Denmark regularly tops the list of Happiest Places on Earth. Obviously that’s due to their unusually high number of effects manufacturers per capita. TC Electronic, Emma, Reuss, and T-Rex are a few of the builders that call the nation their home. They have a reputation for building high-quality, no-nonsense effects, and the same is true of Grenå’s East Sound Research, AKA Carl Martin. (The Purple Moon, however, is part of Carl Martin’s Chinese-made Vintage series.)
Nailing the Vibe
Carl Martin’s latest offering is a psychedelic toolkit that combines classic Uni-Vibe tones with blistering silicon fuzz in one bombproof housing. The controls are intuitive and well organized: On the vibe side are knobs for speed 1 and speed 2, with a footswitch to toggle between them and flashing LEDs to indicate their rates. Depth and level controls let you dial in the desired amount of swirl.
Ratings
Pros:
Compact. Well-built. Stellar fuzz. Powerful two-speed vibe.
Cons:
No fuzz without vibe. No expression pedal input or ramp control.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$148
Carl Martin Purple Moon Fuzz n' Vibe
carlmartin.com
As if wired to do so, I grabbed my Strat to test drive the Purple Moon, but then decided to avoid the obvious. With 1960 Les Paul Reissue and Jazzmaster in hand, I plugged into my favorite new amp, a Dusky D20, and did everything in my power not to play “Breathe” first.
Carl Martin has absolutely nailed the Uni-vibe sound, delivering all the blubbery goodness you’d expect. Remember, Uni-Vibes were developed as “portable Leslies,” so it’s great to be able to approximate the big cabinet’s two speeds, alternating between slow, swirly phasiness and full-on, rotating chop. Since there’s no expression pedal input, it might have been nice to include a ramp-speed control, since that “taxi to takeoff” effect is one of the best things about vibe effects of this type. Not providing it here seems like an oversight.
Serious Sizzle
The fuzz is fantastic. It’s crispy, with the correct quantity of sizzle—which is to say, ungodly amounts. It’s important to note, though, that while the vibe can be used without fuzz, the inverse is not true—there’s no fuzz-only option. It’s a shame, because I love this fuzz! But while I can’t help feeling that Carl Martin has limited the pedal’s usefulness by not providing true two-in-one switching, perhaps it’s best to think of the Purple Moon as a Uni-Vibe pedal that tosses in a bonus fuzz, especially since you get both effects for about the same price as many vibe-only pedals.
At any rate, you can’t argue with the tones. There is a lot of vibe control here, and when the fuzz is engaged the paint-peeling lysergia rating on this thing is a solid 10. (Full disclosure: upon conclusion of this review I totally grabbed my Strat and played “Us and Them.”)
Watch the Review Demo:
Building upon the legacy of the 1966 Arbiter Fuzz, the Orbiter Fuzz enhances this classic circuit with advanced fine-tuning circuitry.
Key Features:
- Vintage Tone: The Orbiter Fuzz delivers smooth, musical fuzz tones with cutting sustain, offering immediate inspiration.
- Vintage Power: Our unique power circuit internally converts modern wall power to emulate the draw of a vintage carbon zinc battery.
- "Sweet Spot" Dial: An internal mini potentiometer allows you to dial in the perfect impedance response for your favorite pickups.
Versatile Controls:
- FUZZ: Adjusts the overall amount of fuzz by shaping the signal’s waveform from triangular to square as the knob is turned clockwise.
- GAIN: Increases the amount of signal entering the circuit, pushing it into harmonic clipping for smooth overdriven fuzz tones.
- BIAS: Modifies voltage to the matched pair of transistors, unleashing a wide range of vintage fuzz tones. Lower voltages produce spitty Black Keys responses, while higher voltages create smooth American Woman fuzz.
- Compact Design: Optimized for pedalboard space and easy integration with any standard pedal.
- Durable Construction: Crafted for reliability to withstand rigorous touring conditions.
