2022 May Pedal-Chain Update - Episode V - Electrifying Texture

Two very new ones - the EQD Special Cranker and Spaceman Redstone - both acquired from Andertons. Interestingly the Spaceman Redstone was a special order from Andertons - meaning since they started supporting the brand - this is the first time a new product hasn't been automatically in stock. Apparently decided on by the fact that Andertons feel they offer up more than enough overdrive options already - and they've calculated somehow that the Redstone would not sell enough to justify automatic stocking - looks like it will increasingly happen on a case-by-case instance from hereon. Did not take too long to arrive - about a fortnight from when ordered. I was initially told 3-5 days - and then early June - while in the end it turned up within a fortnight - which is surely good enough! Pogo Zen Ray was acquired rater opportunistically from Andertons too - something of a bumper month for them  on my account! :

• EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker Overdrive
• Pogo Pedals Zen Ray Overdrive
• Spaceman Effects Redstone Germanium Preamp

This was very much an opportunistic acquisition - I had tried to get this several times in the past - but was either confronted with inflated prices or poor condition. So timing was perfect here and I snagged a near pristine edition from a Reverb.com vendor based in the Netherlands. The Idea is to take this to the FX Expo show and hand over to Leyland Pedals for their modifications. Should be really cool!

• Boss DF-2 Super Feedbacker & Distortion

I've wanted a Fuzz Rangers for a while - so when the opportunity presented itself I of course snapped up an Anniversary Edition. The Moon and ♀ Fuzzes were in response to superb demos - while I acquired the two Mini Pogos based on a reader recommendation and there being a sale on them at Andertons. So 2 Muffs, an Extended Fuzz Face / RangeMaster, Maestro and Octavia / COB.

• Formula B Fuzz Rangers Anniversary Edition
• Keeley Electronics Moon Quad Opamp Dark Side Muff Fuzz
• Loe Sounds ♀ Fuzz (Big Muff / Hoof)
• Pogo Pedals FZS-1 Modern Fuzz
• Pogo Pedals COB-1 Octavia Fuzz

I'm obviously a fan of Spaceman Effects and collect most of those - so I was always going to get the Explorer - even though it wasn't a high priority. While I've loved the Yvette Young Edition of Instant Lo-Fi Junky from the moment it first materialised. I was oblivious to the first batch, overcommitted by the time the second batch came around - so the third batch really was the charm!

The VS Audio Alchemy V1 was one of my favourite all-time Chorus pedals - so there was no question I wouldn't get the V2. And I mentioned to Joseph of Demiurge Instruments that I would pretty much be first inline if he ever made a compact version of his Great Sea Lo-Fi Modulator take on the Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water.

• Demiurge Instruments The Great Seas Compact Lo-Fi Modulator (Shallow Water style modulator)
• Spaceman Explorer 6 Stage Optical Compressor
• VS Audio Alchemy V2 Analog Chorus
• Zvex Instant Lo-Fi Junky Yvette Young Edition

Another pedal I admired from the start of the year as reviewed then - I always intended to get this - and the timing was right in May.

• MXR Poly Blue Octave

So 9 Changes for May - coming in on slots #2, #5, #10, #11, #12, #21, #23, #24, #33. Typefied by 5 exceptionally textured fuzzes, 3 particularly granularly textured overdrives - and an amazing Lo-Fi Modulator. Some really magnificent candidates - all of which will be in high rotation. It doesn't particularly move the pedal-chain forward - and it's rather more of a sideways move - but for sure some cool handy and likely perennial additions here!

As mentioned earlier - I was hugely impressed when I first reviewed this, and principally saw the MXR Poly Blue Octave / Fuzz / Modulator as an Octave Fuzz for my setup - but also a handy full 2-Up + 2-Down Octaver - where this is the only one I have that does that. I mostly play it with the Fuzz Mode on and Full Power, while the Modulation Mode is often dialled back. Just a supreme utility really - super versatile and really works - really decent tracking too - although it can get a little messy with all 4 octaves applied over noon on their respective dials.

