Silktone's new Expander Pedal is a simple but potent gain-shaper / tone-enhancer that takes you from Clean, through Drive, and onto Fuzz tones

The Silicone Expander elegantly takes you up through the gears - in a not dissimilar fashion to the recent JHS 424 Gain Stage Console Amp - albeit that is more of a lo-fi variant overall. But with similarly expansive range - giving your Clean Tones more sparkle and then ramping all the way up to Fuzz tones - where the ’Choke’ Bass Input control is a key component. So many fuzzes are based on low-end distortion - and that’s why you often see pedals with Input Gain as well as Output Gain elements.

A key advantage of the Expander is just that 3-knob Topology with 3-Way EQ / Voicing switch. The toggle-switch and ’Choke’ knob are key to shaping the frequency profile - where the Volume and Gain obviously shape the Gain Section / Structure.

Controls - Volume, Choke (Low-End Input / Bass Roll-off), Gain, Voice : Dark / Bright / Balanced.

This pedal is billed as covering Clean, Preamp, Drive and Fuzz tones - and therefore has a similar remit to the JHS 424 Gain Stage - while it achieves its output in a somewhat simpler and different manner.

It’s really a very elegant circuit with a significant range to get you up and down the different levers of gain.

Silktone typically favours the 1590-BB format - but this is a more slimline variant - similar to what Red Panda and Krozz Devices use presumably. Even though this format is slightly wider - I still mostly include it within the compact set. I’m not the biggest fan of those very ubiquitous knobs - and would like to see Sikltone originate its own knobs really. That type of skirted knob is often associated with Dumble types - albeit there are several variants of that style - and this one is much the nicest ones of those - still somewhat ubiquitous. Considering Silktone are highly minimalist on the trade-dress side - I feel they could do with some special knobs - they should team up with Tom Cram at Spiral Electric FX - and get some of their own ceramic knobs! Those translucent ones are really cool too!

The (Tone) Expander is available for orders on the Silktone Webstore - where it goes for $269 which seems reasonable - it’s such a versatile pedal!

I of course want one - but not sure what priority it will take - as my dance card as such is already pretty hectic for next month. I will definitely have one of these before long though.

The Expander is not yet available in the UK - where Andertons is most likely in a week or two - while the other 2 listed dealers have no mention of Silktone any more - neither Pedal Jungle or Wunjo. Silktone really deserves to be at Joe’s Pedals - if it knows what’s good for it!

In any case I will wait for the pedal to come into stock over the next few weeks - and if that doesn’t happen - I’m then looking for overseas solutions - including my friend Scott at Axe and You Shall Receive!

Here follow the demos :