Vintage effect portraits: Colorsound Supa Wah Fuzz Swell

ColorsoundThe Colorsound Supa Wah Fuzz Swell is one of the first multi effect pedals. Developed in the early 1970s in England, this pedal is hard to find today. Continue reading “Vintage effect portraits: Colorsound Supa Wah Fuzz Swell”

Timmy V3 Anniversary Overdrive Pedal

TimmyPaul Cochrane is not even an unknown quantity in the world of effect pedals: He is the inventor of the “transparent overdrive”. First, he created the Tim. The more compact version, named Timmy is now celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. Continue reading “Timmy V3 Anniversary Overdrive Pedal”

Obituary: Jim Dunlop – more than the Cry-Baby

Plektren In a certain way he was like the doctor of the music scene. Besides his brilliant own inventions, Jim Dunlop brought dead ones back to life. Continue reading “Obituary: Jim Dunlop – more than the Cry-Baby”

Other history = other ideas of a good sound?

Was wäreThe sounds you already know will shape your acoustic habits and expectations and every new impression of sound will be measured by these aspects.

Continue reading “Other history = other ideas of a good sound?”

Digital delays

In the 1980s, the first digital chips were used to produce delay pedals. The advantage was, that these racks and pedals were able to offer a longer delay time than the analog delays of those days and, at the same time, produced less hiss. Continue reading “Digital delays”

Legendary overdrive pedals 5 – ZVEX Box of Rock

Box of RockThe ZVEX Box of Rock is one of those pedals that every guitarist should have played at least once in his life.
To many this is the reference to all “Marshall in a Box”- pedals. Continue reading “Legendary overdrive pedals 5 – ZVEX Box of Rock”

Legendary overdrive pedals 4 – Fulltone OCD

Fulltone OCDThis episode of the series is dedicated to a modern overdrive pedal which already has become a legend: the Fulltone OCD. Continue reading “Legendary overdrive pedals 4 – Fulltone OCD”

Legendary overdrive pedals 3 – Tone Bender

Tone benderHistory

The Colorsound Tone Bender has been invented in the legendary Denmark Street in London. Continue reading “Legendary overdrive pedals 3 – Tone Bender”

Legendary overdrive pedals (2) – Big Muff

Big MuffThe Electro Harmonix Big Muff is one of the most legendary overdrive pedals ever invented.
I guess, almost every guitarist used this pedal at least once in his career.
The most famous are David Gilmour, Billy Corgan, Jack White, J. Mascis and John Frusciante. Continue reading “Legendary overdrive pedals (2) – Big Muff”

Obituary: Glenn Snoddy – the creator of the fuzz pedal

NewsThe first name, that comes to one’s mind when the “fuzz” is mentioned, is Jimi Hendrix.
But to me, the creator of this pedal’s wiring was not less important for the history of guitar music.
His name war Glenn Snoddy. Continue reading “Obituary: Glenn Snoddy – the creator of the fuzz pedal”

Effect History: Multi Digital Delays – Current developments (Part 3)

Effect PedalIn part 1 and 2 I have dedicated myself to the beginnings of multi digital delays and the second generation of this kind of pedals.
Recently there occurred some new developments concerning delays, so I would like to present the latest multi delays. Continue reading “Effect History: Multi Digital Delays – Current developments (Part 3)”

Effect History: Multi Digital Delays (Part 2)

Effect PedalThe next generation

The first part of this series was about the Boss DD-20 and the Line6 DL4.
Both pedals have been the standard for a long time and still they are pretty popular.
But they have been replaced by technically extensive pedals of the next generation. Continue reading “Effect History: Multi Digital Delays (Part 2)”

Effect History: The first multi digital delays (Part 1)

Effect PedalAlmost every guitarist who is addicted to delays is always searching for the perfect delay sound.
Uncountable analog and digital delays are jockeying for space on the pedalboard.
Early 21st century numerous manufacturers recognized this dilemma and started to invent multi digital delays.
Some of them I would like to present in a three-part series. Continue reading “Effect History: The first multi digital delays (Part 1)”