Pigtronix Modulated analogue delay
TOTAL GUITAR MAY 2022
94
Y
our pedalboard is full...
Something has to give.
Well, not necessarily, you
can just downsize to mini
pedals. The prospect here
is you’ll still get bonafi de Bucket
Brigade analogue modulated delay
but at reduced real estate.
It’s a reassuringly weighty little
thing, packing in fi ve diff erent
controls to the front panel,
including the Feel button which
gives the Constellator a distinct
calling card in an increasingly
crowded marketplace of delays
vying for your attention.
The two MN3005 BBD chips
inside are contemporary versions
of the Panasonic Bucket Brigade
variant. The potential of the spec is
beautifully degrading repeats and
chaotic oscillation if you want to
push the repeats that way. No
wonder BBD was regarded as the
desirable alternative to larger tape
delay units back in the 70s, and
remains a quirkier and more
characterful option over digital
delay for many players with feted
vintage pedals such as the Boss
DM-2 and Electro-Harmonix
Deluxe Memory still in demand.
This certainly delivers on the
BBD reputation, and the result
is a really versatile little pedal.
The Feel button adjusts several
parameters at once for distinct
chorus and the faster vibrato
modes. The blue light of chorus
adding a warmer, slower sustained
bed to notes and chords that’s
great for jamming on your own
with impressive headroom. As
well as the usual delay suspects
of slapback and vast chasms that
600ms of echo and a wide breadth
of modulation can off er, this is
a great pedal for tremolo-type
sounds, with each mode off ering
two diff erent fl avours and
tape-like character when pushed.
We often judge a pedal on how
far down the wormhole we go and
how lost in inspiration we get. The
Constellator is a great delay pedal
and the quality and versatility
here is undeniable.
Trevor Curwen
TYPE: Analog delay pedal
with modulation
FEATURES:Buffered bypass, up
to 600ms delay time, Chorus and
Vibrato modes, MN3005 BBD chip
provides longest delay possible in
an analogue delay.
CONT ROLS: Time, Mix, Modulation,
Repeats, Feel (switch between
Chorus and Vibrato effect]
POWER:9VDC (not included)
100mA
CONNECTIONS: Standard input
and output
DIMENSIONS:37.5 [w) x 93 [d]
x 32mm [h]
AT A GLANCE
THE QUALITY AND VERSATILITY
HERE IS UNDENIABLE
TH
E G
AS
S
T
A
T
I
O
N
OVERALL RATING
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
USABILITY
PIGTRONIX CONSTELLATOR
MODULATED ANALOGUE DELAY
Bucket Brigade delay in a small package
£89
TGR357.gear_quick.indd 94TGR357.gear_quick.indd 94 24/03/2022 11:1624/03/2022 11:16