JMB-Experience Nitrogen 21

Slightly edited for time, I always think of much good

I made a demo video HERE:

Preamble
I have been for some time the adventure experience JMB ( http://jmb.experience.free.fr/topic/index.html/ ) , manufacturer of effects pedals promising (fuzz at the moment). I do not own stock at home and I'm not trying to say consistently good material that I buy
The Nitrogen 21 (N21) is in line with the Fuzz Factory (FF).
For my part, I have owned two models of FF: the fuzz factory Vexter, and the fuzz probe (FF so the hand-painted and made ​​in United States), and the Devil Inside, which is the ancestor of the N21 (not to mention others like the Big Muff fuzz Ram's Head, or the Fender Blender). So I have some elements of comparison =)

Type of effect
It is a fuzz pedal, and I say right now, the best I have ever try with some of Devi Ever (Torn's Peaker and Soda Meiser).
It is a fuzz with germanium transistors, transistors that equipped the old fuzz pedals to hendrix. These transistors are known to bring great warmth to the sound compared to silicon-based transistors (if I remember any). Note that JMB, sorts, and the pair for the longest match, and the best quality possible between each model.

Characteristic
It has eight JMB that controls this:
1. VOLUME (output)
2. TONE (Tone)
3. GATE (noise gate)
4. TEXTURE (outline, shape, body)
5. FUZZ (gain)
6. HARDNESS (projected sound forward, making it drier)
7. IN (incoming guitar signal level)
8. DENSITY (general power)

It works with a power supply or 9 volt battery.
I use a food, but for testing I opened the pedal, just to see a little inside. The work is neat, no need to say "pro" because that is what JMB. The battery is very well located between two foam reinforcements.

... And look at, she got a "wow" when I unpacked it =)

UTILIZATION

A fuzz very malleable
The advantage of the N21 is to develop a sound fuzz ourselves, to sculpt accurately, so therefore, no, the general configuration is not necessarily simple: spend a little time. However the plug & play it also works: I plugged the pedal and it immediately rang.
Note that the knobs are all interrelated, as all the FF. But also note that the controls on this model are much more precise, even more than the Devil Inside, his ancestor. Thank you the extra buttons!
The manual is clear and available online at the site of JMB. With the pedal I received a printed color giving 20 settings corresponding to the titles of famous artists like Muse, U2, Stones, Hendrix ...

SOUND QUALITY

Sound quality!
First observation: it sounds! Whatever settings you can use to find him. She has a great musicality in its grain, it is a real treat! You can have a huge sustain with the N21, worthy of the Big Muff, and it is a pleasure to play with the harmonics, which emerge in a straightforward manner and pleasing to the ear.
No doubt it's a fuzz. The sound may be soft and silky, clear and sharp, like having this delicious imperfection that gives so much character (especially via the control gate and TEXT), these cracks when the fuzz dies ... Oh I love it! Incredible versatility. It can also serve as well as heavy overdrive distortion. From blues to metal ... So versatile, but with a real character. Maybe he should thank the germanium transistors =)

What about the eight buttons?
Well I will try to explain further the function of each control.
For those familiar with the Devil Inside, and the Fuzz Factory (handpainted version), there was an adjustment, TRIM, accessible inside the pedal (the more accessible DI by the way) that changed the generality of the effect (roughly overdrive -> distortion). Well here it is the density, which is accessible from the outside. The button that controlled the feedback (STAB on FF, INSANE on DI) could correspond to the hardness, but I feel that it is actually broken down between this setting and the IN button (mainly because the other settings also affect the feedback). VOLUME AND TONE, are the volume and (especially?) Tone that is lacking on FF. The GATE is aptly named, since it cuts the background noise, fuzz and killed the earlier or later depending on the setting, in a very musical, I love it! The text is a compression setting effective and I use a lot

