Fender

TOTAL GUITAR APRIL 2020
106
W
hen Fender launched
a brand new eff ects
line with six pedals
at the beginning of
2018, few could have
predicted just how enthusiastically
it would embrace expanding it;
there’s now 22 pedals and
counting in a consistently
impressive range that brings
innovative features to the table.
This is Fender’s fi rst acoustic
pedal in the family, and rather
than a more ubiquitous reverb,
compression or delay, they’ve
gone for a dedicated overdrive.
We’re intrigued! It turns out
we are right to be.
Like the rest of the line,
the Smolder has a hardy chassis,
with simple and contemporary
typeface making everything clear.
Metallic brown is very much an
‘unplugged’ vibe too, right?
The optional LEDS on the controls
are a win for us too for dark stages
– and can be switch off at the back.
Fender’s eff ects refl ect
consideration in what its new
circuits can off er that others on
the market may not. This goes
further than you may presume;
the Pickup Compensation control
eff ectively smooths out our piezo
electro acoustic’s tone to prove
a useful tool in itself even with
the drive dialled right down.
While the gain takes you from
a boost to fi ercer territory, the EQ
eff ectively shapes it to become
a versatile, organic tool.
The Tone dials out any
unwanted sizzle from your drive
tone (we didn’t get much anyway,
top be fair) and the Blend is the
real key control here; it balances
overdriven and pure piezo signal.
The combination is a highly
editable, versatile and very
musical acoustic pedal that’s
another win for the series.
Rob Laing
FENDER SMOLDER ACOUSTIC OVERDRIVE
The Big F’s ever-growing effects family births its first acoustic stompbox
TYPE: Acoustic
overdrive pedal
CONT ROLS: Tone,
Treble, Bass, Pickup
Comp, Level, Blend,
Drive, LEDs off and on
BYPASS: True bypass
SOCKETS: Guitar in,
guitar out (the pedal
has default inbuilt
cabinet simulation
when plugged into
an amp or PA)
POWER: DC 9V
CONTACT: Fender EMEA
Fender.com
AT A GLANCE
HIGHLY EDITABLE,
VERSATILE AND MUSICAL
TH
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£129
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
USABILITY
TGR330.gear_quick.indd 106 27/02/2020 13:27