Ocotober 2000

GUYATONE MICRO EFFECTS - BIG RESULTS FROM SMALL BOXES WITH SMALL PRICES

By Stephen Patt

I recently waded deep into some new effects from Guyatone, released by New Jersey's Godlyke. Their Micro Effects Series has high marks for sleek design and quality of workmanship, while keeping costs down. This is arguably the hardest area to compete in, since everybody and his brother has an idea for a stompbox, some ridiculously expensive (but with genuinely crappy sound!), others innovative but too pricey.

These Micros are heads above most of the competition, with advantages like silent switching, heavy construction, and ridiculously small chassis profiles. The sounds are relatively cheap, and are as good as (or better) than many of the vintage pedals they emulate. Take, for instance, the purple SV-2 Slow Volume, a recreation of (or tribute to) the old Boss Slow Gear pedal that now sells for $250, if you can find one. This is essentially a one-trick pony that creates Beatlesque backward guitar effects using voltage control to produce volume swells. The variability of threshold and degree of effect allows for striking sounds, especially using single-note leads, delivering a fluid, wacky sound that recalls George Harrison in his heyday, and just fabulous tones with power chords. The possibilities, while limited to the attack of the signal, are endless - and just plain fun. Kudos to Godlyke for this box, which retails at $119.95.

Next on the hit parade is our favorite, the cool VT-3 Vintage Tremolo. This box has the low-profile refrigerator-white casing, with simple controls for intensity and speed of effect. The comparisons are obvious, and the standards are high right now for trem boxes due to Demeter's Tremulator and onboard trems from Fender, but the Guyatone delivers a gentle pulsing beat, with no background noise on the slow speeds. At faster speeds, the box puts out a slinky tone that is very hip, very authentic. At $99.95 list, this baby will find a place in the hearts and pedalboards of many.

Further down the road is the OD-2 Overdrive, a little fire-engine red pedal that, true to the pattern, has just two controls - Level and Gain. The sound is thick and crunchy, reminiscent of a '50s Les Paul through a HiWatt.

With competition being the toughest around (who doesn't make an overdrive these days?), this little red box creates very convincing distortion, with touch-sensitive voicing and a very satisfying EQ. Again, background noise is low, low, low - critical in this particular pedal. We like it best with a medium-sized combo amp, like the VG test mule, the GT Soul-O 45, cranked, using a nasty single-coil guitar. Nothing better than crunch…and at a list of $89.95, highly affordable.

On to the ST-2 Compressor/Sustainer, which again has stiff competition in the marketplace. The critical elements in quality and usability are transparency of effect and variability of threshold. How many of us have tried a compressor in a guitar shop, only to find that it sounds more than adequate and then live discover that the box squashes the sound way too much, or is too subtle to be heard?

The ST-2 fills the bill admirably, offering choices of switchable limiting, level-boost, or live compression. The background signal-to-noise is favorable, and either direct into a recording system or live with a full band, this green monster did its job well. Chords are strikingly and subtly compressed, and riding the volume control on the guitar, in our case a wonderfully battered loaner '57 Strat all-stock from R. Zach of Antiquarium, gave the capability of strumming even, warm country chords and tweaking the volume up on the guitar for single note work that sounded simple and striking through the GT Soul-O amp. The ST-2 lists for $99.95 and will warm even the coldest amp.

Finally, rounding out the series is the lavender-colored FL-3 Flanger - quite an arsenal all by itself, offering a lovely vibrato, a smooth chorus, and flanging that the Doobie Brothers would be happy with.

In practice, we were not disappointed - the chorusing was somewhat deeper than expected, and sounded heavenly with the Strat, this time through a vintage Magna 12" combo from the '40s, powered by Groove Tubes 6V6s. The other components were even more favorable, especially the vibrato, with a Buddy Holly tone to die for. Love at first site, and only $119.95.

Incidentally, these pedals are widely available through individual mom-and-pop guitar stores like our local supplier - Ken Daniels and Paul Flynn at Santa Monica's True Tone Music.