Ola dBucket Chorus & Vibrato
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Download Example 1
Half Tone, 3/4 Depth, Chorus Type, Normal Mode, Half Speed
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Download Example 2
Half Tone, Half Depth, Max Mix, Vibrato Type, Norm Mode, Half Speed
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| Clips
recorded with PRS McCarty DC245 20th Anniversary into a Matchless Avalon
35 combo.
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If there’s a pedal in the Strymon line that really
showcases how in tune the company is with
stellar products of yesteryear, it’s the Ola. It
was influenced by Strymon engineer favorites
like the elusive Boss VB-2 Vibrato, and both its
controls and its deep blue hue echo that unit—
though it adds a few extra features. The Speed,
Mix, and Depth controls are pretty standard,
and they display the same highly sensitive traits
of the controls on the other Strymon pedals.
The added Tone control is a little unconventional,
and it only affects treble frequencies
rather than sweeping between highs and lows.
I prefer being able to control the tone over a
wide frequency range and morph from sharp
and poignant to foggy and creepy.
In addition to the chorus mode, two more
modulation types can be selected with the
Type switch: Multi is a three-phase multi-delay
chorus (as opposed to the standard
single delay) that avoids the warble associated
with older analog chorus pedals, and the
last is for vibrato. The Mode control is unique
in that its effect varies depending on your
playing style. In the envelope position, the
circuit reacts to your pick attack. The lower
you set the Ramp|Env knob, the harder you
have to pick to hear the effect (kind of like
how a noise gate’s Threshold knob works). In
the ramp position, the effect is only activated
when you hold down the footswitch. Imagine playing a solo or a single-note riff and throwing
in a little fast vibrato for only one or two
notes. It’s a useful feature that inspired some
pretty creative moments when I was playing
around with it. Mode’s ramp and env modes
can be tailored with the Ramp|Env knob.
With Mode set to ramp, the speed of the
effect increases the further clockwise you turn
Ramp|Env. With Mode set to env, the envelope
opens with less pick attack the more
you crank Ramp|Env. Because the pedal is so
versatile, the Favorite footswitch is included
here, too, so you can save your go-to setting.
Buy if...
you need a feature-laden chorus
and vibrato pedal with classic tones.
Skip if...
you want the added versatility of having
separate chorus and vibrato pedals
Rating...
