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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
 Posted - 01/09/2010 : 04:23:56
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Formerly known as the "VSG", the VSW Swell pedal is an SG-1 you can use and abuse.
All the pedals in the first small production run are now sold (thank you!), and I am going to do a larger production run later this month/early February. The early manufacture ones are getting good reviews from the folks who have them.
Let me know if you would like one and I'll put your name on one in the upcoming production run.
Sound samples and desription now on www.lauriepedals.com
Price to BossArea members is $120 plus shipping ($12 to Canada and the lower 48 - other destinations can be quoted).
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Edited by - Laurie on 04/01/2010 07:33:53 |
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natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2010 : 08:03:27
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Hey Laurie, please sign me up for one.
I'm enjoying your HZD and TLM pedals so much I think I need one of these too! ...and I know it's probably been said somewhere else on the forum already, but when is your phaser going into production?
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2010 : 18:44:34
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Hi natthu! Thanks mate, I'll tag one for you!
The phaser is "coming"... the development time for each of these pedals is about 6 months to ensure the design is spot-on, and the phaser is about 2 months along. I'd say April-ish will see the first production run.
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Mansun
Gold Member
Spain
564 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 03:10:28
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| and what about a compressor? Is that too hard to do? Is it on your list? |
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natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 03:34:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
The phaser is "coming"... the development time for each of these pedals is about 6 months to ensure the design is spot-on, and the phaser is about 2 months along. I'd say April-ish will see the first production run.
The wait will be worth it I'm sure. It's better to take your time and produce a quality product than to rush development and make an average one  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 03:34:37
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Ah... yes! A compressor is on the list. I'm thinking later in the year. Not sure what it will look like yet, but I'd aim for something as good as the Keeley 4-knob compressor, but at www.lauriepedals.com prices.
I'll need help getting the "musicality" of a compressor right... Anyone can make a compressor, but the "tone"... that's the hard part. Like the HZD Boost pedal - anyone can make a booster, but it took a LOT of effort and time to get the tone just right on the HZD.
I may ask folks on here to evaluate prototypes if you are willing?
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natthu
Gold Member
Australia
756 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 10:07:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
I may ask folks on here to evaluate prototypes if you are willing?
You can sign me up for that if the need arises! |
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RONanFEZ
Bronze Member
USA
85 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 13:11:08
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Hey Laurie, please sign me up for one.  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/10/2010 : 17:20:51
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quote:
Originally posted by RONanFEZ
Hey Laurie, please sign me up for one.
Thanks! Will do  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2010 : 04:07:35
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G'day! Well, its been interesting selling a few of these pedals.
For those folks with one on order, and those folks who are thinking of ordering one, I would like to provide the following straight-talk so that you know what you are getting with this pedal. I have an untouched vintage SG-1 that I have a lot of experience with, and all the VSW Swell pedals I've ever made have been the same.
This is not a pedal for the feint-hearted. The most important thing to know is that used SG-1 pedals are expensive because they are rare, not because they are �vintage-and-awesome�. They are rare because nobody bought them way back when they were made, and there are reasons for that�
1) Only one of the knobs changes the sound of the pedal. Although there are two knobs on the pedal (�sensitivity� and �attack�), only the attack actually changes the sound of the pedal. The sensitivity knob is used to match the pedal to the output level of the instrument connected � it is essentially a set-once-then-forget kind of control, it is not a control that you would use dynamically to change the character of the sound.
TECH TALK
The sensitivity knob is used to control the gain of the gating amplifier in the pedal (the gating amplifier is what drives the FET to swell the volume). Modern guitar pickups have high output and they drive the gating amplifier properly with very little gain needed � usually setting the sensitivity control to around 9 o�clock is about right. Increasing the sensitivity will eventually saturate the gating amplifier and the swell effect will be lost
2) The attack control is somewhat limited. It only goes out to about 300ms. There is nothing that can be done about this � it is part of the original design. 300ms gives a nice bit of a swell, but not as much as you might expect (300ms is about the time it takes to say the word "and" if you say it quickly). Also, it is hard to tell the difference between 300ms (knob fully clockwise) and 150ms (knob at 12 o'clock) - so the attack control seems like it doesn't do much.
3) The pedal does not track as well as you might expect. Longer attack times will require slower picking, possibly with gaps between the notes.
TECH TALK
The gating amplifier works by taking the guitar signal and converting it into a DC control voltage for the FET. The swell effect works by the gating amplifier increasing the control voltage on the FET from zero to maximum. Because the gating amplifier is controlled by the guitar signal, the only way the FET can �return to zero� to restart the swell effect is if the guitar signal is very low or better yet silent. The absolute KEY is to set the sensitivity appropriately. Set the sensitivity as low as possible � this will ensure the gating amplifier is not saturated and that it will be easier to �return to zero� between notes.
So, when using longer attack times, careful adjustment of the sensitivity will be required to get the best results. You will have to really dig in with the picking though.
In summary, it is a bit of a challenging pedal but many people love it and it does sound very interesting if you persevere. |
Edited by - Laurie on 02/15/2010 19:41:28 |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 06:25:50
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Thanks everyone who has one on order for your patience! The next production run is only days away from completion!
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nathanscribe
Silver Member
United Kingdom
376 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 11:19:27
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| Wow. Nice work on the PCBs Laurie. |
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Mansun
Gold Member
Spain
564 Posts |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 11:44:06
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Very nice!
I was becoming a little obsessed about getting a CS-2 pronto, but, after reading about your next project I think I'd be sorry not to wait until later in the year, when you have your own compressor. Sadly I can't be a tester 'cos of the distance, but I'd love to hear from those lucky ones who get to taste them.
Stomp on the light!  |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 14:40:11
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The hearts of the beast:
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Old... ignore
