Black-wire edition? Comparing BBODs

[mudster]

I have spent the better part of today comparing two BBOD's. Both appear identical except for small differences in the hand-written lettering. I can now tell them apart sonically - one is slightly smoother - seems to have a bit less overall gain, and the treble control must be basically wide open for the same amount of high-end to pass through when the drive is set to its lowest level as with the effect turned off. The other seems to have a bit of treble boost capability. One is brighter than the other with just the smallest amount more bite and tendency for high harmonics when cranked. Both sound very similar, so the differences are subtle.
Finally I decided to open them up and look inside. One box is definitely heavier than the other. I hadn't noticed this until I held them both at the same time. On the inside, both have a little bear drawing, but one says it is the "Solid core black wire edition" and the other does not.

Does anyone know anything about what this means and the number of permutations of the BBOD? Any inut appreciated. This is an interesting pedal. Not a lot of girth - it isn't a thick tone, but it is very focused and smooth. It excells when cranked from about noon on up to full.

[Donner]

what serial numbers are they??

something like the first 50 BBODs used baby blue colored wire also

[nibus]

I've had 3 different BBOD's and they all sounded different.

I did notice that the earlier square box version (around serial #200) had less mids and high mids than my later (>#400) models did. I prefer the later models myself.

[mudster]

The heavier one is FT 166 (the solid core black wire version). The other one is FT 195.

Update on my test drives - I found that the lower gain settings sound very good with my old Vox amplifier, both as a clean boost to bring the clean channel more in line with the EF86 channel and to drive the EF86 channel which does not need any added grit to sound great.
So, it is Vox approved!

[mrpicard]

..one is slightly smoother - seems to have a bit less overall gain, and the treble control must be basically wide open for the same amount of high-end to pass through when the drive is set to its lowest level as with the effect turned off. The other seems to have a bit of treble boost capability. One is brighter than the other with just the smallest amount more bite and tendency for high harmonics when cranked. Both sound very similar, so the differences are subtle.

OK, which one #166 or #195:

- Is slightly smoother with less overall gain?
- Has more treble and bite?

What I would like to do is record the specific differences for each individual pedal. Thanks

[mudster]

..one is slightly smoother - seems to have a bit less overall gain, and the treble control must be basically wide open for the same amount of high-end to pass through when the drive is set to its lowest level as with the effect turned off. The other seems to have a bit of treble boost capability. One is brighter than the other with just the smallest amount more bite and tendency for high harmonics when cranked. Both sound very similar, so the differences are subtle.

OK, which one #166 or #195:

- Is slightly smoother with less overall gain? #195
- Has more treble and bite? #166