This is a clone of the Interfax Harmonic Percolator overdrive/distortion, an oddball asymetrical clipping pedal popularised by Steve Albini of Shellac. These are built to the most recent 'general consensus' schematic, with the addition of a switch to disengage the germanium clipping diodes, for a more open overdriven sound, which I think adds to the versatility of the effect.
All parts are the best quality available. True bypass via 3PDT Cliff footswitch, powered by battery or standard center-neg DC jack, yellow LED.
Small, MXR-sized enclosure (with a new design that owes a fair bit to their great-looking script-logo pedals!) finished in nordic blue.
This pedal uses the same 2N404(A) germanium and 2N3565 silicon transistors as the original. These new ones also feature a pro-quality PCB (see innards pic!)
Here's a demo of one of the gingham-finished pedals from the first series of these:
[youtube][/youtube]
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:33 pm
by Mike
That looks so fucking pro, mate.
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:37 pm
by Haze
love love love the grumbly wolf w/ the resistors, briliance
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:40 pm
by endsjustifymeans
I have one of these from Tim and it is fucking ace. Grumbly wolf is great fun as well.
How are the Utility Percolators coming, any demo's coming?
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:01 pm
by timhulio
Cheers chaps!
endsjustifymeans wrote:How are the Utility Percolators coming, any demo's coming?
Almost done with a batch of these, but I've got a bit of fiddling to do first. I don't want these to sound too much like the HPs, even though they're use the same circuit. So in addition to the awesome Russian transistors I might try to find some NOS eastern-bloc diodes. Then if I use only ceramic caps they might just sound nasty enough to warrant the name.
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:02 pm
by Reece
i really like that yellow casing.
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:04 pm
by endsjustifymeans
I'm excited to hear it, as much as I love the HP I got from you I'm always keen on a bit more grit.
