound.



Black Forest

The Black Forest overdrive/distortion is a traditional OD/Distortion, but of course at its best. Black Arts Toneworks created a versatile (see a pattern here?) pedal, that can give you overdriven, distorted, or even fuzz-like tones. "The pedal takes the classic ColorSound OD circuit and drags it through the soil." The 6-way Depth control switch makes you have total control over this pedal, cycling through different capacitor modes. The first thing you'll realize when you stomp on this pedal is its rich and fat sound, definitely a must have for players looking for a more classic sound.