Guitar Pedal X – News – PastFX releases 3 killer limited and rarified evolved classic editions

Best in ClassBest of BrandsBoostBoost and OverdriveChorus and VibratoDelayDouble TrackingEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFlangerKlone and Transparent OverdriveModulationODR Style OverdrivePastFXTubescreamer Style Overdrive+-

Verlie has outdone herself once more – with 3 more killer takes on notable vintage effects – utilising the same rarified components as those originals.

For her Klon take – she has removed a number of previously core circuit elements which can otherwise generate excess noise for some players. In removing those trouble-making parts – she has delivered an utterly unique take on the Klon – which she further enhances with 2-Band EQ, and an extra Presence switch. It has the usual Buffered Bypass switch – here as an unmarked push-button.

Verlie has somewhat ironically included a rare Reticon SAD1024 BBD Chip in this ’Retiklon’ pedal – but it’s not connected to anything – it’s purely there decoratively and ironically – as a super desirable cork-sniffer style component! Perhaps she will later bring out a pedal that you can slot said BBD into! It’s good to see she’s still having fun with all of this! The actual OpAmp here is an OPA2134.

I imagine this concept emerged somewhat along the following lines. I believe Verlie was already working on a Klone concept and needed a name for it. I would guess the thought process iterated through several verbal concepts :

Reticon > Reticon Klon > Retiklon etc. – and therefore the inclusion of an actual Reticon BBD was suggested by the moniker – at least that is what makes the most sense to me!

The second pedal is one that I’ve been chasing for a while – Verlie originally just made some for a few close friends – which then kind of leaked out – and I spotted one and wanted one – so she expanded the offer out to a slightly wider circle of her friends. I feel very privileged to be part of that esteemed group.

The OG-1 famously features that celebrated original Boss OD-1 14-pin / 14-leg OpAmp Chip which is next to uobtanium now – the JRC3403. Vitalii featured a different variant of that in his Khelnytskyi OD take same chip essentially just different branding, while Verlie has managed to track down a handful of those super rare parts. For these releases those will always be the limiting factor – there’s just not that many left to go around.

The 3rd of this set is the most versatile one yet – in delivering fully Analog BBD Double Tracking and Slapback Delay, Chorus and Vibrato, Flanging, and Sweepable Matrix Filter. It utilities 2 rare Panasonic / Matsushita MN3007 BBD’s – and sounds utterly sumptuous! This underlines why I call Verlie ’The Queen of Modulation’ – this is such a fantastic Swiss-Army Knife of a Modulation – and it truly sounds exceptional.

I’m wowed by each of these – all stellar truly – as I’ve come to expect from Verlie. She is a unique talent for sure. And I’m so honoured to be part of her orbit.

You can get the Poly Chorus on the Past FX Reverb.com Store now – where it goes for $319. The OG-1 and Retiklon are largely on invitation only, while a tiny number may eventually appear on the All Things Strings! Reverb.com Store – which is solely targeted at Americans.

We have some brief details on each below – where I will be doing full reviews on each pedal over the next few weeks. They’ve really only just landed – and I’ve literally just had the one proper session with them – which was enough to blow my socks off – and contribute toward this introductory feature. I am genuinely excited by this release. The OG-1 will feature in a different roundup article I’ve been working on for a while!

Retiklon Super-Klone – $POA

Controls – Treble, Presence : Stock / Additional High Frequencies, Bass, Output, Bypass : True / Buffered, Gain.

Power – 18-24V DC [-] 55mA

So far I mostly prefer this one with the Presence Off, and the Buffered Bypass applied!

There is no demo for this pedal yet – I will add one as soon as it materialises!

OG-1 Super/OverDrive (OD-1 + SD-1) – $POA

Controls – Level, Mode : OD / SD, Gain, Presence : Stock / Additional High Frequencies, Tone, Clipping : Asymmetrical / Symmetrical, Bass : Bass Boost / Stock / Bass Cut.

Internal Trimmer for LED Brightness / Intensity.

Power – 9V DC [-] 80mA

I was the most excited about the 14-pin OD-1 Chip, while my favourite voicing turns out to be the SD-1 one – mostly with stock settings!

There’s a marked difference in output profiles with the SD-1 take somewhat significantly louder – sounds wholly exceptional though!

Poly Chorus (V2 Echoflanger!) : Analog BBD Double Tracking and Slapback Delay, Chorus and Vibrato, Flanging, and Sweepable Matrix Filter – $319

Controls – Rate, Modulation Width, Tune (Delay Time / Filter Sweep), Feedback, Wet/Dry Blend/Mix, Mode : DoubleTrack, Chorus / Vibrato (Blend CCW), Flange, Filter Matrix.

Internal Controls – Input Filter ± : Stock / Adjust, Threhold Trimmer, Level Trimmer. All other Trimmers are for factory setup only! – touch those at your own peril!

Power – 18V DC [-] 80mA.

Verlie bought out an earlier Echoflanger model – which is largely the same circuit – the Poly Chorus is an updated variant with some very slightly additional features. Core sounds are almost identical (The Poly Chorus is prettier too!) – hence the use of the Echoflanger demo above – which is the only one to date.

I’ve had a quick session with this – and I was particularly impressed by the Chorus and Flanger voicings – very classic sounding, with some useful enhancements.

Full reviews of each of these coming up over the next 3 weeks – at the rate of one a week! This article is just an overview / introduction / teaser!