Cheap Vs Expensive: Marshall Blues Breaker vs Mooer Blues Crab

[@JefferyHagen]

Thank you for demonstrating the Blues Crab. I bought the Blues Crab because of your demonstration and I’m more than satisfied. It satisfies my low gain needs on my solid state amp. It sounds so good I forget it’s on.

[@moraesluthieria]

2:19 bluesbreaker 7:05 blues crab 8:35 bluesbreaker 8:42 blues crab

[@gae7081]

Went here for the pedals, stay for playing!

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Interesting comparison. I could hear the differences, but the Blues Crab certainly holds it own for the most part. I've got a Nu-X Morning Star (which is a clone of the JHS Morning Glory), it cost me AU$70. I'd highly recommend checking that one out, particularly if you're a Strat player.

[@guitardave]

I heard a rumour that Marshall themselves are bringing out a reissue of the Bluesbreaker. Will be interested to see what they do with it, in terms of the form factor and the pricing not to mention the tone of course!

[@Delayshop]

You’re right

[@thomasd9237]

Nice demo & playing 👍👍 You could use a can of contact cleaner ☺️

[@timearll266]

Nice playing. I’ve had the blues crab for a couple months now and I think it’s okay but it really shines when I use it to drive other OD’s like the nux plexi crunch. It really fits in well like this. After hearing your playing I’m gonna spend a little more time trying to dial in in on its own. Cheers!

[@JefferyHagen]

I use it for low gain along the lines of SRV. I push mine into a TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion if I want extra gain.

[@benny2843]

Great vid Jason. Blues crab is never leaving my board.

[@quiksilver78]

Tone City released the Blues Man in mini format last year and has gone under the radar for some reason. Certainly worth a look

[@angusorvid8840]

When Marshall came out with these pedals around 1989 or so I remember they were very maligned, especially in the pretentious, gear-saturated L.A. metal shred scene I played in. But I thought they were wonderful. They had more tone and were more natural than most pedals out there at the time. They could make any amp more Marshally and make a Marshall sound even better. There were, even then, much more over the top pedals. Marshall was smart to keep the focus on tone, even with their hotter models like the Gov'nur. This is a great demo and I love that you demoed both single coils and humbuckers because these pedals behave differently with both. With single coils you want to fatten up the tone; with buckers you typically want more brightness. Loved the tones and the playing. Given how expensive the Blues Breaker is now, I'd go for the Blues Crab. It's a great value in a more affordable package. And I'm a big fan of Mooer pedals. I believe they will prove themselves to be classics once the dust storms around much more expensive "boutique" pedals clear away.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks for your kind words. I am a fan of all of the 'Black Box' pedals Marshall made. The BB hasn't left my board since I got it 3 years ago.

[@onesandzeros]

Great playing and very nice presentation style. Thanks for the comparison!

[@The_Vict0r]

The other Blues Breaker type pedal in this price range is "Bluesy" by Aroma / Toms Line Engineering . The only one difference is - it has bright switch. I have it - quite nice sounding pedal. And good made as well.

[@dr.k6205]

That’s a Blue Driver circuit, based on the Boss BD-2, 2 different circuits tho

[@evamalmberg]

Hej! Mooer gör bra pedaler. Jag har deras Black Secret Distortion och det är en suverän pedal som jag är väldigt nöjd med. Marshallpedalen har jag aldrig sett säljas begagnad i Sverige, men begagnatmarknaden här är inte så stor, som tex i Australien och i USA. Tack för intressant video och ha en bra dag😊🎸🎸

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Jag håller med, Mooer gör några riktigt bra pedaler för pengarna. Jag använder Blues Crab live. Ha en bra dag!

[@demongeminix]

It's funny that you posted this. I just bought a Blues Crab two weeks ago because I didn't have a BB clone. lol

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

how do you like it? I am thinking of getting one

[@demongeminix]

@@trailerparkstudios7938 It's ok. It does the job I need it to do. Like Jason said and demonstrated, it's missing the bass that the original has, but for $50, you're gonna make concessions.

[@Dwightpower88]

@@trailerparkstudios7938 Get it. I just did, it is extremely responsive. I run a compressor into it and it was amazing

[@trailerparkstudios7938]

@@Dwightpower88 Thanks, I think I will,, you sold me with the word "responsive", that is exactly what I am looking for

[@coldwar1977]

love my tiny Blues Crab

[@MrGroovergeorge]

Definitely check out the Tone City Blues Man. It’s another great BB style pedal. I have had it for about a year now. I keep trying other more expensive pedals to replace it but regardless of the price it sounds better to me. I even had a Greer Lightspeed but sold it over the Tone City Blues Man. I play Strats and Teles into my little Pro Jr and Blues Jr and the little BB style Tone City is a leave on at all time. It’s great for doing cleaner licks like the John Mayer stuff or you can dig in and play some great Buddy Guy blues licks. It’s also good on the bridge position for playing all those 80’s rock riffs like Bryan Adams, early AC/DC, John Cougar Mellencamp. For dirtier and creamier leads I push it wish a Boss OD-3.

