Phase and tremolo mix in a marvelous modulation mélange.
Many unexpected modulation textures. Effective dynamic control. Clever control layout for a mini pedal.
No independent depth controls for trem and phase.
$179
Pigtronix Moon Pool
pigtronix.com
Pedalboards assembled entirely from mini stomps are awesome. They're perfect for travel and informal sessions. Many builders have achieved the quality and tones of full-size pedals in these small enclosures, too. The only drawback (for some players, anyway) is that some mini pedals streamline their functionality to a bare minimum. The Pigtronix Moon Pool phaser/tremolo, however, proves that clever builders can pack a mini stomp with practical options, and even multiple effects, space constraints be damned. There are a lot of trippy sounds and unconventional playing techniques to discover in this little unit.
Mix ‘n’ Morph
Compound modulation textures are a source of rich and unique undulating sounds. They can spark creativity and recast the purpose and potential of an otherwise predictable effect. Tremolo-and-phase has always been one of my favorite modulation mixes. And nothing makes me happier on a lazy, rainy day than routing a hard-chopping tremolo through a slow phaser, playing a few chords, and letting my musical mind wander.
With dual LFO phaser and tremolo circuits, Pigtronix' Moon Pool dishes these lazy, watery combined tones, as well as tasty traditional tremolo and many stranger effects. The Moon Pool's flexibility is attributable, in part, to an economical, well-executed control set that's easy to use and readily serves up surprises. The tremolo and phase effects each have dedicated rate controls. There's also a depth control for tremolo and phase intensity. A small toggle enables selection of tremolo, phase, or both simultaneously. But much of the real weirdness comes via two toggles that enable fast-to-slow or slow-to-fast dynamic control of rate, and an envelope sensitivity knob that regulates picking intensity's effect on that rate. On balance, that may not sound like tons more functionality than a more rudimentary modulator. But the Moon Pool is more than the sum of its parts, and the recombination of these controls yields exponentially stranger outcomes as you blend them.
Goin’ Through Phases
Unlike a lot of vintage phasers, many of which feature just a rate knob, the Moon Pool has a useful depth control. It has nice range and enables relatively subtle washes—particularly at slower phase rates. Sometimes the subdued modulation that you hear at low-depth settings leaves me wishing for a few even-dryer blends. (Near-subliminal phase can add crucial but unobtrusive movement to spare arrangements.) Still, the Moon Pool offers many tasteful paths to mild phase coloration. Faster phase rates make subtle animation trickier, but still leave plenty of room to let melodic nuance and rhythmic picking elements shine through.
Many polyrhythmic textures that can take a simple arpeggio or chord melody out of the doldrums are possible.
At its deepest phase-depth settings, the Moon Pool approximates the sticky, bubble-gum elasticity of a good MXR Phase 90. Though, to my ear, the Pigtronix exhibits less of the high-frequency peakiness that, depending on your tastes, can make a Phase 90 feel thrilling or fatiguing in certain situations. I missed some of that peakiness in intermittent phaser doses, but the ability to dial the depth back with such precision will be worth the tradeoff for many players.
Trem Delirium
The Moon Pool's tremolo sounds are warm and rich with audible attributes of optical and bias tremolo. The tremolo shares a depth control with the phaser, which can be a mild bummer when you mix the two effects. But the same range of depth that makes the phaser more versatile works wonders with the tremolo, too. The slowest speeds are as slow as a snail stuck in maple syrup, and are a great fit for hypnotic drones. The fastest settings are super fluttery, evoking a sonic gatling gun when you situate a fuzz out front. But in between these extremes, the Moon Pool is rich with practical and pleasing modulations that are easy to fit into traditional tremolo contexts.
Duality and Dynamism
Blending Moon Pool's tremolo and phase is more than just trippy fun. Many polyrhythmic textures are possible that can take a simple arpeggio or chord melody out of the doldrums. The dynamic controls transform compound phase/trem tones even more profoundly—fostering a give-and-take relationship between player and pedal that encourages fluid, rubbery leads, hooky verse-to-chorus transitions, and off-kilter rhythm-based riffs—to name just a few possibilities. My favorite setup marries slow, deep phase, medium-fast tremolo, moderate sensitivity, and opposing dynamic settings for the phase and tremolo, where heavy attack activates fast-to-slow tremolo rates and slow-to-fast phase. Configure this setup just right and you can move between chirpy alien-voice chatter and molasses-creeping phase by touch dynamics alone. It's intoxicating—both in terms of how it sounds and feels to play.
The Verdict
Tremolo and phase are beautiful together in just about any incarnation. But the Moon Pool's dynamic functions stretch the tremolo/phase performance envelope considerably. Punctuating a solo or phrase with decelerating tremolo—without ever touching an expression pedal—is fun and sparks a sense of spontaneity and possibilities. In fact, a lot of things about the Moon Pool feel inspirational. That it delivers so much creative promise in such a small and fairly priced effect makes it that much more intriguing.
