Effects Bay

When I look for pedal deals, the first criteria is obviously price. If it’s a good price… it’s a good deal. But sometimes I look at the bang-for-the-buck option as well. Sometimes you’ll see really nice deals with bundles. Basically, I like to see price on the pedal bundle to match the pedal cost alone at other stores. With a bundle you’ll get free items with the pedals. Usually cables, etc. Well, I found one, and this time it’s the TC Electronic Dark Matter pedal bundle.

In this bundle you will get the TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion, 2 10′ instrument cables, 2 patch cables and pick card for only $129.00 at Amazon. Normally, you find the pedal alone for $129.00, so you can think of it as free cables and pick card. This also ships free with super saver shipping.

So here is the official description of the TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion pedal:

The TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal aims to give you that powerful, super-musical roar of an early Plexi – a sound that will satisfy even the pickiest players out there.

From cleans with an attitude and warm bluesy tones to a crunch with grit for days and fully saturated lead sounds full of harmonics and overtones, it’s all here and instantly available by riding your guitar’s volume knob. Dark Matter distortion is built from the highest-grade components, features an easy-access battery hatch and has a conveniently small footprint.

Dark Matter Distortion defines instant gratification and will become the go-to pedal on your board for distortion. Initially, you simply plug it in and start rocking, but its many great sounds will have you playing with it for years to come. From bluesy crunch to full-on vintage cranked, but always very musical distortion sounds, this pedal was designed for the guitarists that like things a bit (or very) dirty. Featuring an all-analog circuit, dual-band tone controls, level and drive knobs and a voicing switch to tweak the bass response, you are set from creamy leads over riff-heavy stadium rock to modern, angst-ridden grunge.

By ramping up the voltage to more than 3-4 times the amount of your typical drive pedals, a dramatic increase is achieved in terms of headroom and dynamics. There is plenty of gain to suit any kind of musical style, but the sound always stays very open and clear and it will never get muddy or cover up your playing.

Instead, Dark Matter Distortion has a very open character, no matter if you use it as a slight ‘AC/DC-ish’ crunch or as a full-blown, fire-breathing dragon, this pedal will always let your playing shine through. All Dark Matter Distortion will do to your sound is add degrees of distortion and leave your precious tone alone.

Here is a video by tcelectronic talking about the Dark Matter Distortion:

You can pick up TC Electronic Dark Matter pedal bundle for only $129.00 at Amazon.

Popularity: 4%

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This is one of the pedals I was quite excited to see come through the EffectsBay office. It’s the Spaceman Effects Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive. Brandon at Elevation Boutiques (Spaceman Effects dealer) arranged for a unit to be sent here. Spaceman Effects has really been getting some buzz for their pedals. High build quality. High tone quality, and some big names are starting to be seen with Spaceman Effects. I’ve definitely been seeing them pop up on boards. In fact, when I just had a chance to see The Appleseed Casts, I saw the Aphelion on one of their pedalboards.

So, let’s talk about the Aphelion. Checking out Spaceman’s site, this is their official description of the Aphelion Harmonic Overdrive:

Introducing the Aphelion Overdrive, the latest Spaceman tone machine, built to inspire.   The Aphelion is a harmonically rich overdrive pedal, with an emphasis on even-order harmonics.  It has a wide gain range from light sparkle, to overdriven tube-amp bliss.  The pedal is wonderfully transparent and extremely responsive to playing dynamics.  To our ears, it’s the most realistic tube-amp overdrive tone we’ve ever heard in a pedal.

In standard Spaceman fashion, we’ve come up with an exciting, unique design that makes it truly one of the most organic and dynamically responsive overdrive pedals on the planet.  The Aphelion creates unique drive tones and with a sea of cloned overdrive circuits out there today, this means so very much.

The drive possibilities of the Aphelion range from a sparkly, shimmering boost to high-gain overdrive, with plenty of boosting power on tap.  The tone control lets you balance highs and lows, with full range at 12:00.  Use your neck pickup with high gain settings for singing, harmonic-laden lead tones.

Completely hand-soldered and handmade in Portland Oregon, the Aphelion utilizes true-bypass switching via the heaviest duty mechanical footswitch available.  Open one up and you’ll see an unparalleled display of craftsmanship.  Thick, high quality PCB along with detailed military-spec wiring, using vintage US made heavy-gauge stranded wire.  On top of the USA-cast aluminum enclosure sits a durable, engraved vinyl faceplate and clear jewel indicator with turquoise LED.  This overdrive is built to last a lifetime.

