Description

BBE Windowpane WP-69 Silicon Fuzz Effects Pedal Overview :

Windowpane WP-69
VINTAGE GERMANIUM FUZZ TONE WITH MODERN SILICON RELIABILITY
Imagine a killer fuzz tone like Jimi at his best, with that creamy fuzz driving his Marshall into incredible sustain. For many fans, that tone is their holy grail. Unfortunately, the quest to find it is more like chasing the dragon because theres so much hype and misleading information out there. Windowpane cuts through that nonsense with experienced engineering for tone so authentic youll swear the grail has landed on your pedal board.

The all-analog Windowpanes two sequentially-wired silicon transistors are properly biased at the factory and the tone is dialed in with a carefully selected treble roll-off on the second transistor, recalling the slightly mellowed top end of early germanium transistor fuzz pedals. But unlike those old classics, Windowpane fuzz pedals are remarkably consistent from one to the next, thanks to reliable, predictable silicon transistors and low-tolerance 1% metal-film resistors. Add in high-voltage poly caps on a rugged circuit board and Windowpane delivers the mind-altering fuzz tone youre after, gig after gig. And when you dont want to melt faces, a properly engineered true hardwire bypass means signal passes entirely around the circuit, from input jack to output jack without a hint of loading.

Stop chasing the dragon and pick up a Windowpane, the experienced fuzz.

BBE Windowpane Tech Focus: Germanium vs. Silicon

It all started with those early Fuzzface pedals, very simple devices which used two germanium transistors wired sequentially, the first feeding the second. Some people will tell you that germanium transistors are secret to ultimate fuzz tone. If the early fuzz pedals used them, and theyre vintage cool, that must be true, right? The reality is that germanium transistors are noisy, leaky, and very sensitive to temperature. You could have a Fuzzface that sounds amazing in the studio, but in the heat of a gig its tone falls apart as the temperature plays havoc on the transistors, shifting all the parameters and bias points. Just ask an experienced tour tech about a germanium fuzz and youll get nightmare stories. Even on a good day, a germanium transistor fired up to massive fuzz levels will occasionally reach the point where it will leak current and change its bias points, causing a choking or farting sound. If germanium transistors are so troublesome, why did they use them in the first place? Well, it’s because that’s what was available at the time.

Enter the silicon transistor. Later Fuzzface pedals and reliable fuzz pedals on the market today use silicon transistors. Some people will tell you that silicon transistors sound harsh, and indeed, they can if all you do is swap germanium transistors for silicon without carefully biasing the transistors and post-EQ. A proper circuit is engineered for a desired outcome, and parts swapping does not equate to engineering.

Youve got to love a good working old fuzz, as its a cool piece of history and that means a lot to many of us. For real-world gigging, however, its best to leave that old fuzz at home and use a tool that sounds better, anywhere, anytime, every time. Thats Windowpane.

Features :

• Hand-biased silicon transistors
• 50K Ohms Low Z input for authentic vintage fuzz pickup loading
• 10K Ohms output impedance when engaged
• 1% metal-film resistors for consistency
• High-voltage poly caps for better tone
• Military-spec circuit board for reliability
• Blue status LED for high visibility and low power consumptionEasy access battery compartment
• True hardwire bypass5-year warranty
• Designed and Engineered in USA
• Made in China