Asheville Music Tools' 3rd in the Analoger Series is the AFG-1 Dynamic Analog Flanger and Whooshless Resonant Comb Modulator
Much like with the recent Tru-Fi post - I’m a little late to come around to the charms of Asheville Music Tools. Mostly because I like my delays to be Stereo, and I have a marked preference for compact single effect type pedals.
There’s no doubting the pedigree of these pedals - and each of them builds on really cool vintage-inspired Analog Bucket Brigade Delay-Line manipulation, which delivers Chorus and Vibrato, Modulated Delay, and Flanging and Comb Modulation across 3 vertical circa 1590-BB style enclosures.
These 3 pedals largely have very similar control topologies - with a 4-position Expression Type rotary selector right at the top, then 3 sections / clusters of knobs, with a couple of 2- and 3-way Toggle Switches framing the third knob cluster. So lots of similarities here - and if you figure out one of these devices you can take most of that learning across to the other 2.
You can also get an ADG-1 Special Edition which ups the Delay Time to 1100ms, and adds a Delay insert for more creative routing.
As something of Flanger fan - it’s actually the last to arrive here that has the most appeal for me. There’s no shortage of great extended features Chorus or Delay pedals, while there aren’t too many extended range Flangers about - particularly since Subdecay retired its Starlight DLX.
Each of these is compelling in its own right - while I believe there largely equally appealing pedals at half their size - they do though do things slightly differently and you may very well prefer the character of these 3 finely crafted audiophile devices. Where the relatively high price tags reflect the quality of the components and construction.
Here follow the individual pedal details :
Analoger ACV-1 Analog BBD Chorus / Vibrato Time Warping Modulator - $378
Controls - EXPRESSION : Time / Feedback / Rate / Amount, DELAY } Time, Feedback, LFO } Rate, Amount, Phase : In / Out, AMP } Mix, Tone, Waveform : Triangle / Slewed Square / Sine.
A formidable BBD Chorus / Vibrato pedal with some properly smart features - I wish more would utilise the 4-way Expression rotary selector we see here - such a neat feature, otherwise fairly typical extended range controls - with 6 main knobs and 2 switches. Compared with the recent Jackson Audio NewWave Chorus / Vibrato / Rotary - that also has 6 main controls knobs - 2 with dual functions, but also 7 Modes / Presets, 5 Waveforms, and a second Tap Tempo / Ramp footswitch. Both devices are Analog BBD, wile the NewWave is also full stereo - which is kind of essential for its rotary effect.
Analoger ADG-1 17-700ms BBD Analog Delay - $397
Controls - EXPRESSION : Time / Feedback / Rate / Amount, DELAY } Time, Feedback, LFO} Rate, Amount, Buckets (Chips) : 1 / 2, LEVEL } Drive, Mix, Tone, LFO Type : Square / Off / Triangle, Bypass Footswitch, Trails / Mod Footswitch.
As mentioned in the intro - there is also the ADG-1 Special Edition with an extended 1100ms of Delay, and an additional Delay Insert for which you pay a further $200. For $500 you can get a Chase Bliss Thermae with up to 32 seconds of delay - where its 4 Analog BBD's are further manipulated via digital controls - where you have pitch-shifting as well as modulation, and a couple of presets onboard even. There's also the really smart Suhr Analog BBD Discovery Delay - also with some clever digital manipulation - no shortage of compelling alternatives at a variety od different sizes. And I dare say we will see an even more phenomenal analog delay pedal materialising later on this week. The ADG-1 is of course still a contender with its own smarts including a clever preamp which adds warmth and further dimension to that pedal's output. There are truly some great analog delay pedals out there already of all different shapes and sizes.
Analoger AFG-1 BBD Analog Dynamic Flanger and Whooshless Resonant Comb Modulator - $378
Controls - EXPRESSION : Frequency / Feedback / Rate / Amount, DELAY } Frequency, Feedback, LFO } Rate, Amount, Phase : Jet / Swirl / Out of Phase, Drive, Envelop, Envelope Shape : Fast A/R / Long A/R / Moderate A/R. (A/R = Attack / Release).
Finally, onto Flangers, where there is some space in the market after Subdecay retired its formidable Starlight DLX edition - which was always kind of 'King of the Flangers'. You also have EQD's smart Pyramids Stereo Flanger - albeit a digital format. While there are not too many extended range flangers currently on the market - such that this AFG-1 becomes a major contender. I was aiming for this year to kind of have been the year of the Flanger - but it's really ended up being more about Choruses - as those flangers due to materialise within the calendar year have had their development somewhat delayed. I've been standing by with my Flanger capsule collection for the longest time - waiting for the final pieces to drop - and here we have another prime contender for sure. I already have 15 Flanger pedals in the collection - where I'm still aiming to get at least a couple more before I call it. So the AFG-1 may very well feature in that selection.
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