Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Freqscene's Koldwave is the perfect execution of a gorgeous sounding classic profile Analog BBD Chorus Vibrato - with some handy extended-range extras
This is one of my very favourite choruses now, it sounds so impressive from first encounter. It delivers the most lush of shimmery chorus and vibrato modulations - and the extra controls over and above the original CE-2 circuit inspiration - make a huge difference to the output profile.
The ’Warp / Detune’ dial adds more fluttery textures or softens / tempers the output, ’Amp’ adds warmth and more Volume - in fact Amp has a huge amount of range! And finally ’Freq’ allows you to adjust the Tone - < Darker | Brighter >. Where all 3 have a wonderful enhancing quality for the final output. You also have the fairly classic Vibrato / Toggle which gives you 100% / 50% Mix.
Controls - Speed (Modulation Rate), Mod Depth, Warp (Detune), Amp (Warmth + Volume), Freq (Wet Tone).
The Koldwave uses the stock CoolAudio V3207D and V3102D chips that are in most contemporary Analog BBD devices - and it sounds every bit as richly and delicately textured as some of those vintage MN3207D types.
I have a lot of Analog BBD Choruses in my reference collection - and this one is definitely top tier among all those other greats. In many ways it's such a simple and logical refinement to the Boss CE-2 circuit - I guess that's part of its genius.
I personally gravitate more typically towards compact format modulation pedals - while of late I've been journeying almost exclusively among the mid-size propositions - including from Asheville Music Tools and Caroline Guitar Co - I have the full selection form Caroline, while I've still got one to go for Asheville. My all-round reference analogue modulation capsule collection is looking pretty impressive these days - and this one certainly plays a significant part in that!
Dialling-in the Koldwave and favourite Settings
Right from the get-go this one sounds superb - with everything at noon. Of course it's way too loud with the Amp dial up so high, and sounds even better with the Warp dialled back a bit also.
Here are my 3 favourite settings to date :
Classic Chorus - Speed @ Noon, Depth @ Noon, Mix : Chorus 50%, Warp @ 9 o'c, Amp @ 9 o'c, Freq @ Noon.
Shimmery Vibrato - Speed @ 2 o'c, Depth @ 10 o'c, Mix : Vibrato 100%, Warp @ Noon, Amp @ Noon, Freq @ Noon.
Faux Rotary - Speed @ Max, Depth @ 3 o'c, Warp @ 8 o'c, Amp @ Noon, Freq @ Noon.
The Koldwave pretty much sounds gorgeous wherever you place those dials - and it can go incredibly loud and wobbly with the Warp and Amp dials cranked.
This is such a cleverly thought out circuit - it delivers the maximum impact with the least amount of controls - in looks, function, ease-of-use and quality of output it excels across every criteria.
Props to Wade for a perfect circuit!
The Coldwave is currently out of stock - so you will need to wait a little until Wade produces the next batch - it's well worthy the wait - and you really could not ask for a better chorus. There's several equally excellent sounding ones out there - but by the criteria I just mentioned, this one surely holds one of the top spots.
I've yet to acquire the Asheville Music Tools Analoger ACV NOS Edition - and my friend Ian swears that is surely the best ever Chorus pedal. While my experience of the Asheville so far (I have the Phaser, and Flanger) is that they are very capable and versatile, but their expansive control topologies don't always make for the easiest of experiences. The magic about the Koldwave is that it instantly sounds great - and is super easy to adjust to achieve even more greatness!
When in stock on the Freqscene Webstore, the Koldwave goes for a very reasonable $199.
Demos
