vintage BJFe Baby Blue OD (Eddystone) #216

Baby Blue Overdrive (BBOD) - Dynamic pre-amp tube distortion, although it is technically more of a fuzz pedal with dynamic overdrive features (released 16th December 2000, retired 25th June 2007, 500 made). The very first BBOD was called the "FUZZ 1" and was originally designed using BJs '63 Fender Stratocaster, which has a Seymour Duncan QP in bridge. The colour of the first 82 or so units came from the same jar of paint that was also used on BJs '63 Stratocaster - this is a shade that was mixed in 1983 in the sunshine using a number of tints while looking at the spring cavity of an original 1961 Stratocaster. There are slight differences between BBODs, showing a progression over time of both the circuit and components used. However, there was a major revision (V2) at serial #219 whereby the circuit was permanently modified to (a) make the output less sensitive to loading and (b) increase the output by 6dB (this change was based on the work done on the Baby Pink Overdrive, which was originally developed as a special gift for BBOD #100). As a result of the work that he did on #209, #210 and #211, BJ thought that the BBOD sounded better with the low impedance output and therefore from BBOD #212 onwards all BBODs have the low impedance modification. From #219 onwards BJ also increased the output by 6dB and hence the V2 circuit change was complete. Normally pedals are enclosed in the ELFA K-430 however supply was constrained so at one time a few BBODs were made in the more square box made by Hammond UK. Some other individual pedal differences are:
- Early versions of the BBOD may have used blue wire. However, there are no special blue, red, black, green wire "versions" of the BBOD.
- Serial number #051 is actually numbered "Area 51" and has a painted spaceman on the backplate with writing that says "Hello Earth" (see note below).
- Serial numbers #209, #210 and #211. One customer purchased these three BBODs and had them modified to have both a high and low impedance output. Unfortunately he did not like the result so he had them all changed back to stock. These three pedals are identified by a bolt that plugs a hole on the side of the pedal next to the output jack and they also have an extra PCB on the inside (pedal #209 has the message "wish you", pedal #210 has the message "well" and #211 has the message "Shon" giving you the total message of "wish you well Shon").
- Serial number #212 marks the implementation of the low impedance output modification (see above).
- Serial number #219 marks the start of BBOD V2 (see above).
- Serial number #270 is not really any different but it still has a "BJF effects FT-#270" sticker on the side and a "Tahara inc. Sound Communications Distributor" sticker on the bottom.
- Serial number #478 is called "Baby Pink Overdrive" (see note below).
The BBOD was discontinued due to parts shortage. However, Bjorn was able to find a limited supply of the transistors originally used in the BBOD. Therefore, in December 2012 released a limited run of 30 BBOD pedals through the Custom Sounds store. The backplate artwork for the BBOD is a bear's face (some early ones have a full bear waving).