[@martinlewies3193]

Just found your channel and love your style of playing. Awesome comparison. I have a timmy clone and I can hear similar sounds although they are different in many ways.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks mate 🎸

[@rodmiller9798]

Great work Jason! I’m a big fan of Bluesbreaker style pedals. Thanks.

[@mdub048]

I don't really like the Blues Breaker but it is useful so I do have a Blues Crab since it is cheap.

[@chapmanfx8104]

Great video have you tried the demonfx breaker drive. would love to see it vs the mooer

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I can't say that I've tried any of their pedals.

[@jonkbaby]

Awesome video and playing- have any tips on learning more intermediate and advanced-ish guitar?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I might start doing some instructional videos.

[@roscius6204]

I've been playing an original since new. Even when they weren't popular. Feel totally vindicated these days. Now people just need to get on board with the JCM900 :O

[@colinc6031]

IMHO you did not adjust the volume of the Crab to match the BB, therefore less Bass was heard. The BB definitely boosts the low end. Also, the Crab has a higher frequency on the Treble than the BB, so for a comparison the Tone on the Crab should have been reduced. Great playing and noodling around though :) For $50, it's gonnbe Crab for dinna ;)

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Crab for dinner 😄

[@ATreeForFive]

The blues Crab is great band for the buck : with less than 100 dollars you could get one + an Eq that’ll solve most of the Bluesbreaker minor issues (volume drop, low end loss…)

[@josed2828]

Thanks you

[@mdub048]

did you ever turn the Blues Crab tone below half way? It fattens up when you do.

[@wiwiksundari8668]

sorry for my English. Thank you, Sir. The Blues Crab : lovely sound indeed but maybe a bit less bass/body than the original Marshall. But I rather have the Blues Crab than the over rated Morning Glory from JHS, so sorry. The JHS sound really good, but, for my taste, too much thick or maybe too much low-mid. Not so brilliant/treble. I recommend the Cmat Mods Butah from Chad Matthews. Thanks :)

[@colinc6031]

Just received my Crab today, sounds incredible. It "Maintains Your Tone" and adds grit to it. The Gain and the Level are connected, lots of volume level in there. The Tone control adds some really nice "Hair" on top if needed, its not boosting mids and cutting low end like most tone controls....Don't worry about these vids, their tone is not good and this pedal will not fix it! Crap in crap out, Awesome in Awesome out, seriously get it! ;)

[@daviddigital6887]

I'm gonna buy that blues crab next. I would buy the boss blues driver if I could catch it around 90 us$. Seems all the mini pedals have a compressed fizz to them but if you find that sweet spot it would be worth the savings. I think both sounded better on the neck humbucker. Blues an classic type rock do sound better on the neck. You need to spray out those pots for hopefully a temp fix. Thanks for the comparison.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

no worries.

[@jwelliott74]

The Blues Driver should not be confused with a Bluesbreaker. Different topology, very different sound. I have a BD2 on my board, and am going to add a BB clone once I settle on the clone I like best. It’ll essentially complete the pantheon of the different types of overdrives. The only standout is the Mooer Juicer (DOD Juice Box clone) which I’ve not been able to get an answer on as far as what family it comes from. I’d be interested to hear theories as to what parentage it stems from, but is a slightly gainier version of the DOD pedal, but definitely has its place and uses. Thanks for the demo and comparison!

[@shawnshipstad9281]

I am from the USA I have no idea what 700 is in your money. I am sure it is alot. I would not pay big bucks for the pedal. I see you have a Mesa-looks like a Rectifier. That will give you plenty of distortion, I would think? Thank you-Great video.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

$700Aud is about $500 USD currently.

[@friedrudibega6384]

Blues breaker type pedal would have been the best first gain pedal. Adds so much. Plays well with others.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

yes, it stacks very well with other overdrives.

[@pkdude5334]

clean your pots

[@suleymancetinkaya2755]

You don't have this pedal don't you? It's the structure of BB.

[@SNAPAVELI]

Nice! What amp are you using?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Fender 68 deluxe reverb

[@smoochie3331]

Middle Aged love John Myer.

[@andijoseph]

How’s the Blues crab compare to the Blues mood ? Anyone?

[@ukaeyfvkfiayuvefyiu]

Blues Crab is a Bluesbreaker clone and Blues Mood is a Blues Driver clone. Bluesbreaker is supposed to sound like a Marshall amp. Blues Driver is supposedly a Fender sound.

[@waynegram8907]

MIDDLE AGED GEAR JUNKIE, when rolling down the tone pot to get those woman tones, the bluesbreaker pedal can't get those cream clapton woman tones, any reasons why? which bluesbreaker pedal can or other pedals?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

It is generally agreed that the BB failed to reproduce those Clapton tones.

[@waynegram8907]

@@JasonAyalaSpare what pedal can get close to those beano tones

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

@@waynegram8907 try the Keeley 1962

[@grg537]

mooer sounds better

[@leochang5284]

You are one of the greek that use all your salaries to buy gear. love it and subscribed🦾