Marshall Blues Breaker

Very easy operation.
year us circa 1991
Original and 100% Functonal

Perfect ten for BLues, funk til you drop, fusion of differant styles. seperation of chords is very nice. The King Of TOne Pedal is like this pedal but offers more options . you get the idea. very vlose though and if your looking to run this thru a Non Master sort of vintage amp i.e Fender, Marshsall it is wonderful. Does not change the sound of the Marshall

If running through a vox, fender,etc it will impose its Marshall insignia. not to say thats bad , its good. very very good

bo problems yet. spryed a rtiny bit of wd on the pots and so on. works fine

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I recommend in the end running dual NON master Volume Marshalls whether PCB or PT to PT get a stereo spliter pedal preferrably your last pedal i.e reverb or delay of sometime and run them thru bvoth amps . Super glassy tone ala SRV, Jimi Hendrix and so on. More SRV. If set right the stereo vblues funk fusion can also be accompanied by your loveable Marshall Shredmaster , Analogman King Of Tone or other pedal(s) for drive you like and switch this out when not needing it. no probs. slight boost of vloume. I use either my Volume pedal ala Visual sound or one of my guitars. I LOVE THIS PEDAL AS MUCH AS MY SHREDMASTER. Next up. KING O TONE ! I hear this is the end all be all of pedals and does it all.

Lot of gear to carry. Just plug the BB1 into a 40 watt boutique amp with no preamp knob and go for it. you got gain and clean . know go gig!! If you push it hard it will give up some harder edge rock to! But remember what this pedal is for music wise .

Using through a 1977 Non Master Volume 100 Watt "Home Tag" Superlead mint head with 100% mint cond . NOS TUBES . Mullards , etc.

I use a Marshall SHredmaster for lead and smooth over the top gain , then switch to the BLuesbreaker #1 ed. for blusier tone. I also use a Teese WIzard , an H2O Dleay, CHorus with NOS BBD Ed#1 only again and an AB/Y box. I go into a dry 1981 Marshall JCM800 "Home Tags" again. Got lucky. I think thye make these special for the guys at the plant or ase the name implies they want them in eng but even a notch up for why would they put "ENG." on the second tags then Imports onthe others to the USA cept for the Polarity.

For me I love the SHredmaster and the Bluesbreaker for the NMV older Marshalls. FOr the first year JCM800 I have a Modified BOSS OD1 with Symmetrical and Assymetrical clipping ( One off pedal ) cant be got anymore unless you make it yourself. Had the original 3403D 14 prong chip installed again. The more you tuen this amp up through my huge Cabled BOgner Vintage 30s (pre ch. const. ) super heavy tranconductence wire they used them for curent into the head and again 100 % NOS tubes MULLARD , SIEMENS and SYLVANIAS , JAN PHILLIPS , etc. plus Hand wound p/ups.

THis way I have to totally differant tones . I heavy thick yet incredibly tubey tone and then the MV offers a \softer yet still very aggressive tone again .

Both amps have that mid thick gain. but diff. BOth very organic. The less pedals the better. Try an get true bypass or buffered for any Wahs . Which i like the TEESE WIZARDS for humbucking heavy Mahgony guitars.

The sound is second to none. I can get 110% insane BLues, Over the top smooth all tube tone lead, beautiful clean yet with a tiny bit of edge m, aga9n inanely wonderful, also thick and tubey. From Vioilns to Madness to thick mids to smooth mids to cleans to WET/DRY comdinations of the two amps . One being N.M.V. and one being M.V.

I love the tone.

Ill get one more Marshall . A point to point just to say I have one . Have had a pt to pt before. I will go original , preferrably a 1972 due the aggressive nature. Mustards and originality inall these amps whether pt to pt or pcb are essential including NOS TUBE , SPKRS, GTR p/UPS. gtrs you use , what tone your looking for , etc. MANY MANY FACTORE> I also am geting a KING OF TONE ala Analogman who modded my OD1and one of my TS9s i use as backup on the JCM800 mint circa 1981.

Altogether iwouldnt change anything ..

Last thing

GET A POWER REGULATOR and a power conditioning unit . I got the PS 45 pedal floorboard which has a conditioner . 8 9V inputs 8 loops , 3 multi volt inoputs etc. also a furman REGULATOR which keeps the heads all at 120 Vlts condistent. EOuls you trust a crusty rehearsal room to ive off / or even a club to give you a constant 120 VOLT .

