Keeley Phaser Set To Stun!

Long known for their custom modded hi-fidelity guitar effects pedals, Keeley Electronics has just launched the first Keeley Phaser. 

In addition to its extremely lush sounding 6-stage analog phasing circuit, the Keeley Phaser also packs in Tap Tempo and a Ramp control to more closely simulate an actual Leslie speaker.  According the the Keeley website, while the phaser's signal path is purely analog, Tap Tempo and Ramp are controlled by "digital circuitry to feel like an 'Invisible Hand' turning the knobs".  Spooky.

While Tap Tempo mode enables hands-free, on the fly changes to the basic Rate speed of the effect, it is in Ramp mode that the Keeley Phaser really shines. 

When the miniswitch is set to Ramp mode, the dialed-in Slow Rate speed makes a gradual transition to the selected Fast Rate speed.  The speed of this transition depends on the setting of the Ramp knob -- the slower the Ramp knob is set, the slower the transition from the Slow to Fast Rate speeds, and vice versa. 

The Keeley Phaser's Ramp mode was designed to emulate the mechanical rotation of the classic Leslie speaker as it gradually speeds up and slows down, and this unique feature really makes the Keeley Phaser stand out from the pack.

You can check out the Keeley Phaser and other Keeley pedals at http://www.robertkeeley.com/

Determining Proper Placement for Effects Pedals In A Signal Chain

We're in the Golden Age of effects pedals. The humble stompbox has enjoyed a tremendous resurgence and no self-respecting guitar player will be seen without at least a couple of them at his feet.

And in response to prevailing market demand, a plethora of backyard workshop-type companies have emerged, churning out an endless parade of 'boutique' stompboxes -- old schematics, slightly modified, upgraded with audiophile-grade components, given nifty names and sold for stupefying prices.

Pedalboard sizes too have reverted to the gargantuan, stage-hogging proportions of the ones used by rockstar guitarists of the 70's -- think David Gilmour's sprawling Pete Cornish pedal rig on many a Pink Floyd tour.

After the smoke has cleared, determining the correct order of effects on a pedalboard is key to getting the best tone with the cleanest possible signal out of it.

As a general rule, here's how pedals can best be arranged on a pedalboard when using them in series ie. a pedal's signal feeding the next pedal in the chain.

From the guitar's output, the order of effects will be:

1. Wah pedal
2. Compressor/limiter
3. Booster, overdrive, fuzz and distortion pedals
4. Equalizer
5. Pitch-altering pedals such as octavers and pitch-shifters
6. Envelope filters and ring modulators
7. Short time-based effects such as phasers, flangers, chorus pedals and Leslie-speaker simulators
8. Signal attenuators such as volume pedals and noise gates
9. Long time-based effects such as reverbs and delays

As always, take this as a basic guideline and experiment..