Technical Specifications:
- Input Impedance: 500 kOhm
- Output Impedance: 10 kOhm
- Power Requirements: External 9V DC center-negative power supply
- Dimensions: 4.75" x 2.50" x 1.5"
- Weight: 0.8 lbs
- Bypass: True bypass
Design Details:
- Custom Artwork: Retro space-age design that pays homage to the Arbiter’s flying saucer enclosure.
- High-Quality Housing: Durable reinforced steel enclosure with a vintage metallic blue hammered finish.
Why You Need the SoloDallas Orbiter Fuzz Pedal:
A great fuzz pedal is essential for every guitarist and bassist. The Orbiter Fuzz offers the smooth, singing fuzz tone every musician dreams of, combining musicality with the reliability you need. If you’re looking for a pedal that excels in both sound and style, the Orbiter Fuzz is a must-have. Complete your search for the perfect fuzz pedal with the Orbiter Fuzz.
Arriving on Planet Earth 9/1/24! The Orbiter Fuzz will be available for purchase exclusively at SoloDallas.com starting September 1, 2024. The first 100 orders will include a SoloDallas swag pack guaranteed to impress. All SoloDallas orders ship within 24 hours.
Price: $249 USD.
The Martin D-11E Rock the Vote acoustic-electric guitar is a special edition instrument crafted to inspire people to participate in our democracy. This collaboration between Martin Guitar, David Crosby’s estate, Rock the Vote, and artist Robert Goetzl tells a powerful story. “David was a patriot,” says Executive Chairman Chris Martin IV. “He believed deeply in this great experiment of ours, and his passion for voting is something we wanted to honor and continue.”
The vision for the original D-16E Rock the Vote guitar launched back in 2020 was born from a conversation between Chris and David Crosby, partnering with Rock the Vote to encourage people to register and participate in federal, state, and local elections. That conversation led to blending Robert’s compelling artwork with Martin's renowned craftsmanship. Robert shares, “David threw out this quote, that ‘democracy works if you work it,’ and that became a guiding theme for the artwork.”
A reissue of that original guitar, the all-new D-11E Rock the Vote model includes new features like an LR Baggs M80 soundhole pickup paired exclusively with Luxe by Martin® Kovar™ strings. Kovar is a unique alloy of two ferromagnetic metals, nickel, and cobalt, not found in conventional phosphor bronze strings. When paired with the adjustable M80 humbucking coil, these strings are guaranteed to deliver an exceptional acoustic-electric experience. It’s the ideal pairing for players seeking warm, authentic, amplified tones in any performance setting.
The D-11E Rock the Vote acoustic-electric is crafted with premium materials, including American sycamore satin back and sides and a spruce gloss top showcasing Robert’s custom artwork. Its Dreadnought size and unique 000 depth offer players a powerful, projective sound with strong bass and a comfortable feel. It also features a satin select hardwood neck, ebony bridge and fingerboard, silver binding, and includes a softshell case made of hemp.
This guitar not only commemorates David Crosby’s legacy, but through this collaboration, Martin Guitar is proud to support Rock the Vote with a $5,000 donation. Rock the Vote is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to building the political power of young people, and over the past 30 years it has helped register over 14 million voters. According to the organization, “In 2024, Millennials and Generation Z will comprise 44% of American voters. Young voters are new voters and as new voters they face unique obstacles to voting... Our efforts focus on research-driven programs and innovative solutions to right the system and ensure each youth generation is represented in our democracy.”
"We are thrilled to partner with Martin Guitar to harness the power of music in inspiring young musicians and their fans to engage in our democracy," said Carolyn DeWitt, President and Executive Director of Rock the Vote. "Music has always been a catalyst for change, uplifting critical issues and driving people to action. As we face the defining challenges of 2024, it's essential that young voices are heard and their passion is transformed into meaningful participation at the polls," adds Carolyn DeWitt, President & Executive Director of Rock The Vote.
With only 47 of these guitars made, honoring the election of the 47th U.S. president, each one represents a commitment to encouraging civic participation through the universal language of music. “I believe it’s our responsibility as citizens to participate in our democracy,” says Chris.
For more information, please visit martinguitar.com.