Not me

Good luck.

tone is tone

whther a 12000 series , 1972 Superlead 100, 1977 Superlead /BAss or 1981 JCM800 2203 MV.Just know what your surrounding it with.
cheers

100% original 1991 MARSHALL BLUES BREAKER B series not the BBII yikes !!!

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PErfect setup , ook me yrs to get it. ands in the end after racks tons of pedals . you have to go back to less is more and undertand the tone gameas a whole .If it sounds good it probably is good .

IHAVE TO TELL EERYONE This ! There are two of each ofthe SHredmasters, Drivemasters and Blues Breakers. The REAL 1st EDITIONof all three hasthe INDENTED SERIAL NUMBER at the top. NOW I heard one guy say he looked inside one of his 2 DRIVE MASTERS (ONE being a sticker serial number and second ed. and one being 1st ed, uindented at thtop of the back serial NUMBER.. he said it had a diff. chip i nthe second one. WHAT RHE???I tried the 1st editon at my buddies thru his 1972 pt to pt Marhsall WITH THE EQING OFFUNTIY NOEQING DONT DOIT . Use your amp Duh. JUST the gain and level! youll get there. I use mainly my shredmasters and LOVE THEM. ALso getting a Blues Breaker and bidding right noe on a drivemaster . probably will gend up with 2 of each one . I LOVE HTME OTHER THAN ATTENAUTION@@

SOund Quality of the BLues BReaker was A+ . SOund of thr SHredmaster was an A+ sounded like the Marshall just more gain and level. NoEQing from the pedal remember. jst heamp use ! havent tried the drivemaster but im sure it is great like the others . I WANT TO KNOW if THE INDENTED SERIAL NUMBER 1991 and 1992 1st edition versions of all three of the MARSHALL BLack pedals have the same internal parts i.e chips resistor placement , caps ,and there is even a mini filter cap(s) in the originals !!@@ ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING I AM GOING NUTS OVER THIS !!!!

no probs yet

havent called

PLEASE PLEASE PLEAE< ANYONE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE info about the 1991 and 1992 MARSHALL SHRDMASTER, MARSHALL DRIVEMASTER, and BLuES BREAKER WITH THE INDENTED SERIAL # at the top AS OPPOSED to the 1993,1994,1995,1996 and on SAME THREE MARSHALL PEDALS (NOT THE 2nd editions but still the first editions) ARE THEYRE ANY AND I MEAN A N Y differances INTERNALLY between these two pedals for each sperate unit . please advise ? I think A lot of you have your mouths gapped open just reading this. Were many of you even aware about the serial numbers and the 2 versions of the 1st editionand 2nd edition of the BB1 SM1and the DM1? thanks soo much

EMAIL ME AT
jameshenderson30@gmail.com
or just reply on the boards with anything that helps . CUrrently I only own 1st edition versions of these pedals. I want a Blues Breaker bad. I have even seen a $200+ and rising sticker SERIAL VERSION going up up up??????? are thye the same then or are all ofg us geting DUPPED@!!!

The previous review on this pedal while slightly confusing but undertandable from the stand point of running a FIRST EDITION ONLY 1991 Marshall Blues Breaker pedal thru a mid to late 1970s NON MASTER VOLUME ONLY ( RUnning it thru a half disorted JCM800 or anything that puts out gain alkready I just dont find pleasing and now that I have had one for a bit the best it sounds is thru a clean NMV MArshall, Hiwatt I would think since they are are also clean initally at lower levels until your ijto 70% RANGE VOLUME WISE SAME AS THE 1977 jmp mki maRSHALL THE GUY WAS talking bout.

Look , I am a Marshall guy myself. I have thought of purchasing a 1966 Pro reverb in clean original condition or close to it anyway. I hear he earlier cones actaully sound best . I fprget which these were. anyone remember let me know!

Now running the 1st Edition Shredmasters which i one few now, just bought number three and number one on the BB 1st edition not so many a month ago or was it overa year. whateer, NUMBER ONE >DO NOT USE THE E Q on these pedals . Im not saying they suck BUT You should have a glorious tone from your Marshall IF your using the right NOS tubes preamp and poweramp, the ight speakers, right pickups , guitars ,spkrs, cabs, etc, use a good power regulaor. surround your tone one piece at a time . IF you start out with crap and think your gonna all of a sudden turn crap into a glorious thing think again. Its like putting masking tape on a tire.