My first initial thoughts when playing the overdrive… it is damn organic, with great tonal range/options. For this demo, I called my buddy Jimmy again… who in fact already owns an Aphelion (blue) and was quite familiar with the pedal. He’s playing his trusty Les Paul Elegant Custom Shop guitar into his new Germino Lead 55 head through a Marshall 4×12 cabinet. He mic’d the cab with Fathead Ribbon Mic and a Shure SM57. There is nothing between the guitar and amp besides the Spaceman Aphelion Overdrive.

For this video, I was able to gear up and get a better camera/lights for the shoot. I shot Jimmy to prove he’s not a artificial crazy rock robot I built.. but an actual person!

You can listen to the high quality MP3 clip via SoundCloud

Since Jimmy was quite familiar with this pedal, I asked to send me his thoughts on the Spaceman Aphelion Overdrive:

Aphelion is smooth and thick sounding across the gain spectrum.  The even order harmonic content gives chords a dense and complex sound, single notes and lead lines are fat and juicy.  The midrange is even and balanced.  The tone control allows for gentle shaping of the lows and low mids, with noon on the dial sounding neutral.  Counterclockwise of noon, the tone control shaves lows and low mids letting the true mids punch through more prominently.  Full clockwise on the tone knob produces chewy low mids and extremely fat lead tones with an explosive low end quality while maintaining clarity.  The Aphelion has plenty of gain for use with a clean amp, but also works equally as well pushing a gained up amp into big time gain approaching EH “Muff” tones, but with a refined voice and musicality. – Jimmy Rolle

As you can hear, this pedal sounds absolutely great. If you’re interested in getting your hands on one, they range in price depending on what particular model you get. They range in the $269 – $279 area. Head over to Elevation Boutiques and contact Brandon and he’ll treat you right. Also, you might want to follow Elevation Boutiques on Twitter and like them on Facebook. They often announce great deals on awesome pedals. Be sure to check out Spaceman Effects as well!

Popularity: 4%

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Just received an email from Musiquip (US distributor of T-Rex) letting me know that T-Rex just made an announcement regarding their Chameleon FuelTank Power Supply, and wanted to pass on the info. The basic jist is that they’re lowering the prices on these units, which is great for us guys/gals that are looking to power pedals!

Here is the Official Press Release:

T-Rex Lowers Price of its FuelTank Chameleon Power Supply

November 2011 – Musiquip, the US distributor of Danish guitar effects pedal manufacturer T-Rex Engineering, announces a reduction in the price of the FuelTank Chameleon power supply. The new suggested retail price of the FuelTank Chameleon is $209 (was $249).

Originally launched in early 2010, the FuelTank Chameleon is the most versatile power supply T-Rex has ever made. With six outputs and four different voltage options, it can power just about any guitar pedal ever produced!

* 6 separate outlets (up to 5 can be used simultaneously)
* Your choice of 9V DC, 12V DC, 18V DC or 12V AC power
* Isolated, 300mA outlets (1,500mA total)
* Switchable 115V / 230V mains
* Thorough selection of connector cables
* Compact, rugged, road-ready design
* Legendary T-Rex quality

I found this great video by TRexEffects that goes into detail about this power supply. I also liked how it explains output voltage and milliamps (mA). This is useful to know when dealing with the amount of power all the pedals require and to see if you’re starving yourself or not:

For more information on the FuelTank Chameleon, check out T-Rex’s product page.

Popularity: 4%

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Looks like everyone is extending their Cyber Monday sales. Musician’s Friend just sent over an email with some updates on their sales. Some pretty good ones going on.

Marshall Amp Blowout – Up to 50% Off MSRP! (details here)

Rebates on Fender American Standard guitars/basses and select Squier Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe guitars/basses.11/1/11-12/31/11 (details here)

Cyber Monday Sale! Save up to $100! Use Coupon Code CM2011. Valid 11/27/11-11/30/11. (details here)

Door Buster Deals with Musician’s Friend! (details here)

Popularity: 3%

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Okay metal heads.. this one is for you! I came across this nice deal on the MXR M116 Fullbore Metal pedal. This is probably one of the best all around *metal* pedals out there. It’s a swiss army knife of metal guitar tones with built in EQ for scooping the mids. Insane gain and a built in noise gate to keep things tight. The MXR Fullbore Metal lists for $169.99, and you usually see it available for $100, but is currently on sale at Amazon for $80.56. This pedal also ships with FREE super saver shipping.

