EarthQuaker Devices

TOTAL GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2019
T
hough some people mix
up fl ange with other
types of modulation, it’s
a very specifi c eff ect that
was originally created by placing
a fi nger on a running tape
machine to slow down the
playback of the recording
slightly, and mixing that with a
dry source of the same sound –
you can hear it on many classic
psychedelic recordings.
Obviously this wasn’t the most
practical thing to do in every
situation, not least because
lugging two tape machines
around wasn’t possible, so as
soon as compact delays became
a reality, fl anging was not far
behind, using delay lines to
warp the guitar signal. There’s
more than one way to get your
fl ange fi x though, so we’ve
gathered together some recent
favourites, from vintage vibes to
modern madness…
FLANGER ROUND-UP
106
W
hile this may look like the least
interesting pedal of the bunch, don’t
let looks fool you. In addition to a
second footswitch that allows you to jump
between a slow and a fast rate setting, there’s
also a pre-delay and feedback knob, which
make this into a surprisingly versatile pedal.
We found the diff erence between vintage
fl ange for those Police-style arpeggios, and
oscillating noise was simply a twist of the
feedback control in most cases. Experimental
possibilities aside, it’s defi nitely aimed more
at a classic rock crowd, and that’s where it
excels. A no-nonsense, vintage fl ange sound.
A
ny Old Blood Noise Endeavours pedal is
unlikely to be boring, and the Flat Light
proves that OBNE is incapable of making
a dull pedal. Sure, if you’re after a basic
vintage fl anger then this might not be for you,
but if you feel like you’ve heard it all then this
might be just the ticket. We had the most fun
in the detune and echo modes, with radical
pitch-shifting and echo-fl ange combinations
proving fruitful for spaced-out lead playing.
However, it must be said that the Flat Light is
quite a digital-sounding pedal, and where
with a glitch box that’s usually a plus, for a
fl anger that’s probably a downside.
Carl Martin
Classic Flange
GIANT STEPS
OBNE
Flat Light
HOT FLAT LIGHT
£199
TH
E G
AS
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T
A
T
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£119
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
TGR323.gear_pedals.indd 106 13/08/2019 16:26