Now this tone is NOT for everyone. YEs it is not a treble booster. but useyour EQing correctly on your amp and youll find love with wither a blues breaker 1st edition or even th shredmaster 1st ediion. I have to admit the shredmaster reminds meuch of he eighties tone a;lmost dead on ala RATT or DOKKEN, LYNCH and even Eddie Van Halen if you throw your THD attenuator in their then disconnect the blues breaker or not . use it asa very loe gain device still and youll see ehat i mean. I love these pedals . Someone I really thought was a close friend who turned out to be something to the contrary, sad really but thats life we all interpret and move on turned me on to these pedals and I Was hooked. HE is a good tone searcher! At least the same tones I like

SOUND WISE :
RUnning thru a mid seventies ENGLISH version mint codntion Marshall 100 watt head and matdhing cab and the right ingredients surrounding it you will be a happy camperIMHO. REMEMBER start with one piece at a time. regulate your voltage find the right cabs . USE NOS POWER TUBES IF POSSIBLE OR at least some reputable new EL34s. I cant go with out a nice NOS MULLARD 12ax7 in V! and a COuple JAN PHillips 12AX7WA in the V@ and V3 but really not essential as the V1 position for obvious reasons. I also recommend running your BIas arounde 36-38 dependent on tubes. I use solely NOS SIEMENS EL34s quads in all my Marshalls .Im either grabbing a 1973 or before point to point Marshall or grab a Metroamp 68 12000 series EVH amp with all the nOS stuff he puts in it along with the some Mustards I recently saved up for. Im seriously thinking of going that direction.I have listened to MANY a Marshall Now and know what I like aggressive sounding Marshalls overthe kind of bluesy soundign ones. But not always,sometimes funky pr bluesy is right up my alley and ill make the adj. thru my volume knob or switch from shrdmaster to blues brker. thats me. Im just sold on these pedals. WHY DO YOU THINK MAyer is buying up all the bb1s it sucks. and thats why the price os going nuts.

none yet. a cap a tube normal for any amp

no opinion

In the end if your looking for a an organic thick and fat tone with a Non master volume Marshall which i have and LOVE IT !! I also run a 1981 JCM800 original mint Marshall TOTOALLY differant tone with a Analogman BOSS OD1 3403d 16 prong chip . The fastest picking tone I have ever heard in my life . again to compensate the mahogany guitars i run which tend to lend themselves to heavy tones . I run 8.7 to 8.9 and similar pups and run a BOGNER VINTAGE 30 all super heavy birch super heavy wiring in this thing and the symmetry of the differant ingredients was like a happy accident . so there ya go. sometimes you get lucky. The internet is a wonderful thing . THats why we all have are opions and have heard these sounds and all of us are looking for something. Not all of us want the same tone by any means ....but for me. I have found bliss. I just want more of it. Who doesnt .

The ist edition or so im to believe youll find with simply by turning over the pedal and seeing gh serial nuimber located at the top ingraved. Parently and similiar to the shredmaster the second dition is wquite diffent and not as organic and will color tone. not this puppy., remember the formulaic approach?

All i can say is if you run it thru a Non master volume CLEan amp and start out with say i odnt know 1977 Marshall MKII NMV with HOme tags minty fresh 100% original head and matching baclback cab with thick monster wired to parallel. (DOnt ask bout the wiring thing.) sltn cab . then perhaps throw in a 72 0r 73' original Gibson les Paul CUstom with WCR Darkbursts hand wound and oh my!
set the pedal unity for the middle tone knob. I like the drive kikcked in th ears a bit with the level sown a bit for my funk, blues and other styles. I also switch it between a shredmaster for more aggression and another amp I a.BY
anyway. This pedal will NOT noodle with your already geargous sound im sure by now yoiuve tweaked endlessly! but onto other things . just run a it of ambient delay . and i mean smidge . I like the ist ed. H20 and for clean ill use the BBD chips for chorus . Wonderful i can go oin but htis aint bout that
its transpearnet and WONT COLOER TONE like the shred doesnt either so i put them side by side!
thats it WICKED. Just remember the formulae. good spkrs, good gtr, good pickups,good cab, good head biased, broken in, on and on and youve got it, THis pedal is the way !
Im convinced love it ! what more testimony do you need

nothing yet

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Think ive said that. Igrab too they are from the early 90s of courwe . I have three of each of my shreds and blues breakers just in case because i tour . dont ecommend it unless you wanna shekl out $1,000 for all the pedals. Ive shreds getting $300+++ a piece YIKERS! good luck to you .

