The Summer NAMM Show Pedal Review
By Gary NelsonAugust 13, 1998 - This year at the summer NAMM show in Nashville, several cool, retro-style effects were shown. As in the past few years, many manufacturers' new products are based on old ideas or looks. One thing's for sure: the retro sound and look is selling new products faster than free twinkies at an over-eaters anonymous meeting.
At the front of the line in the reissue category was the Sovtek/New Sensor Corporation. This company, founded by Mike Matthews, has been reissuing old Electro-Harmonix effects since the very early 1990's. Mike Matthews figured that if people wanted Big Muffs so desperately from his old company, Electro-Harmonix, then he may as well offer them again from his new company. He was right, and the pedal was a big success. Shortly after, New Sensor/Sovtek brought out the Small Stone phase shifter. It too was a big success. Consequently, each year the company has reissued one of its pedals of the past. Earlier this year, the company created the Q-Tron envelope controlled filter. However, the "funky" dudes of the past needed more.
After being hounded by thousands of people, Matthews decided this year to reissue the famous Bassballs pedal from the late 70's/early 80's. The Bassballs pedal uses twin dynamic filters that track the pick attack at slightly different frequencies. This creates shifting peaks and notches that give a speech-like simulation. The distortion mode on the pedal further enhances the vowel-like overtones. It can be used with either bass guitar or electric. This pedal was at the NAMM show as well as all of Matthews' other Sovtek creations. The Bassballs pedal will retail for less than $100, whereas a vintage Bassballs pedal may set you back several hundred. A brand new pedal, for less money, that almost everyone can afford. Along with that, you get the vintage sound. This philosophy is only part of the key to Matthews success with the company. I spoke with Matthews at the show.
"We want the average guy to be able to buy our pedals," Matthews said. "I want the pedal to be right. To really nail the sound down, like the old one. Sometimes it takes a long time to get it just right. The analog circuitry has a certain warm sound," he continued. The difference between the old and the new was hard to detect. Like the Big Muff and the Small Stone, the Bassballs pedal will be made in Russia, and come in a small wooden box. I personally have owned several Bassballs pedals. I'm a pedal fanatic. The differences are very slight.
The chain of new releases will continue for Sovtek. As Matthews and I continued our conversation, he gave me a tentative pedal release plan.
"Right now we're working on the microsynthesizer and bass microsynthesizer. They will be next, available probably in a few months. Then, we're going to do the Polychorus, Frequency Analyzer, and 16 second delay. These will all be made in America," Matthews said. He also conveyed to me that they will be priced as reasonable as possible. The current market value of a 16 second delay is over $1000. Like a ham sandwich to a starving homeless man, the reissue will be a desperately needed relief for agonized vintage pedal cravers.
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| Ibanez TS-9 DX Tubescreamer |
Watch for these pedals in a store near you. You can visit Sovtek on the web at www.newsensor.com.
Have you ever stomped on your TS-9 Tubescreamer and said, "I wish it had just a little more gain"? Well, the folks at Ibanez may just have the solution for you with their newest product. The TS-9 DX Tubescreamer Deluxe will give you more gain and sustain. Appearing in a slightly darker green paint job and the traditional look of the "9" series pedals, the TS-9 DX will give you all the original controls of a TS-9 - gain, volume, and tone, plus a fourth control, which is a mode selector. The mode selector is a 3 position knob with settings of TS-9, HOT, and TURBO. This baby really screams. Tubescreamer fans will love it. The TS-9 DX carries a $179.95 retail price, a mere $10 more than its fame fabled brother. Sales representative Jim Steiner said, "We're expecting to do really well with this one. A lot of dealers have expressed interest in this one."
Another retro cash in. The Tubescreamer Deluxe model should be available at stores sometime in the late part of August, or early September. You can visit Ibanez on the web at www.ibanez.com.
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| Erogenous Moan |
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| Mold Spore Psychoscumatic Wah |
Stringer industries has produced two new effects that really stand out in their line of wah-wahs under the Snarling Dogs name. The Erogenous Moan and the Mold Spore are two more offerings from the company that really satisfy your psychedelic sound cravings.
The Erogenous Moan is an extremely convincing tape reverse simulator. You can use the pedal as a straight volume pedal, but the main feature of the Moan is its volume/reverse capability. Pushing down on the foot pedal causes the volume to swell. However, at the end of the sweep, the volume cuts off completely. As you reverse the process by bringing your foot back, the volume kicks back in and swells again. The part that makes this pedal sound so convincing is that at the top of the sweep, the volume cuts off with a simulated guitar pick click. You can control the effect yourself in real time. The effect is very real sounding. It comes in a purple finish and the foot pad is in the shape of a foot with the Snarling Dogs label on it. The Erogenous Moan will be available in late September and will carry retail price of $149.95. If you love Jimi Hendrix, then the Erogenous Moan will be a must for your pedal arsenal.