Comparative Nitrogen 21/Fuzz Factory
Inspired by the Fuzz Factory Zvex from home, it goes much further:
- A character to it. It takes the basic concept of FF but much advanced.
- 8 control buttons on the Nitrogen 21 directly accessible, against 5 for the FF directly accessible, plus a sixth housed under the hood. Warning! For the FF Vexter (ie the cheapest model in the Zvex), the sixth adjustment is absent: it is only present on the hand-painted version, which is close to 280th new!
- A much more controlled, and controls that go beyond. And tone, sorely lacking on the FF, which makes the pedal really becomes usable! Not to mention the feedback that made us give up 1 / 3 settings. Here it is much more controlled and less pervasive. If desired we have or we got rid of in two seconds =)
- Its out of control, but with infinitely more possibilities. Hard not to be satisfied, there is something for everyone: for fans of pure and hard as FF for those who just want a super fuzz pedal.
- Even by grinding I have not managed to capture the radio, "bad air", with the N21, while with the FF were a concern (although it was pretty funny).
- To build quality at least equivalent, if not superior, the N21 stands out for a more reasonable price:
. Nitrogen 21, 199 euros - (postage included) and made ​​in France
. Fuzz Factory 280 euros - handmade and made ​​to US
. Vexter Fuzz Factory 200th United States more euros - manufactured in the US, with an adjustment unless the model above
. Vexter Fuzz Factory 170 euros made ​​in Asia - such as industrial production and above.

OVERALL OPINION

Conclusion
So why the maximum? Simply because she deserves it.
All the fuzz who seem bland inspired by her side.

- It is very versatile
- Without running out of character
- It is much, much cheaper than any FF US
- It is far more comprehensive than any FF
- Has become another product, a true excess of the pedal that inspired

200 euros, including shipping is a short, but here, that's the kind of things we care.
In view of what the competition offers, it is in France, the best quality / price ratio exists for a product like this.
Think twice if you're ready to buy a Fuzz Factory!

Let us add that JMB is French, meaning at least proximity and lower ports, service more efficient, and then we could conclude by saying that this is very friendly and soon we have a question =)

Fuzz 8 analog buttons, there is everything you need!
The deco precise fuel with which it works!

UTILIZATION

The configuration is not simple. Some buttons are interdependent. Some settings seem to render inoperative other settings. But in the end and some notes on the right settings, it is very usable. You just have to remember that there is a point we must stop turning the knobs!

SOUND QUALITY

Despite its relationship to the "Devil Inside" v2, I have not the same kind of sound. Actually, I found other sounds (more "gated") glued to me and I realigned regularly on these settings. In summary, it is very good and very different from my other fuzz.

I mainly use the "Nitrogen 21" with an ES 335 (although I prefer my Start with the "Devil Inside" ...).

OVERALL OPINION

I use the "Nitrogen 21" for several days. After several hours of adaptation, I took my brand and I can get out of the sounds I had not heard. It's not cheap, but worth every penny.

What are the effects or types of effects available?

fuzz and overdrive
What technology is used? (Analog, digital, tube ...)
Are they edited? Via an editor Mac / PC? not

analog
What is the connection? (Audio / MIDI)

audio
Is this a rack or rack-mount model?

not

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is it simple?
very simple

Editing sounds and effects is it easy?
super easy

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

clear

SOUND QUALITY

The effects are they effective, responsive and realistic enough?

more than realistic
Which instruments do you use?

guitars
Which ones you prefer, you hate?

I love them all

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?

15 days
What is so special that you like most and least?

it is compact, the components are of very high quality love
Have you tried many other models before buying it?

yes
How would you rate the quality / price?

very correct
With experience, you do again this choice? ...

certainly

Fuzz pedal is a very versatile, with sounds ranging from overdrive to distortion from the Fuzz pests. Level connections nothing special, an input jack, output jack and an external power jack.

UTILIZATION

8 Control, a manual clear and clearly specifying the role of each of these settings. I advise you to initially familiarize yourself with the pedal settings by trying the 20 proposed by JMB, issue you an idea of ​​who does what in the settings. After you run your own sound editing, which are very numerous.

SOUND QUALITY

I use a Fender bridge pickup (Kent Armstrong MotherBucker). effects are very realistic and allow both sound all fancy and trace the sound of famous fuzz pedals (Fuzz Factory, EH Big Muff ...) and artists using these pedals with a result more than convincing.

OVERALL OPINION

1 month, compared with prices for its famous rival, without the quote, I make the choice without hesitation.