Tone Corset

118
Guitarist october 2017
There are many things about this
overdrive that set it apart. First, it
works with a variety of instruments so
has three selectable input levels and
full stereo operation plus mono in/
stereo out (besides standard mono),
should you find a way to use that in
your guitar chain. It also has a Dry
knob to blend in any amount of drive
– useful for adding edge to a clean
sound or keeping a certain amount of
note clarity with a dirty sound. The
drive sound, based on three JFET gain
stages, is amp-like from a touch of grit
through to cranked stack, but you can
go further with the ‘Boost’ footswitch,
which engages an extra overdrive
circuit to push the drive sounds harder,
adding saturation and ultimately
edging it into fuzz territory, all with
active tone knobs delivering sonic
shaping from mild to brutal.
[TC]
Based around OTA (Operational
Transconductance Amplifier)
circuitry like the MXR Dyna Comp,
a two-knob job, the Tone Corset goes
beyond the standard output volume
and a Sustain knob for turning up
the compression. It offers control
over the attack with varying degrees
of sharpness at the front edge,
and a Blend knob sets up parallel
compression. It also has a ‘Pad’ switch
to set the right input for your guitar,
preventing distortion caused by high-
output humbuckers or an active bass.
The compression sits well with the
sound, keeping it in check and, with
the extra gain that’s available via the
Volume knob, the Tone Corset offers
a consistency that means you’ll keep
it permanently engaged. Rather than
compressing the whole signal, Blend
enables a more nuanced approach,
keeping your natural sound’s note
attack while bolstering its body and
eking out some extra sustain.
[TC]
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Overdrive pedal
FEATURES: Buffered
bypass
CONTROLS: Volume, Treble,
Mid, Bass, Dry, Boost, Gain,
Input Level switch, bypass
footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard outputs L
(mono) and R
POWER: Supplied 9V DC
adaptor (200mA)
DIMENSIONS: 105 (w) x
118 (d) x 54 mm (h)
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Compressor pedal
FEATURES: True bypass
CONTROLS: Volume,
Sustain, Blend, Attack, Pad
switch, bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or 9V
DC adaptor
DIMENSIONS: 72 (w) x 111
(d) x 50mm (h)
ElEctro-Ha rmonix ElEctro-Ha rmonix
Operation Overlord
Allied Overdrive
Tone Corset
Keep your options open with this versatile pedal
ideal for any electronic instrument of your choice
The pedal that squeezes in your guitar
at all the right places for shapely sounds
VERDICT A practical overdrive/distortion suitable
for both guitar and studio applications.
VERDICT A pedalboard-friendly compressor with a
good mix of options that complements guitar sou nd
8 8
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
PEDALBOARD
MANUFACTURER
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
MODEL
OPERATION OVERLORD ALLIED OVERDRIVE/
TONE CORSET
PRICE
£140/ £85
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
WWW.EHX.COM
GIT425.peds_ehx.indd 118 9/7/17 6:51 PM