EarthQuaker Devices rolls out Lee Kieran Signature GARY Dual Channel Overdrive / Fuzz - massively evolved from the Grey Channel

Jamie and Julie @ GuitarGuitar in Camden

At its heart this is still somewhat evolved from the discontinued Grey Channel / 2 x DOD 250 circuit, but Jamie has significantly souped up the second channel for a dynamic / responsive modulated fuzz - which responds acutely to your pick attack.

Controls - NATURAL DYNAMIC OVERDRIVE } GO (Gain), THAT'S IT (Master Volume), Engage OD Footswitch; AUTO PULSE WIDTH MODULATION FUZZ (Square-wave)  } YES! (Envelope Sensitivity), GOSH (Master Volume), Engage Fuzz.

Use the Expression port to manually control the Pulse Width, and in essence by bass the auto-envelope!

I like that the former Grey Channel has been both reduced (to compact enclosure) and expanded at the same time (Square Wave Fuzz Side).

This is exactly the kind of gain pedal that Jamie is so good at creating. You have a fairly minimal control topology - just 2 knobs per side. And of course where you can stack the two channels together.

So in some ways this is a revival of the Grey Channel to some degree, but in other ways this is mostly rather something new and distinct.

Readers will know that I'm a bit of an extended range pedal fan, and often prefer more complex and granular control topologies. But here if the circuit is solid and those 2 knobs are all you need to get the full range of tones from each channel, then this is probably wholly perfect for its needs as is.

Lee Kiernan has quite a dynamic playing style - so the pedal should pretty much suit him perfectly.

I was always going to get a Grey Channel at one stage - even though I'm way way late on that. But I really like / probably prefer this new format. I'm not sure I'm as big a fan of the graphics. Note that there is also a limited Red/Brown colourway variant available (500 units). An no doubt a few months down the road we will get another colourway or two. I will probably wait it out - and see if a preferred colourway edition emerges that particularly speaks to me.

If you already like what you see - then these are of course available on the EQD Webstore - where they go for $199. These are or will be imminently arriving at international dealers. And I will for sure grab one of these at some stage - but as mentioned - it may be in a different colourway edition. The one constant you know with EQD - is that there will be more colourway variants, and particularly for the Japanese market!