Pigtronix Moon Pool Tremvelope Phaser Demo - First Look
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Lutefish, the real-time music collaboration device and platform, is excited to announce a suite of new features designed to simplify setup, streamline collaboration, and offer more flexible subscription options for Lutefish Stream users. These latest updates, Audio Presets, Automatic Session Recall, Improved Scheduling with Contact Visibility, and a new Yearly Subscription Plan, are all about making it easier than ever for musicians to jam together, no matter where they’re based.
Save Time and Stay in the Flow with Audio Presets & Session Recall
Musicians can now save and reuse their exact audio settings, reducing setup time and ensuring every session sounds exactly as they want.
- Automatic Session Recall: When users leave a session, their current audio levels are automatically saved and restored when they rejoin.
- User-Defined Audio Presets: Each user can create and name up to five custom presets, like “Band Practice,” “Studio Mic Setup,” or “Quick Jam,” making it effortless to jump back in with the perfect sound.
“These tools are all about saving time and hassle,” said Patrick Finn, Business Manager at Lutefish. “Musicians want to make music, not spend time rebalancing levels every session. With presets and recall, we’re giving them time back and helping them sound their best, every time.”
Smarter Scheduling and Contact Visibility
The latest update to Lutefish also made it easier to find collaborators and book sessions. Users can now:- View all their contacts at a glance when scheduling a session.
- Instantly identify which contacts own a Lutefish Stream device—so they will always know who’s ready to jam.
Go Yearly and Save 20%
Lutefish now offers a Yearly Subscription Plan, providing users with the same great access as the monthly plan at a 20% discount.
This option is now available within the Lutefish app and web platform, and current monthly users are eligible for a discount with an upgrade to a yearly subscription.
Lutefish’s mission has always been to empower musicians to connect and collaborate without boundaries. With these new updates, Lutefish Stream continues to break down barriers—whether you’re jamming with a friend across town or collaborating with a bandmate 500 miles away.
For more information and to start jamming today, visitlutefish.com.
The veteran Florida-born metalcore outfit proves that you don’t need humbuckers to pull off high gain.
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single “Trembling Level,” back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PG’s Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the band’s show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Brought to you by D’Addario.Not-So-Quiet As a Mouse
Primack started his playing career on Telecasters, then switched to Les Pauls, but when his prized LPs were stolen, he jumped back to Teles, and now owns nine of them.
His No. 1 is this white one (left). Seymour Duncan made him a JB Model pickup in a single-coil size for the bridge position, while the neck is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Staggered. He ripped out all the electronics, added a Gibson-style toggle switch, flipped the control plate orientation thanks to an obsession with Danny Gatton, and included just one steel knob to control tone. Primack also installed string trees with foam to control extra noise.
This one has Ernie Ball Papa Het’s Hardwired strings, .011–.050.
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Primack runs both a PRS Archon and a Bad Cat Lynx at the same time, covering both 6L6 and EL34 territories. The Lynx goes into a Friedman 4x12 cab that’s been rebadged in honor of its nickname, “Donkey,” while the Archon, which is like a “refined 5150,” runs through an Orange 4x12.
Ryan Primack’s Pedalboard
Primack’s board sports a Saturnworks True Bypass Multi Looper, plus two Saturnworks boost pedals. The rest includes a Boss TU-3w, DOD Bifet Boost 410, Caroline Electronics Hawaiian Pizza, Fortin ZUUL +, MXR Phase 100, JHS Series 3 Tremolo, Boss DM-2w, DOD Rubberneck, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Walrus Slo, and SolidGoldFX Surf Rider III.
Taver’s Teles
Vadim Taver’s go-to is this cherryburst Fender Telecaster, which he scored in the early 2000s and has been upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups on Primack’s recommendation. His white Balaguer T-style has been treated to the same upgrade. The Balaguer is tuned to drop C, and the Fender stays in D standard. Both have D’Addario strings, with a slightly heavier gauge on the Balaguer.
Dual-Channel Chugger
Taver loves his 2-channel Orange Rockerverb 100s, one of which lives in a case made right in Nashville.
Vadim Taver’s Pedalboard
Taver’s board includes an MXR Joshua, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Empress Tremolo, Walrus ARP-87, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2w, and Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200, all powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
Big Duff
Harmon’s favorite these days is this Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, which he’s outfitted with a Leo Quan Badass bridge. His backup is a Mexico-made Fender Classic Series ’70s Jazz Bass. This one also sports Primack-picked pickups.
Rental Rockers
Harmon rented this Orange AD200B MK III head, which runs through a 1x15 cab on top and a 4x10 on the bottom.
Noah Harmon’s Pedalboard
Harmon’s board carries a Boss TU-2, Boss ODB-3, MXR Dyna Comp, Darkglass Electronics Vintage Ultra, and a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus. His signal from the Vintage Ultra runs right to the front-of-house, and Harmon estimates that that signal accounts for about half of what people hear on any given night.
Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.
With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kiesel’s new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼” input, XLR and ¼” outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. It’s intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But don’t let that hold you back if you’re a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼” phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry – important for the instrument most responsible for the band’s groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).