Tone Report Weekly 178 | Page 12

I firmly believe that Multivox ’ s Big Jam pedals are some of the best pedals ever made . They feature an ultra-sensitive “ air switch ,” a bi-color LED , sliders for knobs , a super-cool lowprofile look , and chiefly , they all sound excellent . The Spit Wah is probably my favorite envelope filter ever made , narrowly edging out a vintage Mu-Tron III at about a third of the size . The only problem with the Big Jam line is that exotic effects enthusiasts will end up paying an arm and a leg for some of Multivox ’ s more esoteric offerings . Try finding a Jazz Flanger or Parametric EQ for cheap
The ‘ 70s brought the octaver to the pedal world with the Conn Multi-Vider , Maestro Octave Box and the Electro-Harmonix Octave Multiplexer . Back then , such a concept was groundbreaking ( wow , two voices at once !), but “ groundbreaking ” is rarely synonymous with and you ’ ll be looking a while . With that said , the cream of the crop is the Space Driver .
The circuit board of the Space Driver is packed to the brim with components and not one square centimeter is left unused . Though the control names suggest “ expansion ” within the sound , what is actually happening is that the Space Driver is outfitted with a modified Ross Compressor up front , which feeds into
“ streamlined ” and guitar octavers stumbled around in the dark with outstretched hands for two decades . The 20-year span of offerings gave us one octave down , sometimes two , or the typical ‘ 60s-style transformer- an overdrive circuit . The overdrive circuit is wonderful crunchy and sticking a compressor right in front helps you dial in some exquisite dynamics . Think about how many companies have effectively streamlined the Tube Screamer or Big Muff and you ’ ll soon realize what a difference they impart onto the source material . The Space Driver was one such box .

Multivox Big Jam Space Driver

I firmly believe that Multivox ’ s Big Jam pedals are some of the best pedals ever made . They feature an ultra-sensitive “ air switch ,” a bi-color LED , sliders for knobs , a super-cool lowprofile look , and chiefly , they all sound excellent . The Spit Wah is probably my favorite envelope filter ever made , narrowly edging out a vintage Mu-Tron III at about a third of the size . The only problem with the Big Jam line is that exotic effects enthusiasts will end up paying an arm and a leg for some of Multivox ’ s more esoteric offerings . Try finding a Jazz Flanger or Parametric EQ for cheap

Pearl Octaver

The ‘ 70s brought the octaver to the pedal world with the Conn Multi-Vider , Maestro Octave Box and the Electro-Harmonix Octave Multiplexer . Back then , such a concept was groundbreaking ( wow , two voices at once !), but “ groundbreaking ” is rarely synonymous with and you ’ ll be looking a while . With that said , the cream of the crop is the Space Driver .
The circuit board of the Space Driver is packed to the brim with components and not one square centimeter is left unused . Though the control names suggest “ expansion ” within the sound , what is actually happening is that the Space Driver is outfitted with a modified Ross Compressor up front , which feeds into
“ streamlined ” and guitar octavers stumbled around in the dark with outstretched hands for two decades . The 20-year span of offerings gave us one octave down , sometimes two , or the typical ‘ 60s-style transformer- an overdrive circuit . The overdrive circuit is wonderful crunchy and sticking a compressor right in front helps you dial in some exquisite dynamics . Think about how many companies have effectively streamlined the Tube Screamer or Big Muff and you ’ ll soon realize what a difference they impart onto the source material . The Space Driver was one such box .
12 TONE TALK // Gold Among Fools : 8 Killer Pedals from the Far East ’ s Clone Boom