FuzzHugger''s Bass Bloom is a harmonically rich pedal that''s capable of creating a spectrum of different fuzz tones that work well with both active and passive basses.
Have you ever wondered what a 2,000-pound bee sounds like? What about the world’s largest lightsaber? The answer to both may exist within your bass rig while working the Bass Bloom pedal from FuzzHugger. The Bass Bloom is a harmonically rich fuzz pedal, and it’s capable of creating the aforementioned tones, as well as an array of fuzzy, synth-like sounds.
A Box a-Bloomin’
The Bass Bloom is based on
FuzzHugger’s Algal Bloom,
their popular fuzz pedal for
guitarists, and its personality
is manipulated through its
five control knobs. The gain
dial determines the amount
of overdrive in the signal,
while the bloom expands the
fuzz tone by adding harmonic
detail and sustain.
Engaging the starve (aka texture) feature, which is controlled with an unmarked knob, adds another dimension to the pedal’s fuzzed-out sounds. Turning it clockwise limits the amount of power that reaches the circuit, simulating the sound of a dying battery. And FuzzHugger wisely provides two volume knobs on the unit—one for the clean signal and one for the fuzz. This allows a player to temper the effect while still maintaining the fundamental bass tone. Avoiding the potential hazards of using 9V batteries, this well-designed pedal is powered only with an adaptor. FuzzHugger believes this environmentally friendly and financially beneficial approach optimizes the performance of their pedals.
The Buzz, the Fuzz, and
Some Nasty Bass Face
For this review, I tested the Bass
Bloom by running it through a
Phil Jones D-600 amp and two
Glockenklang 112 cabinets. As
for basses, the pedal was put
through its paces with a Nash
P-style and a fretless Warwick
Jack Bruce Survivor. It’s ironic
that lurking within this floral
box are some pretty beastly
sounds. After just a brief period
of knob experimentation, the
variety of tones that came from
the Bass Bloom elicited more
“dude faces” from listeners than
a Keanu Reeves convention.
Manipulating the bloom and gain dials created some formidable fuzz with both basses. Starting with the Warwick fretless, I was able to create tones ranging from synthy P-Funk to flatulent, Les Claypool-like dirt. And when I went to my detuned Nash, boosting the bloom evoked a burly buzz that was capable of handling any stoner-rock gig. I could even cop a Cliff Burton-esque tone by combining the Bass Bloom with a wah pedal. FuzzHugger’s latest offering for bassists also tracked low barre chords and double-stops with quickness and definition.
Ratings
Pros:
Versatile fuzz tones that preserve the low
end. Solid construction.
Cons:
Not for fans of 9V power.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build:
Value:
Street:
$169
Fuzzhugger
fuzzhugger.com
Limiting the amount of power that reaches the circuit, the starve feature does exactly what its name implies by making the overall tone a bit brittle. To my ears, this control knob seemed most effective up to about the 12 o’clock position. Overall, the Bass Bloom offered endless textures of fuzz, while effectively preserving the low end of both basses.
It Had, Shall We Say,
Intestinal Fortitude
After satisfying my ears in the
more controlled environment
of my practice space, it was
time to bring
the Bass Bloom
to the stage.
And not with
some clean,
fancy-pants
rig, but rather
a ’70s SVT.
Driven by
the Nash
P through the cranked SVT,
the Bass Bloom sounded like
a swarm of giant bees flying
into a buzz saw. My bandmates
laughed in awe of this mighty
tone—and then asked me
to turn it down. It’s a great
feeling when we bassists can
sonically intimidate our guitar
brethren, and the Bass Bloom
proved to be perfectly capable
of doing this.
The Verdict
The FuzzHugger Bass Bloom
allows you to create a spectrum
of different fuzz tones that
work well with both active and
passive basses. Bassists from
rock to funk camps can find a
number of useful sounds within
its responsive controls, all at a
price point that is competitive
with its peers. If you’re looking
to transform your bass tone into
a buzzing beast, the Bass Bloom
may belong in your garden.