I've come a little late to Loe Sounds - where I always have such a large roster to juggle - it is inevitable that some slip through the net. I have been extremely lucky here though to get the same exact Matt Bradford version of the Superfuzz, and one of the extremely rare ♀ Fuzzes. In fact the limited batch was long sold out by the time I got in touch with Aisha - while she had managed to source a few more of those super rare Newmarket Germanium Transistors that make this variety so special - and so one of those 3 extra pedals was mine! It's an exquisite Hybrid Big Muff - 2 Germanium + 2 Silicon Transistors - and it has extraordinary harmonic output - I feel really privileged to own these 2 Loe Sounds Fuzzes!

The Pogo Pedals Zen Ray Overdrive is something that seemed to materialise very quickly and gain significant worldwide distribution very early on - which made me somewhat suspicious of it. I kind of liked the concept of it but had some odd mental barriers towards it - which obviously disappeared when I encountered it as part of Andertons' Spring Sale. I actually came into that site based on a reader recommendation of Pogo's Mini Fuzzes - but spotted that all Pogo Pedals were on sale - and it made sense to snag the Flagship pedal too on this occasion. Actually a really great sounding mix / combination of Dumble and Timmy style tones which can do their refined tones with ease - or else you can access rather more expansive territory via the Mids Saturation Knob and 2-Germanium-Transistors Mode option.

The original EQD Speaker Cranker somewhat passed me by at the time - I was faintly aware of it, but it didn't register sufficiently for me to want one for the collection. This new expanded Special Cranker variety though has a little more about it - getting 3 knobs - up from 1, and an additional Clipping option. Capable of some really great raw-ish amp-like texture when cranked - this is a fantastic distinct and original overdrive - well worth having in the collection.

The Spaceman Effects Redstone Germanium Preamp sort of makes up for my not owning the Mercury III Harmonic Boost which I've always wanted - and upon which this pedal is largely based - with more expansive controls though and significantly extended output range. I of course love Germanium style overdrives - which I like to call Fuzzy-Drives - and this is a great example of that type.

I thought it opportune to bring the Loe Sounds Superfuzz back into rotation as the ♀ Fuzz goes in on slot #5. I've been hugely impressed with this Loe Sounds rare pair - which have extraordinary, exquisite even harmonic output. Aisha Loe for sure has wonderful ears to consistently create such fine sounding circuits.

Robert Keeley has extracted and seriously beefed up the Fuzz circuit from his Gilmourish Dark Side pedal to form the Moon Quad-Opamp Muff Fuzz - which has exceptional full-frequency output and sublime low end. I could have done with slightly wider-ranging EQ controls - but the Mid Frequency switch and Tone Knob cover sufficient territory really and the output can be incredibly dark and doomy! A really cool and fairly distinct take on a Big Muff.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Bardic Audio Devices (@bardicaudiodevices)

The Bardic Audio Devices 2-Stroke Beaver Opamp Muff has to be the most potent and capable of the compact edition Big Muff types. The 5-Band EQ is absolutely fantastic in getting you into territory where few Muffs have ventured before - the combination of controls on this pedal really do make for an exceptional proposition. It's really cool that 3 very different and distinct Big Muffs entered the chain at the same time - the ♀ Fuzz, Moon Fuzz, and 2-Stroke Beaver - all exceptional candidates of their respective sub-genres. And just amazing Big Muffs in general - for sure 3 of the very best out there!

Joseph Maxwell of Demiurge Instruments has had an equivalent BB-size enclosure take on the Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water for a while now. I told him about a year ago that I would be first in line if he ever decided to shrink that down to compact size - and lo-and-behold the first batch of 8 materialised during May. I was very glad to snap one up - and I will soon be doing a roundup of my own preferred selection of Killer Compact Lo-Fi Modulators - just waiting for a couple more things to fall in line for that and said article should be ready. The Great Sea Lo-Fi Modulator is an exacting take on the Shallow Water - utilising MN3207 BBD chips - and sounding pretty phenomenal. If you have the space on your board - I of course recommend the original Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water, while if spacing is tight like on mine - then the Demiurge Great Sea is every bit as good as you could have hoped for - Joseph really has done an excellent job on his circuit derivation - and it sounds quite superb! No official demo yet though! Note that this pedal is built with the Pedal PCB Low Tide Mini board. No official demo out yet - reference instead Knobs' Shallow Water demo - for context!