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 Finally through with all those artist interviews, GEARED gets back to its roots – EFFECTS PEDALS. Here’s a selection that caught our eye over the last few months.
EHX ENIGMA: Q-BALLS
Bass Analogue Filter Pedal
Enigma: Q-balls is Electro-Hamonix’s first analogue filter designed specifically for bass. Envelope filters are among the most exciting tools that a creative musician can own, and EHX has been at the forefront of analogue, envelope filter design since the 1970s (well, they’ve kept Mu-Tron/Q-Tron creator Mike Beigel on the payroll at least).
The Enigma has a frequency range of 40Hz to 3kHz, which is the perfect bass range to deliver filter sweeps that remain tight and defined even in the lowest harmonic ranges. The selectable multi-mode filters (LP, BP, HP) deliver a frequency articulation in any harmonic range. The analogue bass distortion is unique to the Enigma with the perfect range for an ambient to aggressive bottom edge. Use an external expression pedal to capture a harmonic picture or sweep the envelope for a user controlled, uniquely different, wah-like signature.
Check out the really clever video with Jack Conte at www.ehx.com/products/enigma. Whatever they paid him, it wasn’t enough.
 EHX RIDDLE: Q-BALLS
Guitar Analogue Filter Pedal
Like the Enigma, the Riddle is an analogue filter pedal, though designed for guitar. It has a frequency response of 80Hz to 5kHz and the same useful tools as the Enigma, but within parameters that make a guitar sing.
Check it out at www.ehx.com/products/riddle (with more aggressive video editing by Jack Conte).
 TC ELECTRONIC NOVA DRIVE
Overdrive/Distortion Pedal
Nova Drive is TC Electronic’s new programmable analogue overdrive and distortion pedal. It features the same analogue drive circuit as the Nova System and has full digital control. On top of superb tone, Nova Drive has excellent preset and control options that ensure guitarists don’t have to rebuild their set-ups from scratch to use it. The pedal comes with 18 factory presets.
Nova Drive features two totally separate overdrive and distortion circuits that can be used separately or combined to offer a wealth of classic old school sounds. These are partnered with total digital control that enables guitarists to store up to 18 of their favourite sounds.
The dedicated distortion section offers a wide range of tones, from subtle, punchy driving distortion to screaming fuzz. And for added control it also features a 2-band EQ section for precise shaping of distorted sounds. Nova Drive’s distortion character is best typified as raw but, like the overdrive section, it preserves the original character of the sound.
The overdrive section delivers everything from clean boost with a little extra ‘oomph’ through Bluesy sting and smooth tube-like break-up, to heavy, all-out crunch. It is the perfect place to find added sustain for existing sounds and to supercharge any tone into classic territory.
RRP US$345. www.tcelectronic.com
 TWA LITTLE DIPPER
Envelope Filter Pedal
Godlyke (makers of affordable dedicated power supplies) have announced the launch of their new line of boutique effect pedals, Totally Wycked Audio (but that sounds stupid so we’ll just go with TWA). They claim the company will produce “unique and esoteric effect types that will help set the discerning player apart from the masses”. They are manufactured in the US.
Anyway, the Little Dipper is an envelope-controlled vocal formant filter based on a classic ‘70s circuit. Its dual filters react to playing dynamics, creating peaks and notches that simulate the vowel sounds of human speech. The Little Dipper allows the user to emulate talk boxes, auto-wahs, filters, and phase shifters, as well as creating strikingly vocal wah-sounds. A built-in fuzz circuit emphasises harmonics for a more dramatic effect while dry blend and noise-gate trim pots offer a full-frequency response with ultra-low noise operation.
The Little Dipper features a 16-gauge bent steel chassis with heavy-duty powder coating and eye-catching LED display. It also features mechanical true-bypass switching and comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.
RRP US$300. www.godlyke.com
 BOSS FRV-1
Digital Reverb Pedal
The 1963 Fender Spring Reverb returns as a modern stompbox. A staple sound of rockabilly, country, blues, surf rock and even grunge rock, this tube-driven reverb sound is now available in an affordable, rugged compact pedal. Three classic controls for Dwell, Tone, and Mix allow players to refine their tone, adding buttery warmth or sparkling twang.
Available late July. www.rolandcorp.com.au
 T-REX DGTM
Overdrive Pedal
The DGTM (the Diabolical Gristle Tone Manipulator, to be precise) is a distinctive overdrive that will satisfy many an overdrive connoisseur’s palate. From vintage crunch to modern tweak, the DGTM has it all. It has four controls. Gristle dials in the amount of tasty saturation desired. Tone adjusts the edges of your tone from smooth to crispy. Gravy adjusts the volume of your signal. The toggle switch (retroactively named Flavour) toggles to the right for a “vintage voiced crunchy helping of the sonic main course,” and to the left for a “more compressed gain-wrought onslaught”.
The Gristle pedal line was born in the US as a result of a collaboration between technician Tim Jauernig and guitar player Greg Koch. T-Rex adopted the Gristle pedals and they are now official members of the T-Rex pedal family.
RRP AU$399. www.t-rex-eng.com
 T-REX GRISTLE KING
Boost/Overdrive Pedal
The Gristle King is a combination of the features of the DGTM and the Luxury Drive, offering a wide variety of boost and overdrive possibilities. Besides the controls that are also appearing on the DGTM (Gristle, Tone, Gravy and Flavour) and the Luxury Drive (MORE), the DGTM has two new toggles (Pre/Post and Phat). The Gristle King gives you two effects, plus extra tonal possibilities, in one compact unit.
RRP AU$499. www.t-rex-eng.com
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