Here is the official description of the MXR M116 Fullbore Metal pedal:

Ultimate riff power is yours with the FullBore Metal Distortion pedal from MXR. This compact but powerful device is all you need to unleash the most devastating contemporary metal guitar tones ever heard. The FullBore pedal turbo-charges your guitar signal with lethal amounts of ultra high gain. This is combined with a built-in Noise Gate to knock out the noise associated with extreme gain levels while also adding definition and tightness to syncopated metal riffs.Extensive EQ controls, with Bass, Mid, sweepable Mid-Freq and Treble knobs let you sculpt your tone with fiendish precision. The additional Scoop switch provides an instant high and low frequency boost thatll rumble the room while also adding clarity. Available from MXR, the world leader in analog pedal technology.

So to get a taste of what this guy is all about, here is the official demo video by jimdunlopusa:

Again, the MXR M116 Fullbore Metal pedal is available for only $80.56 at Amazon.

Popularity: 4%

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This is an interesting deal. It’s for the Seymour Duncan SFX-02 Tweak Fuzz. This pedal lists for $149.00, and I’ve always seen it available for $99.95 everywhere, but recently the price has been slashed to $39.99 at Amazon. com. I’m not sure if the pedal has been discontinued or not, if you know, please let me know by commenting below. This is definitely a great fuzz for that price.

Here is the official description of the Seymour Duncan SFX-02 Tweak Fuzz:

The Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz? is a most unique fuzz pedal that incorporates a six position “Tweak” switch to voice your fuzz tone the way that you want it. The basic tone will be familiar to players who remember the rich, lush, vintage fuzz tones used at the big ’60s pop festivals. But with the addition of the Tweak switch, you can create a myriad of totally unique fuzz tones making this one of the most versatile pedals for electric guitar and bass.   Tweak Control Engages one of six pre-set EQ resonances that give an overall “flavor” to the Tweak Fuzz, rolling off the bottom end and influencing the behavior of the gain control. Each of the six frequencies was chosen and voiced to enhance rich harmonies and bring out the most flattering qualities of your guitar or bass.   Gain Control Controls the amount of square wave clipping distortion. It can go from mildly distorted to all-out fuzz fury.   Volume Control Sets the overall volume to the optimum level. Whether you want to set it to match the bypassed signal or whether you want a big boost when you engage your Tweak Fuzz?: it’s your decision.   True Bypass Removes the circuit from your guitar’s signal chain, allowing your guitar’s signal pass through the Tweak Fuzz? without affecting your tone or gain.   Versatile The Tweak feature allows you to voice the box to your tone preference. Works with guitar or bass.

I also found this video by willievega demonstrating the fuzz:

Again, you can pick up the Seymour Duncan SFX-02 Tweak Fuzz for only $39.99 at Amazon.com. That’s a great price!

Popularity: 3%

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The following is a guest review by Kevin Ian. If you are interested in writing a guest review, please contact me!

Hello!

I was contacted by Todd of Grumpy Toad FX recently and he asked if I wanted to try a new build he has been working on. It is a build of The Shoctave, a mix of a Fuzzy Overdrive and Octave down circuit. Todd is the first to say that while it is NOT an original design of his, he does now offer it to people who are interested in the pedal.

Plugging into this pedal, I noticed a few things:

The dirt section of this pedal is peculiar. If it’s a fuzz, it’s a very tame-almost overdrive in character-fuzz. However, if it’s an overdrive, then it’s very fizzy in character. Think Blues Driver with Big Muff tendencies. I really like the sound and it got along with my P90′s perfectly. This pedal might be a bit too dark for humbuckers.

The Gain section brings the dirt from a slightly dirty boost to full on raging fuzz. It stacks decently with other pedals, though I would recommend this pedal first in your chain as with most fuzz. I found the middle gain the most useful, as it was touch-sensitive with enough dirt to make chords interesting and single-note lines sing.

The Mix section is where you can blend between the dirt, the octave down, and any combination in between. Where most pedals with octave down capabilities don’t track well, this one does. It’s not a practical effect for chords, but it works well with single-note runs and some power-chord applications. That being said, those who love a splatty sound will enjoy the gain dimed with some octave mixed in.

I have included a video that shows the range of the pedal. This is a pedal I recommend for people who want to experiment with their sound and have not entered the realm of octave down effects.

Todd at Grumpy Toad is a stand-up guy and his work is always well-done and professional. Even if this pedal is not to your liking, he has other things in his arsenal that will appeal to your tone needs. I own four of his pedals that have taken permanent residence on my board!

You can find Grumpy Toad here

Kevin Ian is a multi-instrumentalist who is more known for his work in The
Common Men. You can find their latest album “Let it Burn” via iTunes,
Amazon, CD Baby and Bandcamp. For more information, please visit
http://www.thecommonmen.tk or http://www.facebook.com/thecommonmen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHWAejfYrwM

–
The Common Men. Nor-Cal Post-Punk Vanguards
New Album “Let it Burn” Out NOW! http://thecommonmen.bandcamp.com

Popularity: 3%

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Remember to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals today. There are a ton! A perfect time to get some gear, and save some dough!

