Photo provided by: Gamechanging Audio
The PLASMA Pedal creates heavy distortion by amplifying an audio signal up to 3500 Volts and transforming it into electrical discharges. You are literally playing a bolt of electricity.
HOW IT WORKS
Rather than relying on traditional LED, transistor or vacuum-tube circuits to produce overdrive, the PLASMA Pedal fundamentally redefines the way that signal clipping can be achieved.
Inspired by Nikola Tesla's electrical resonant transformer circuit design (the Tesla Coil), it is the first effects unit to introduce a new method for signal clipping by converting the input signal into pure electrical discharges.
CREATE A BOLT OF LIGHTNING
The blue light visible on the pedal's front panel is the actual electrical arc created by the audio input as it travels between two electrodes on either end of a specially designed xenon-filled gas discharge tube.
These continuous bursts of electricity are then instantly converted back to the analog audio level using a specialized analog rectifier circuit.
The result is a rich and saturated distortion texture, with screeching sharp overtones, harmonics and sputtery bursts.
UNIQUE HARMONIC SATURATION
The unique noise artifacts created as a byproduct of the high-voltage discharges are uncommon in traditional signal amplification, and therefore PLASMA Pedal’s distortion sound is unlike any other high-gain effects unit.
VOLTAGE CONTROL
You can use the PLASMA Pedal's VOLTAGE knob to change the signal threshold necessary for a connection to be made in the gas discharge tube. This lets you dial in various sweet-spots - ranging from wide-open sustain for days, to chopped, sputtery gated sounds with extreme contrasts between individual notes and chords.
BLEND CONTROL & EQ
THE PLASMA Pedal has a dedicated BLEND knob that lets you combine the PLASMA distortion with your instrument's clean signal or with other effects and gainstages. There is also an extremely powerful on-board EQ section that lets you add a massive LOW or HIGH frequency boost.
The EQ section can be adjusted via a toggle switch to affect either the PLASMA Drive section or both the PLASMA and CLEAN signals. Lifetime Warranty
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The PLASMA Pedal doesn’t come with a free power supply. Gamechanger Audio PLASMA Pedal requires a standard pedal power supply – Barrel plug – 2.1 x 5.5 mm with a center-negative polarity with 9V DC and at least 250 mA.
First impressions are not always the final word.
I opened the Plasma Pedal box, and I discovered an amazing approach to pedal sound and effects. I was sitting there in awe of what I would soon discover. There was a voltage display in the middle of the pedal. It piqued my interest. All the other blend knobs for tone, etc. were kind of standard. However, the voltage knob was not. No stretch of the imagination would you consider implementing an element that would seem to interfere with the organic distortion that you would naturally receive.
The components used for the review are as follows:
The Cream Revolver Deluxe with Seymour Duncan humbuckers, and two single coil pickups.
My Marshal DSL40 Amp. No other pedals from my rig were used as this was going to be a direct test of what this pedal was capable of. I also used an Ernie Ball Patch cable. I knew the plasma pedal was going to be cooking and the last thing I wanted was interference. So, I didn’t use a wireless system. A straight amp cable was needed. Though, I could have used my Xvive Wireless System as well. I probably will follow up this test, with the wireless system for a future article.
My first impression was one of concern. The sound emanating from the amp, reminded me of a wire that was defective. You could also liken it to AM radio broadcasts. At the cost of 399.00 there had to be more to this. The first thought was my expectations. It needed an adjustment. What sound or effect am I expecting? It didn’t take long to SMH, to recall that it’s a distortion pedal on steroids!!!
At that point, I adjusted the blends and reduced the voltage knob to my liking. From that point on, I spent hours working with the Plasma Pedal. Good thing I readjusted my misunderstanding on what this pedal accomplishes. Thus, I have nothing but great things to say about the Plasma Pedal. Let’s read on…
Guitar Thrills Review
What is this pedal filled with lightning strikes? The song from AC//DC comes to mind “TNT”. It is high voltage my friends. The plasma pedal embodies a revolutionary approach to overdrive and distortion. It’s an entirely new and previously unexplored method of achieving signal clipping. It can be said your essentially play a bolt of electricity, and the electrical discharges produced by the pedal. They are instantly converted back into an analog audio signal. Producing a quick, responsive, and extremely powerful distortion. The Plasma pedal has a ton of unique character and plenty of tonal clarify from the original signal.
Guitar Thrills Broadcast
Converting a signal into a rapid series of electric charges results in a large amount of non-liner harmonic saturation that causes extremely rich and responsive attacks. Bring out sharp, screeching overtones & soaring harmonics. They sounds are completely uncommon in traditional signal amplification.
You do not need to use the voltage setting at all. You can switch to the warm clean tones offered by many amp pedals. However, that is not the reason why you purchased the Plasma Pedal. You dig the dedicated blend knob that lets you combine the Plasma distortion with your instruments clean signal or with other effects from gain stages. The Plasma Pedal loses the original Dry input and creates a new audio sign from fluctuations in the electromagnet field surrounding the transformer and the gas-discharge tube.
The Plasma pedal is well endowed, enough to bring out an extremely wide range of frequencies. Often, they are beyond the instrument’s natural capabilities. The standout dial comes from the Voltage dial. It is the heart of the Plasma Pedal. It adjusts the amount of current sent to the xenon tube increasing or decreasing the threshold necessary to for achieving a discharge in the tube. The pedal is not for beginners or intermediate guitar players. The sound maybe annoying if you do not know what you are hearing and how the sound is being generated. This Plasma Pedal is no joke and has revolutionized the pedal market. MSRP is $399.00 and undervalued in price.
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
