Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Flower Pedals reveals new iterations for its Dahlia Stereo Analog Delay, and Hosta Wah Filter
So we have new versions of two of my favourite pedals - the Dahlia is very minorly iterated - seemingly just a sort of internal / firmware update as none of the surface controls / labels are changed on the new iteration. We get a new Kill Dry Option which I rarely use anyway, a 6th Preset Option, and the ability to set 3 different Expression Presets versus just 1 per my original V1 version. All those additions are kind of nice to have for me, while I’m not really going to miss them if I go without.
The Hosta is an entirely different case in being a wholly new version. And where the Dahlia took over for my Boss DM-101 as my favourite Stereo Analog Delay, the Hosta (V1) has long been my favourite Auto-Wah pedal - of all-time!
Since I’ve had the Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah permanently on my board, I don’t really feel the need for Auto-Wah too much any more - while I will definitely be moving up to the Hosta V2 at some stage - as a further high versatility backup option, while it’s not a current pressing priority - where that situation is always fluid though.
For how I use the pedal - the Hosta V1 is absolutely perfect for me already. While there are further advantages to be had from the V2 that I would really like to try out - including slightly different waveforms and a little more granularity!
There’s a universality now across the 3 flagship pedals - Dahlia Stereo Analog Delay, Sunflower Harmonic Tremolo, and now this V2 Hosta - each of those have near identical 6 variable knobs + 2 x 3-way Option Switches - obviously with different parameters applied, but similar to some of the Keeley shared-platform series - this allows for much more efficient manufacturing when platform similarities are carried across the range.
I personally own 4 Flower Pedals to date - 2 of the 3 now flagship trio - alongside the V1 Castilleja Phaser/Vibe and V1 Hosta - all 4 of those have really been essential for me - in particularly the Dahlia - which has been fixed to the board for a while. And as mentioned I will be getting the V2 Hosta also at some stage in the not too distant future. I kind of wanted the Geranium Germanium Drive too for a time - but left that a little late - so will hopefully pick one of those up also if I encounter a reasonable condition one in the wild, of course also with a sensible price tag attached!
Here below are the individual pedal details - we’re still waiting on new Demos for those pedals - so will likely use previous iteration demos for sound sample references! And update to the new ones when those materialise!
Both the Dahlia V1,5, and Hosta V2 are currently up for preorders - while we’re still waiting on accompanying new demos and manuals as of this posting!
Dahlia V1.5 Dual Channel Stereo Analog BBD Delay - $499
Controls - MIX [ramp speed], TIME [ramp to : x2 <> /2, FEEDBACK [ramp to], MODE : stereo / scores / parallel [mod shape : triangle / sine / random], CONTROL : 1 / 1+2 / 2 [time lock : width / independent / division], TONE [gain], DIVISION : quarter / dotted eighth / eighth / triplets / sixteenth [time lock], MOD [depth/speed], TAP / RAMP Footswitch, ON / HOLD Footswitch.
Additional Controls & Ports - EXP : TAP / EXP, INPUT : SISO / MISO / MIMO, MIDI IN, MIDI THRU.
What's new in V1.5
- Kill Dry Option
- 1 extra 6th Preset Option
- 3 Expression Presets vs the original's 1
This is my all time favourite Analog Delay - which happens to be fully Stereo by way of its TRS jacks - thus a better fit for me than my former favourite Boss DM-101 MISO edition. The only proper alternative to the Dahlia is the Walrus Audio Merakis - which yes has a little moe delay time - but it a much larger device, and not near as practical or pedalboard friendly. Overall control topologies are fairly simply - but the Dahlia will always be my champion - it petty much does everything I would want it to do - in such a compact and precise format. Even through the Boss DM-101 gives you more options - and where it ever to become fully SISO stereo - I still think I would stick with the Dahlia - it really is the perfect form factor for me - with the perfect lush analog delay output. It really works a treat - and is comparatively not that pricey for what it delivers - while I feel that invetibale the price will go up - probably by at least another $50 before long! So get yours now while the getting is good!
Hosta V2 Wah Filter - $349
Controls - LEVEL [attack], FREQUENCY, DEPTH [drift depth], MODE : fixed / auto / envelope, RAMP : up / moment / latch / drift / down, SHAPE / RELEASE [ramp speed] SHAPE : hump / triangle / pulse / sine / square, SPEED / SENSITIVITY [ramp to / drift speed], Q Bandwidth [division : half / quarter / dotted eighth / eighth / triplet], TAP / RAMP Footswitch, ON / HOLD Footswitch.
What's new in V2
- Entirely new variant with elements of Sunflower and Dahlia formats onboard
- Significantly extended Feature Set
- The Ultimate Wah Filter
The V1 Hosta was already my all-time favourite Auto-Wah and it's even better now in this new iteration - taking in all the latest technological breakthroughs and advances accomplished with the Sunflower and Dahlia releases. It's still fairly iterative as the original was already fantastic - and while you have a few more features and options - the original was already sufficiently formidable - and was perfect for my needs already.
As I've taken to permanently using the Plutoneium Wah-Wah - a new Auto-Wah is not necessarily a pressing concern for me - while though obviously nice to have - and it will happen. Even though I have numerous high potency filter pedals - including the Subdecay Prometheus 3, All-Pedal Macrodose, and Spaceman Artemis to name but a few.
I've always loved the Flower Pedals compact formats - and this is brand that I will continue to support and champion regardless of the ongoing lack of reciprocity.
