TWA's Triskelion 3.0 Harmonic Energizer is a superb take on that mid-70's Zappa Favourite Band-Pass Frequency and Gain Shaper
So back in and around 1975 there was a large aluminium box with red and black graphics made by Systech, and which had an open 9V battery bay built right into the front facia. It had just 3 controls - Bandwidth, Center Frequency, and Gain - which were instrumental in delivering the classic Frank Zappa sound of that era! The Gain knob sweep was fairly expansive, but not too heavy on the breakup until later along the taper - rather an amplitude control for most of the sweep - although it did climb...
Walrus Audio massively upgrades its now Monumental Harmonic Tremolo - including Presets and Full Stereo Capabilities
I’ve been on something of a Tremolo kick this year - I decided that said capsule collection was a little slim in comparison to my other modulation categories - so I determined that I would focus on Tremolo for 2024.
The Drunk Beaver Chernivtsi Trembita Optical Tremolo kick-started this year’s journey, and I already have the Lastgasp Flikrrr and Tru-Fi Ultra Tremolo inbound - which will take that capsule to 15.
I had further identified around 8 or 10 targets for the reference collection ...
Vick Audio In Memoriam
Around the same time last year as Luca Romanelli announced the retirement of Mastro Valvola, my good friend Mike Vickery announced that his Vick Audio would cease pedal production too. Not many know that Mike was my Big Muff Mentor really, and I really got the full grasp on what distinguished one Big Muff variety from another - via a series of highly involved chats with Mike back in 2020.
Mike is / was one of the very best producers of Big Muff style fuzzes - with the general acceptance ...
Mastro Valvola In Memoriam
I always get pangs of sorrow when a pedal brand retires for one reason or another. Late last year Luca Romanelli announced that he was pulling the plug on his Mastro Valvola pedal brand - which at times I have referred to as ’The Strymon of Italy’.
There are so many complications and complexities with pedal-building in general - chip sets and key components increasingly harder to source, and numerous challenges with logistics and red tape. It’s a wonder more of these don’t go to the wire. ...
Rabea's Superb Signature Music Man Custom Sabre is finally fully available!
I say the Rabea Sabre is fully available - while noting that the Limited 30 Run Frenzied Flame Burst Edition sold out in just a couple of days or so. The Standard Vileblood Burst will be available at all Music Man Dealers, including at Andertons - where it’s priced @ £4,299 (Music Man = $3999).
My upper ceiling for guitar acquisitions is usually at £3.5K, but I would most definitely make an exception for this fantastic guitar. It’s designated as a Sabre Model - but there are so many cool ...
The Heavy Water serves beautifully as a superb always-on Tone-Enhancer which delivers exceptional added harmonics and texture
While there will be one more Heavy Water feature on the final Monday of this month, that will be more of a roundup and last-minute reminder. So this is the last therefore of the main feature articles.
Most of you will be familiar with the 29 Pedals EUNA Elite Unity Amplifier / Buffer - which combines a Buffer, Harmonics & EQ, High Headroom, and a very unique and potent Power Management circuitry. It’s core mission of course to make your effects chain sound better. The EUNA is a front-of...
Catalinbread travels back to the 70's with its StarCrash Themed Collection - including 2 new pedals - the StarCrash Fuzz and SideArm Overdrive
The StarCrash 70’s Collection re-skins 4 Catalinbread classics (Adineko, Katzenkönig, SFT, and Valcoder) and adds 2 brand new period correct pedals - a Screamer-type SideArm Overdrive, and a 70’s style StarCrash Sustaining Fuzz.
I really like the styling of these - which enclosures come in a really appealing apple-green sparkle, and where prices vary from $179 to $209 for the Adineko delay.
I only own the standard Katzenkönig from this circuit selection, I’ve had the SFT on the wishlist...
Becos FX further perfects its Compact CompIQ Stella Pro Blacmer VCA 'King of Compressors', now in MKII Edition with optional DITOS Transformer DI Out Module
I’ve long championed the CompIQ Stella - which is the closest you can get to a studio rack compressor in pedal format. The Stella is simply the most powerful and tweakable compressor in its category. And I’ve finally got one in the reference collection - many thanks to Becos FX for organising that for me in such a timely manner!
I’ve had my Stella for a couple of weeks or so now, and this will be my first article of a series - a sort of short-term first impressions take. Which I will then ...
AC Noises unleashes the really smart Ricorda Stereo Granular Reverb + Freeze/Loop
A collaboration between AC Noises and Andrea Degli Esposti from BunkerNoise using a powerful modular synth DSP for AC Noises’ first ever stereo pedal.
This is a unique confection of conventional reverb with diffused and reflected grains - essentially adding further texture and dimension to the Reverb ambience.
The clear knobs are the conventional reverb, and the mini black ones control various aspects of the Grains. That mini-knob row is then followed by 3 switches - which set further ...
Boss unleashes a Bass Edition of its Killer ME-90 Multi-FX pedal alongside a potent new Katana 500 Watt Bass Head with matching C112B Cab
Boss has really been showing Bass Players a lot of love recently - with superb dedicated devices for the lower range of playback. For April we get a Bass Edition of the ME-90 - wholly re-designed with Bass Players in mind and the precise effects they favour in their rig. There may be some superficial similarities to the ME-90, but the ME-90B has been wholly re-engineered for Bass. In my describing all the effects, features and functions - it’s almost overwhelming just how much you get on the ...
12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Compact Edition