Musician’s Friend:
Cyber Monday!
Save up to $100! Use Coupon Code CM2011. Valid 11/28/11-11/29/11. (view full details here).

Guitar Center:
Cyber Monday!
10% off Single Item or 12% off $199; 15% off $299 (up to $500 discount)! Use Coupon Code: CYBRMN. Valid 11/28/11-12/1/11. (view full details here)

Music123:
Cyber Monday!
Deals & Doorbusters + 15% off any single item! Use Coupon Code: MEGA15. Valid 11/27/11 – 11/28/11. (view full details here)

Amazon:
Official Cyber Monday Deal Center at Amazon. Click here for details.

Other deals on the web:
Porter Pickups ($25 off your order with Coupon Code: cyber) Click Here
Music Gear Fast (15% off your entire order) Click Here
Station Guitars (20% off all in stock goods) Click Here
Lotus Pedals (25% off any Lotus Pedal until midnight) Click Here
Elevation Boutiques (10% off sale on almost everything) Click Here
Noise Maker Effects (20% off all of their pedals) Click Here
Walrus Audio (20% off Voyager and Iron Horse Pedals. put in coupon code: “cyber“) Click Here

If you’re a dealer, etc and wanted to be included in this list, please send me a tweet at @EffectsBay with the details. If you don’t have a Twitter account, shoot me an email via the contact form and I’ll include you.

Popularity: 4%

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A few weeks ago I came across a video by pigtronix which has Trace Foster (Joe Perry’s guitar tech) talking about Joe’s 2011 touring rig for Aerosmith. I’ve showcased Joe Perry’s pedals in the past, but it looks like he’s made some changes from those earlier posts. I think the only thing that remains from the older pedal shots is his classic gold Klon Centaur.

Here is the video by pigtronix:

Here is the break down of pedals.

Pedal Tray One:

TC Electronic Hall of Fame Reverb
TC Electronic Corona Chorus
TC Electronic Vortex Flanger
Aviation Effects “B-17″ Boost
Klon Centaur Overdrive (gold)
Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+

Pedal Tray Two:

Pigtronic Disnortion
MXR Carbon Copy
TC Electronic Flashback Delay
B&M Fuzz Unit
DC Brick Power Supply

Please let me know if anything is missing or is incorrect by contacting me or commenting below

Popularity: 10%

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Cyber Monday is happening now.. even though it’s not Monday yet. This is a great time to buy a TC Electronic Polytune Tuner! These tuners are fantastic and are really becoming the most popular tuners on the market today. These tuners list at $149, and are usually available for $99, but is currently on sale for $74.99. $25 dollars off, is a great opportunity to pick one up for yourself, or as a gift.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the TC Electronic Polytune Poly-Chromatic Tuner, here is the official description (partial):

Polytune is a brand new pedal from TC Electronic that utilizes patented polychromatic tuning technology to show guitar and bass players an entirely new way to tune their instruments. With the addition of strobe and needle modes, players will enjoy extremely accurate tuning as well as a true bypass circuit. Let the Tuninig commence!

Tuning used to be a necessary evil. The last barrier before you could get truly rocking. But now, tuning is ready to get blasted into the 21st century with PolyTuneTM, the stomp-box sized tuning miracle from TC Electronic!

PolyTuneTM is the world’s first polyphonic tuner, and a game-changing total tuning turnaround that will have future guitarists wondering how we ever got by without it.

It couldn’t be done – until we did it
The magic lies in a never before seen approach to tuning aimed at speed, accuracy and ease of use. With PolyTuneTM, you simply strum all strings on your guitar or bass at once, and it will immediately tell you which strings need tuning! This cutting-edge tuning technology revolutionizes the way you tune and accomplishes what has been deemed ‘impossible’ until now: tuning all strings simultaneously! It really is as simple as strum – tune – rock, and this quantum leap forward allows you to get in tune fast, and back to doing what you love: playing.

Strum – Tune – Rock
Providing an instant overview of the pitch of all your strings, PolyTuneTM is an invaluable tool in live-settings, where it is essential to be in tune quickly and ready to play. Crowds don’t want to wait around, they want to rock, and, let’s face it, so do you. Besides live use, this stomp box will deliver like no other in any situation where you want to get tuning out of the way and focus on play.

Here is the official video for the polytune by tcelectronic:

Again, the TC Electronic Polytune Poly-Chromatic Tuner is on sale for $74.99 at Amazon.

REMINDER:

Also, remember to enter the Perfect Square Hyperslicer give away before it’s too late! Details here.

Popularity: 3%

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