The Mold Spore Psychoscumatic Wah is a combination of the previously released Whine-O-Wah and a ring modulator. The controls are on/off, psych-on/psych-off, a 3-way mode switch between wah settings, preamp volume boost, Freakwincy, Scum Freakwincy Volume, Straight Jacket Volume, Freakwincy switch, and Mold/Spore. It comes in Psychoscumatic Yellow. The sound is so bizarre it's beyond description. It's a sound combined of distortion/fuzz, ring modulation, and wah-wah. You will freak out even the most hard-core psychedelic music makers with this effect. The Mold Spore, according to Stringer officials, has such complex electronics that it will not be available until late this winter. At this point, the retail price has not been established.
Among some of the other releases this year in the wah-wah line from Stringer Industries are the Blues Bawls, the Super Bawl Fire Bawl, the Super Bawl Whine-O, and the Wonder Wah.
The Blues Bawls' controls are on/off, a 3-way wah mode to switch between different wah sounds (White Room, Voo Doo, and Shaft), preamp volume control, blue doo distortion volume/gain, and blue doo distortion overdrive. Use it as a wah, a blue doo tube emulator, or both together. This wah produces a fat low-ended distortion and long frequency sweep to enable the widest tone selection within each mode. This wah will be available in early August with a retail list of $169.95.
The Super Bawl Fire Bawl and Super Bawl Whine-O wah models are like their previously released models, however, they have an added function to make them "super." With these models you get an added control called the Hormone Control. This control enables you to switch back and forth between an aggressive wah setting, or a smoother, conventional cleaner wah sound. You also get the new Twinductor Beef Boost. This is a patent-applied-for feature that involves using two inductors rather than just one. It provides an added wah boost similar to switching from a single coil pickup to a humbucker. Very intense. The Super Bawl Fire Bawl will retail for $119.95, and the Super Bawl Whine-O will list at $154.95.
The Wonder Wah will come in two versions: the Voo Doo sound, or the White Room sound. These will both carry a retail of $74.95. They will also be available from late July to early September. The wah sounds that Stringer Industries creates are very impressive for the money. Each wah comes in a 6 lb. zinc die-cast pedal enclosure - very sturdy. You've got to love the creative names too. If you love wah-wahs, then you need to high tail it down to your local dealer and check one out. You can reach Stringer Industries at 732-469-2882, or visit them on the web at www.snarlingdogs.com.
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| Woolly Mammoth |
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| Seek Wah |
In my opinion, some of the most impressive, and inventive effects at the show came from a young man by the name of Zachary Vex. His company, Z. Vex Effects, is a three man operation. All pedals are made by hand, and hand painted. Famous for the Fuzz Factory pedal, music pros like Robert Fripp, Joe Satriani, Adrien Belew, Billy F. Gibbons, Billy Corgan, and dozens of others have flocked to the company The Fuzz Factory has been a big success. This summer, Z. Vex Effects unveiled two new pedals at the show.
The first is called the Woolly Mammoth. The Mammoth is a massive bass fuzz. A guitarist can use it, but it sounds best with bass; it has super girthy low end. Most players will not want to turn it off. The Woolly Mammoth is available now, and carries a list price of $350. Although his effects are not cheap, they are very well built, rugged, small pedals.
The second pedal is called the Seek-Wah (see my my review here on Harmony Central). This pedal contains a 60's wah-wah with an analog sequencer. This allows up to 8 different wah settings to be stepped through at any tempo. With faster settings it sounds very similar to a tremolo, and it's possible to keep time to music. You can set it for three, six, or eight wahs in a row. Very strange, but yet very useful. Each of the eight tiny knobs has its own led light to show when it's functioning in the sequence. Retail on the Seek-Wah is also $350. This is a beautiful sounding and looking pedal. It is sure to be a big success.
Since the company is so small, and dedicated to making each pedal by hand, one at a time, there is a long backorder. Some dealers have some of the previously released pedals by Z.Vex, but the new ones may be a little while. You can also get these straight from Zachary, or he can direct you to a dealer. Contact Z.Vex at 612-374-5047, or at zvex@bitstream.net.
Although there were other pedals by some of the other companies, these pedals struck me as the most impressive and are probably going to be the most successful of the pedals previewed at the show. The retro style, vintage sounding pedals are shaping the way of the immediate future for pedal manufacturers.
Gary Nelson (gnelson@harmony-central.com) has been actively buying and collecting pedals for over eight years and has owned almost every vintage pedal at one time or another. He invites you to ask him any questions about vintage pedals or how they compare to the reissues.
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