Empress

Empress
Vintage
Modified
Superdelay
PRICE: £389
ORIGIN: Canada
TYPE: Delay pedal
FEATURES: True-bypass,
tap tempo, 8 presets
CONTROLS: See website
FOOTSWITCHES: Ta p
tempo, presets, bypass
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output,
exp pedal input
POWER: 9-12V DC adaptor
(300mA) supplied
DIMENSIONS: 145 (w) x
100 (d) x 70mm (h)
T
he Vintage Modified Superdelay
is a tweaked version of the
standard Superdelay pedal with
enhancements to the tape delay
emulations. You get several delay types,
including reverse, a rhythm mode where
you can set the intervals between
multitap repeats with the tap tempo
footswitch, and a looper. Each delay type
also has three selectable variations. The
tape delay mode has standard tape delay,
tape delay emulating an old machine
with wow and flutter and tape delay
from a tape that’s past its best. All repeats
can have either top or bottom end rolled
off with a filter switch and can have slow
or fast modulation applied. Come across
a sound you really like and you can save it
– the pedal has eight preset slots – and
you can plug in an expression pedal to
control delay mix or feedback.
Verdict
I t’s expensive, but it’s a practical all-
round delay with a range of sounds,
including some of the best single-head
tape echo emulations around.
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Multi-faceted delay with
great tape echo emulations
Empress
Nebulus
PRICE: £259
ORIGIN: Canada
TYPE: Chorus/vibrato/
flanger pedal
FEATURES: True-bypass,
8 presets
CONTROLS: See website
FOOTSWITCHES:
Preset, bypass
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or
9-12V DC adaptor
(300mA)
DIMENSIONS: 114 (w) x
89 (d) x 57mm (h)
A
n all-in-one modulation
stompbox, the Nebulus delivers
chorus, vibe or flange, each with
three variations for a total of nine effects
(basic or multi-chorus, chorus with
tremolo, univibe, vibrato, rotary, tape
flanging, 70s pedal flanger or thru-zero
flanging). On top of that, each can have
a switched tonal character of ‘bright’ or
‘warm’ besides the normal sound, and
can likewise have ‘little’ or ‘lots’ of an
effect-specific modification, such as
regeneration for the flanger. There are
standard rate, depth and output knobs,
plus a mix knob that sets a dry/wet blend.
Eight onboard presets can save all knob
and switch positions, and these can be
scrolled through with the preset
footswitch – each indicated by a
different coloured LED. Chosen well to
cover the most favoured modulation
types for guitar, the sounds are classy,
and offer real flexibility for gigging.
Verdict
A great choice if you want a single pedal
with a relatively small footprint.
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: A modulation get-out-of-
jail card
116 Guitarist February 2015
EMPRESS EFFECTS PEDALS £215-£389
PEDAL ROUND-UP
http://bit.ly/
guitarist390
VIDEO DEMO
GIT390.rev_peds1.indd 116 16/12/2014 18:01