Discussing power supplies is about as diverting as watching shower mold spread. But the pedal-powering possibilities of MXR’s versatile and powerful new m238 ISO Brick make the issue much more fun to think about.
To start, it makes pedalboard layout easy. The recessed, right-angled barrel connecter means there’s no DC cord hogging space. There are 10 outputs, each fully isolated to eliminate noise. (Yes, this unit is very quiet) Two 9V 450 mA outputs accommodate most power-hungry DSP-type pedals. There are also two 100mA and two 300mA 9V outputs—plus a real treat: two 6-15V variable voltage outputs for approximating voltage sag or increasing headroom. Each output also has an LED that glows blue when you’ve got a proper connection.
The inclusion of adaptors for UK/EU/Australian power and the fact that the ISO Brick makes voltage conversion a no-worry proposition are significant bonuses. I used it for shows in the US, UK, and Europe, and setup was as simple as clipping on the appropriate attachment and plugging in—priceless convenience from a power supply brimming with stress-reducing features.
Test gear: Boss DD-5, TR-2, and CS-3, Strymon Flint, Stomp Under Foot Civil War, Electro-Harmonix Pedal Bag
Ratings
Pros:
Compact. Super quiet isolated power sources. Multiple voltage and current settings (including higher ones that accommodate DSP pedals.) Click-in adapters for overseas use.
Cons:
None.
Street:
$149
MXR M238 ISO Brick Power
jimdunlop.com
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
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Offering precise tuning accuracy and a super bright display screen, the Crazy Little Thing is approximately the size of your guitar pick – easy to use, unobtrusive and utterly dependable.
Housed in a sturdy shell, the Crazy Little Thing can be rotated for easy viewing from any angle, and its amazingly bright display makes it perfect for the sunniest outdoor stages or the darkest indoor studios. You can clip it to the front of your headstock or on the back of your headstock for extra-discreet usage – and you can easily adjust the display to accommodate your preference.
As the newest addition to Snark’s innovative line of headstock tuners, the Crazy Little Thing is rechargeable (no batteries!) and comes with a USB-C cable/adapter for easy charging. Its display screen includes a battery gauge, so you can easily tell when it’s time to recharge.
The Crazy Little Thing’s highly responsive tuning sensor works great with a broad range of instruments, including electric and acoustic guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin and more. It also offers adjustable pitch calibration: its default reference pitch is A440, but also offers pitch calibration at 432Hz and 442 Hz.
Snark’s Crazy Little Thing rechargeable headstock tuner carries a street price of $21.99. For more information visit snarktuners.com.
