with this knob is basically
like buying a second
pedal, one that requires
only adjustment of the
instrument volume knob.
When the Gravity knob is
at nine or so, the guitar’s
volume knob will, when
turned, modulate the
“chirps” that the Gravity
circuit produces. All sorts
of strange animal noises
will emerge from the pedal:
birds, dolphin cries, insect
buzzing and more. Play with
the instrument volume knob
enough and one will swear
that someone in the other
room has foolishly started
to play Jumanji, in which
one’s room has turned into
a jungle.
Curiously, the Gravity
and Time knobs work in
tandem. Below 11 o’clock
or so on the Time knob, the
Gravity knob controls the
animal noises. None of the
regular “fuzzolo” sounds
will be heard here. However,
with Time above 11, the
Antichthon will generate a
thin, almost digital sort of
distortion, a sort of clipped
square wave sound. When
the Time is at 11 or below,
the Gravity knob’s setting
will also restrict the range
of noises that the guitar’s
volume knob will make. So,
at 9 o’clock, the guitar’s
volume knob will make
animal noises between its
lowest setting and 3, then
stop again up until 7 to
full volume.
WHAT WE LIKE
This is a pedal that demands
exploration and patience.
Sure, some pretty good
transparent fuzz will come
out of it with just a bit of
fiddling, but its potential will
not be realized without that
fiddling. Like a good wine,
the Antichthon will likely get
even better with age, or like
a musician, with experience.
Highly recommended.
CONCERNS
Totally off-the-wall animal
noises, digital-type square
wave distortion, and mellow
fuzz all controllable via the
instrument’s volume knob.
It’s a pedal that, like an
unexplored territory, calls
for adventure.
It’s a minor thing, but the
labels were a little hard to
read. It would have been
nice to have a separate fuzzlevel control as well.
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