The Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII is a Fuchs amplifier. Close alternatives include the Mooer Micro PreAmp 010 (Two Rock Coral) and the Xotic Bass BB Preamp V1.5. It pairs well with the ProCo RAT 2 and the Marshall Guv'nor.
Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII
Fuchs · amplifier
The Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII is a 21-watt all-tube guitar amplifier from Fuchs Audio Technology, a more accessible entry in the Fuchs boutique amp lineup compared to the flagship ODS. The Blackjack 21 draws on Andy Fuchs clean-to-crunch amp design philosophy at lower wattage — warm, responsive cleans transitioning through touch-sensitive, bluesy breakup. The MKII designation indicates a second-generation revision. The 21W power stage suits studio recording and smaller venue performance where the full ODS platform would be over-powered.
What stands out
“The Blackjack 21 draws on Andy Fuchs clean-to-crunch amp design philosophy at lower wattage — warm, responsive cleans transitioning through touch-sensitive, bluesy breakup”
— from the listing
“The clean channel is detailed and harmonically rich — well-suited to both single-coil and humbucker guitars in clean and blues contexts”
— from the reviews
“Blues, classic rock, and clean-tone players find the Blackjack responsive to playing dynamics”
— from the community notes
“At 21W the amp achieves natural power tube saturation at volume levels practical for smaller venues and recording”
— from the community notes
“At 21W natural power tube saturation is achievable at studio and small venue volumes”
— from the reviews
- breakup
- touch
- crunch
- clean
- responsive
- power tube saturation
- studio
- bluesy
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
- Practice
Genres the Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
32% matchpushes an amp at the edge of breakupPushes an amp already sitting at the edge of breakup over the line. (edge of breakup → low gain)
The RAT's dark, cutting distortion is a sharper edge than the Blackjack's own touch-responsive breakup offers on its own.
Goes in front of the amp
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
30% matchpushes an amp at the edge of breakupPushes an amp already sitting at the edge of breakup over the line. (edge of breakup → mid-forward)
Marshall Guv'nor takes that edge of breakup character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic
pedal
30% matchpushes an amp at the edge of breakupPushes an amp already sitting at the edge of breakup over the line. (edge of breakup → mid-forward)
Push the Blackjack's touch-sensitive breakup with a TS10 up front and the Tube Screamer's midrange bump firms up the amp's own crunch.
Goes in front of the amp
MXR Dyna Comp
MXR
19% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
MXR Dyna Comp leans toward bright, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Goes in front of the amp
TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler
TC Electronic
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler after Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII in the signal chain, clear of Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Catalinbread Epoch-Set in Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII's effects loop, clear of Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
pedal
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII's edge of breakup voice out front: Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb goes in Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII's effects loop so its spring voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
J. Rockett The Dude V2
J Rockett
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII leans into Dumble-style amps, precisely the platform J. Rockett The Dude V2 wants
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Mooer Micro PreAmp 010 (Two Rock Coral)
Mooer
72% similarityMooer Micro PreAmp 010 (Two Rock Coral) recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Xotic Bass BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
72% similarityXotic Bass BB Preamp V1.5 recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
DSM Silver Linings Drive Preamp Engine
Dsm Humboldt Electronics
72% similarityDSM Silver Linings Drive Preamp Engine recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Rowin LEF-315 Dumbler Amp Sim
Rowin
72% similarityRowin LEF-315 Dumbler Amp Sim recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Fender Bassbreaker 007 7-Watt
Fender
52% similarityShared character: clean, studio, full
Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired Head
Bad Cat
51% similarityShared character: natural, touch, clean
Dumble Overdrive Reverb
Dumble
51% similarityShared character: pick attack, touch, clean
Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head
amplifier
50% similarityShared character: touch, crunch, classic rock
Matchless Clubman 35
amplifier
49% similarityShared character: pick attack, classic rock, clean
Fuchs ODS Classic 50W Head
Fuchs
49% similarityShared character: touch, crunch, classic rock
Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head
Marshall
48% similarityShared character: touch, crunch, classic rock
Marshall 1959JMH-U Handwired 1959 100w Limited Edition
Marshall
48% similarityShared character: pick attack, crunch, classic rock
See all alternatives to the Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII?+
The closest matches in character are the Mooer Micro PreAmp 010 (Two Rock Coral), the Xotic Bass BB Preamp V1.5, the DSM Silver Linings Drive Preamp Engine.
What pairs well with the Fuchs Blackjack 21 MKII?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: ProCo RAT 2, Marshall Guv'nor, Ibanez TS10 Tube Screamer Classic — The RAT's dark, cutting distortion is a sharper edge than the Blackjack's own touch-responsive breakup offers on its own..