PastFX releases 3 killer limited and rarified evolved classic editions - utilising vintage parts and delivering enhanced and expanded tones

Verlie has outdone herself once more - with 3 more killer takes on notable vintage effects - utilising the same rarified components as those originals.

For her Klon take - she has removed a number of previously core circuit elements which can otherwise generate excess noise for some players. In removing those trouble-making parts - she has delivered an utterly unique take on the Klon - which she further enhances with 2-Band EQ, and an extra Presence switch. It has the usual Buffered Bypass switch - here as an unmarked push-button.

Verlie has somewhat ironically included a rare Reticon SAD1024 BBD Chip in this ’Retiklon’ pedal - but it’s not connected to anything - it’s purely there decoratively and ironically - as a super desirable cork-sniffer style component! Perhaps she will later bring out a pedal that you can slot said BBD into! It’s good to see she’s still having fun with all of this! The actual OpAmp here is an OPA2134.

I imagine this concept emerged somewhat along the following lines. I believe Verlie was already working on a Klone concept and needed a name for it. I would guess the thought process iterated through several verbal concepts :

Reticon > Reticon Klon > Retiklon etc. - and therefore the inclusion of an actual Reticon BBD was suggested by the moniker - at least that is what makes the most sense to me!

The second pedal is one that I’ve been chasing for a while - Verlie originally just made some for a few close friends - which then kind of leaked out - and I spotted one and wanted one - so she expanded the offer out to a slightly wider circle of her friends. I feel very privileged to be part of that esteemed group.

The OG-1 famously features that celebrated original Boss OD-1 14-pin / 14-leg OpAmp Chip which is next to uobtanium now - the JRC3403. Vitalii featured a different variant of that in his Khelnytskyi OD take same chip essentially just different branding, while Verlie has managed to track down a handful of those super rare parts. For these releases those will always be the limiting factor - there’s just not that many left to go around.

The 3rd of this set is the most versatile one yet - in delivering fully Analog BBD Double Tracking and Slapback Delay, Chorus and Vibrato, Flanging, and Sweepable Matrix Filter. It utilities 2 rare Panasonic / Matsushita MN3007 BBD’s - and sounds utterly sumptuous! This underlines why I call Verlie ’The Queen of Modulation’ - this is such a fantastic Swiss-Army Knife of a Modulation - and it truly sounds exceptional.

I’m wowed by each of these - all stellar truly - as I’ve come to expect from Verlie. She is a unique talent for sure. And I’m so honoured to be part of her orbit.

You can get the Poly Chorus on the Past FX Reverb.com Store now - where it goes for $319. The OG-1 and Retiklon are largely on invitation only, while a tiny number may eventually appear on the All Things Strings! Reverb.com Store - which is solely targeted at Americans.

We have some brief details on each below - where I will be doing full reviews on each pedal over the next few weeks. They’ve really only just landed - and I’ve literally just had the one proper session with them - which was enough to blow my socks off - and contribute toward this introductory feature. I am genuinely excited by this release. The OG-1 will feature in a different roundup article I’ve been working on for a while!