
Digital approximations of analog modulation classics in an easy-to-use, compact package.
Super simple, compact design with solid digital approximations of hard-to-replicate analog sounds. Fair price.
Flanger could benefit from a little extra control.
$159
Mojo Hand FX Swim Team
mojohandfx.com
While it’s not a stated part of their mission, Mojo Hand FX seems to prize simplicity in their pedals. Many Mojo Hand pedals that could be more complex to take advantage of digital processing possibilities are just three knobs and a push button. And while this isn’t the only layout the company utilizes, it’s employed effectively on pedals like the Deluxe Memory Man-inspired Dream Mender to distill a more complex analog stompbox to its essence. The Mojo Hand Swim Team, a digital chorus and flanger inspired by the Electro-Harmonix Polychorus, Echoflanger, and Small Clone, uses the same 3-knob layout to make summoning classic and powerful modulation sounds easy.
Wade in the Water
The Swim Team’s graphics are a clear homage to Nirvana’s Nevermind. Mojo Hand also sells a limited negative-image, black-and-white “bleached” edition (though Bleach, Nirvana’s first LP, is graced by little if any chorus or flange effects). While Kurt Cobain didn’t use a lot of pedals, he was no stranger to chorus and flange. They helped define the sound of Nevermind and In Utero, in particular, and Cobain used the EHX Small Clone, Polychorus, and Echoflanger at various points in his career. Heck, I’d wager a generation of guitarists were turned on to the effect from the opening notes of “Come as You Are” alone.
Mojo Hand FX Swim Team Review by premierguitar
- Chorus setting: Mix & Depth at 1 o'clock, variable Rate
- Flanger setting: Mix & Depth at 1 o'clock, variable Rate
The Swim Team uses just three basic controls: depth, rate, and mix/feedback. The latter changes duties depending on which effect is activated with the chorus/flanger button. It’s simpler than a Polychorus or Echoflanger (forgoing the “tune” knob, “filter matrix,” and “double track” modes on those pedals), but simpler than a Small Clone. Simplicity does have some drawbacks: If you plan to change between the two effects in a live situation, there’s no visual cue to reveal which effect is employed. The bypass LED, for instance, doesn’t change color.
The Swim Team uses just three basic controls: depth, rate, and mix/feedback. The latter changes duties depending on which effect is activated with the chorus/flanger button. It’s simpler than a Polychorus or Echoflanger (forgoing the “tune” knob, “filter matrix,” and “double track” modes on those pedals), but simpler than a Small Clone. Simplicity does have some drawbacks: If you plan to change between the two effects in a live situation, there’s no visual cue to reveal which effect is employed. The bypass LED, for instance, doesn’t change color.
Shallows and Depths
The first thing I had to do when I plugged the Swim Team in was fish around for those eerie Nirvana sounds. Plugged into a ’60s Fender Bassman with a ’90s MIJ Fender Jaguar, the quivering tones of “Come as You Are” were easy to summon with all of the knobs between 12 and 1 o’clock positions and the chorus engaged. And if you want to coax the tones of Kurt’s famous live “anti-solo” freakouts, maxing out the rate and depth and pairing the pedal with a ProCo RAT does an excellent job. I also spent a lot of time trying to capture the chaotic warble heard on live renditions of the “Heart Shaped Box” solo. And though there are a lot of ingredients in the tone soup of any live recording, I couldn’t quite summon the thickness of a vintage Polychorus with the Swim Team and RAT alone.
My favorite tones in the flanger department came around with the rate in 9 o’clock territory and depth at noon, which generates a subtle rise-and-fall texture that gives power chords extra glow and single notes a little extra magic. The output starts to get a little chattering-elves crazy once you roll the rate clockwise past 3 o’clock. But most rate settings remain practical and easy to adapt to an existing guitar tone throughout the knob’s sweep. Part of this agreeability in flange mode (which is generally a good thing) makes the Swim Team less suited for over-the-top flange. And if you’re after pitchy, high-frequency peaks and outlandish jet-whoosh, you might want to look to more radical options. That said, I found humbuckers deliver a deeper, richer whoosh from the flanger— especially with lower rate settings. So be sure to try Swim Team with your own rig to see how they match up.
The Verdict
Mojo Hand FX’s Swim Team sells for $159, which is a pretty fair price for the two rich modulation voices that approximate classic, sought-after sounds in stable digital platforms. Both effects sound great in the kind of relatively straight applications you hear in vintage recordings. And the chorus, in particular, is lush and spirited. The flanger covers the basics with ease, but I did miss some of the idiosyncrasies that can make flangers sound so radical and unique, like the metallic bark from an old bucket brigade Electric Mistress. Then again, vintage analog units can be quirky and unreliable. And even their newer BBD counterparts can be pretty expensive. Given that, this compact and streamlined multi-modulator merits praise for offering a design that cuts the extra fat and extra expense.
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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).