Very easy. Getting a good tone took no time at all.
I brought this from ebay so it came with no manual, not needed though.

Mine is a BB1. I used to own a BB2, it was ok but a bit harsh. The boost worked well with the amps i has at the time.

I've recently made the switch to using OD pedals as i thought i could nail a number of tones with a couple of boxes. I was right. Now i use a Les Paul to Tuner, crybaby wah, TS9, bluesbreaker, aramat Green machine OD, aramat fuzz, boss delay and tremolo to a 1973 Fender pro reverb. It's a great set up and i change the pedals to suit the set.

The overdrive is warm and transparent. It's ballsy and most important for me it sounds like an amp's OD rather than a pedal. It's never harsh. I used to own a reissue Bluesbreaker and although it looked great it sounded rubbish. It was really loud and the OD never matched what i thought it would be!! This thankfully does at 1/100 of the price. I only paid ??15!!

Good so far. Although the LCD does'nt work. I'm having it replaced.

No dealt with Marshall. Althoug i have in the past and found them to be very good.

Exceelent. If you want a great straight up overdrive buy one.

3 knobs, tone, drive, and volume, need more???

I give a 10,...is there a 20 instead of just 10?????? I play rock/blues with vintage strats into a Marshall 100 watt plexi head with 2 Marshall cabs, a Fender blackface Super Reverb, and a Fender blackface Vibrasonic.

The Marshall Blues Breaker pedal stays ON all the time, I set the volume at 1 o'clock, tone at 11 o'clock, drive at 1 o'clock. It sounds like you're not using any effect, it's just real natural. John Mayer use this pedal too. Listen to Albert King and SRV. Sounds like SRV when he's not using a Tubescreamer. It sounds just like a cranked up tube amp. I would use the TS9 for boost, I can't describe the sound into words, I don't know what I must type here. Great pedal!

Yes, very dependable!

Never deal with Marshall.

I play rock/blues, my effects chain is strat to Vox Wah to Roger Mayer Octavia to Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face to Jim Dunlop Univibe to TS9 to Marshall Blues Breaker to amps. The Marshall Blues Breaker pedal is the key of the tone. Great pedal!

A Three-knob-pedal, pretty basic stuff.

I already had the chinese made version (BB2) of this pedal, which I love, and had the chance to buy this pretty cheap and took it.

I must say that I prefer the new version over this one! Through my JCM 800 it sounds a bit lame, it somehow eats up the natural crunch of the JCM. So it's not the ideal thing to use to boost up solo's.

The amp sounds better without this pedal, but maybe it can give a cheap solid-state amp a boost?

The BB2 on the other hand gives a fat, rich overdriven sound perfect for solos through a slightly overdriven tube amp. That's why I prefer it.

Pots were in terrible condition at purchase, but it's an easy fix.

I wouldnt use it without a backup, it doesnt seem trustworthy.

Never dealt with the company.

Havent had it long enough to give it a fair judgement, but I don't think this one is a keeper. It doesn't add any desired dimension to my sound. Sorry Marshall!

easy to use, but what pedal isn't?

I've got an Ibanez TS7, and a Boss Blues Driver. I like them all but prefer the distorted overdrive of the Marshall.

Heavy, appears to be built like a rock. No plastic anywhere on the outside

Don't know

I play blues & rock, mostly with a Gibson SG thru a Fender Concert (Rivera) amp. It has tone, volume, & drive knobs (all chrome). It also has a switch that's just pure level drive (very hot!) which bypasses the tone & drive controls.

No harder to use than any other pedal. Just have to dial in your tone. Maual gives some good starting points.

Now here's where I get critical ...
I was dissatisfied with the sound of this thing from the get go, and wound up returning it. The blues drive channel sounds soulless, muddy, and just plain dull. The booster channel offers a good dose of gain for non-master volume vintage style amps, but offers only a muddy full-range boost that I would NEVER use at a gig. I am a religious user of treble boosters and this is NOT a treble booster, but rather a full-range booster and a BAD one at that! It is made in China and it sounds it! My biggest problem with this pedal is that it sounds nothing like an overdriven Marshall Bluesbreaker combo! I should know. I use one in conjunction with a REAL treble booster. It is my main amp. And for ANYONE to say that this pedal sounds anything like it is an insult to me and an embarrassment to Jim Marshall!

I suppose it will last long as long as it is not abused. Good strong metal housing.

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For the aforementioned reasons I would suggest looking into other better pedals.