GUITAR FX SECTOR SPOTLIGHT


Pedal to the metal W


ith more music out there than ever before, one of the best ways for musicians to make the


“


Effects units have always been a preferred method of achieving that ‘eureka’ moment.


big time is to offer something a bit different. There are a multitude of ways in which to achieve this, but ‘finding your voice’ is the only sure-fire way of ascending the musical popularity ladder. This might depend on the genre of


music, but experimenting with effects is, and always has been a preferred method for artists seeking the ‘eureka’ moment when that perfect tone is unearthed. The following pages prove that there is


no shortage of gear out there to help musicians seeking this goal, so without further ado, let’s get started. One of the dominant brands in the


effects market is without questions Boss. Roland’s annual Connect launch included two pedals of note, the PS-6 Harmonist and the ST-2 Powerstack. The Boss PS-6 features four intelligent


pitch-shift effects and three-voice harmony in one convenient unit. These include Harmony, Pitch Shifter, Detune and Super Bend capable of three and four octave pitch sweeps.


WWW.MI-PRO.CO.UK The ST-2 delivers a variety of Boss


distortion sounds, from crunch to high- gain based on classic tube amps and pro amp stacks. The Sound knob is a quick way of blending gain and sound character to access vastly different styles. The ST-2 is also equipped with a two-band eq, as well as bass and treble knobs. This highly original pedal incorporates many years of Boss amp modelling research, resulting in a selection of real stack sounds condensed down into a small unit. For a rich selection of amp models (33


in total), from classic vintage models to modern high-gain units, as well as a selection of cabinets and effects, the Tonelab ST from Vox is a good choice in this field. The amp and effect editing sections are totally independent for direct visual editing and a USB port means it can be connected easily to a computer. The Ice 9 pedal is the fourth model to come out of the collaboration between Vox and Joe Satriani. Two distinct overdrive modes (vintage and modern) and the ‘more’ switch help the Ice 9 create its expansive range of tones and it is also a surprisingly easy to use accessory.


The electric guitar is up there with the most versatile of instruments and the best way to take advantage of this is to experiment with the abundance of products in the effects category. Adam Savage enters the tone zone to see what’s out there…


The Korg Pandora PX4D is compatible with both guitars and basses and produces various high quality effects via REMS modelling technology. Up to seven effects can be used simultaneously. Quick editing can be achieved with the knob based interface and its 100 rhythm and bass patterns make it suitable for use with a variety of musical genres. The Japanese Providence brand has an


enviable catalogue of effects related goodies, one of which is the brand new Flame Drive FDR-1F, a versatile overdrive pedal that can deliver sweet, silky overdrive right up to rich distortion. The smallest wah pedal available on the


market, the Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah, was designed as a space-saving solution for those with packed pedalboards. Its 1.5mm rolled steel housing makes it a highly durable piece of kit.


POWER RANGES A range of affordable pedals has recently been made available by Guitar Tech. What the Classic Distortion pedal does is fairly self-explanatory and it includes a simple layout of level, gain and hi and low tone


miPRO JANUARY 2010 47


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