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 DIAMON PEDALS are – for me – one of the great effects manufacturers. So you can imagine how excited I was to hear they had a number of new pedals to unveil at NAMM. I recommend heading to www.diamondpedals.com and checking out their samples. They also have a good deal of pictures, diagrams and PDF presentations detailing how they all work. It’s a great read for the tech geeks among us.
DIAMOND PEDALS VIBRATO Analogue Tremolo/Vibrato Effects Pedal The Diamond Vibrato is a dedicated pitch vibrato design using bucket brigade (capacitor) analogue delay technology, along with an output stereo auto-panner stage (which is tremolo in a regular mono guitar setup). This combination of true pitch vibrato and ‘faux vibrato’ tremolo/stereo panning (with LFO speeds either independent or linkable between the stages) allows for creative soundscapes of pitch and amplitude modulation. There are also options for expression control of vibrato depth, vibrato speed and auto-pan speed, while sophisticated relay mode switching allows fast foot-switching between vibrato, tremolo/pan, and vibrato+tremolo/pan modes. Like I said: check out their website, it makes more sense with pictures. The Diamond Vibrato features both mono and stereo true bypass operation. MSRP US$419. Arriving this season. DIAMOND PEDALS MEMORY LANE 2 Analogue Delay Effects Pedal The Memory Lane 2 expands on the innovations of the original Memory Lane, offering several new features requested by users (most of the new features were previously custom shop options) and a new twist that further bridges the feature gap between analogue and digital delays while retaining the warmth and unique sound of bucket brigade delay devices in an all analogue signal path. Players now have the ability to control delay time via an expression pedal input, and footswitch between two independent delay times – one set via the delay knob, the other set using the tap tempo footswitch function. In addition, Diamond have added a dotted 8th note setting for producing rhythmic delays, a la U2. Memory Lanes carry around 550ms of delay time and feature a delay only output for amplifiers with parallel effect loops. Inserting a cable into delay only output jack automatically removes the delay signal from the mix output, giving separate direct only and delay only outputs. There is even an expression pedal input to control feedback level, which makes self-oscillating the Memory Lane 2 far more simple than most delay pedals on the market. You can then shape the feedback with the EQ in real-time. I’m also led to believe you can insert a regular ¼-inch cable in the expression pedal input to add an effect – “or chain of effects” – into the feedback loop. I have no idea what that would sound like, as it’s mentioned almost as a footnote in the documentation, but the possibilities could be endless for crazy oscillation. As with all Diamond pedals, the ML2 is features true bypass switching. Manufacturer Sub-orbital Recommend Price US$599. The only feature I could do without. Shipping very soon. DIAMOND PEDALS PHASE Analogue Phaser Effects Pedal The Diamond Phase is a versatile, selectable 2/6-stage JFET phaser with full control over depth, feedback regeneration and direct-to-phase signal mix level. It has both phase and ”vibe” modes, the latter of which must split the wet/dry signal, as it can also be used as a kill-dry mode with amplifiers that have parallel FX loops. The LFO is an ultra-smooth sinusoidal waveform, meaning that – if graphed – it would look like a sine curve. The LFO speed can be controlled by an expression pedal. The Diamond Phase is true bypass. MSRP US$299. Currently in production. DIAMOND PEDALS ALTER EGO Effects Loop Pedal Details of the Alter Ego a few at the moment, and they subsequently confuse me a little. It sounds like a series effects loop that sits between a stage microphone and a PA. It supposedly caters for both vocalists and guitarists, combining a professional mic channel strip with a relay-switched true bypass interface loop that allows control of a post-mic effects chain. This would be most useful for guitarists using modulation and delay pedals, as it would allow them to run the effects after the amp mic, and therefore increase clarity. Also, the instrument input means the Alter Ego to be used as a DI for bass and acoustic guitars live and in the studio. Diamond are really stressing the idea of the Alter Ego being used by vocalists, which up until now have either had very little control over effects, have been restricted to digital all-in-ones like Digitech’s Vx400, or have generally had to bring a swag of boxes and cables. Still, I’m not particularly confident in there being a market for heavily effected vocals, or if vocalists could even be bothered in the first place. But hey, at least there’s another option. Anyway, the other main features are a stereo headphone output allows experimentation with pedal effects while the signal is muted; a special internal power supply converts a regular 9V negative tip adapter input to a split +/- 15V supply that provides headroom for pro input and output levels; and bi-colour LEDs to provide both function and signal level indications for input and effects return levels. No word on pricing as yet, though apparently arriving this season. DIAMOND PEDALS ROUTER A/B/Both Amp Switcher The Diamond Router is a “soft, momentary-contact, relay-switched true bypass A/B/Both amp switcher” with “smart buffers” on channel B. In single channel mode (signal going to either A or B), channels A and B are always true bypass, but when going to Both (A and B) mode, you have the choice to leave channel B in true bypass, or to select buffering and phase inversion options on channel B whenever both A and B are on simultaneously. This gives the best of both worlds – true bypass on either channel individually, and user selectable impedance buffering and phase correction as needed when both amps are selected simultaneously. MSRP US$219. It arrives sometime this year.
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