Cosmodio Instruments, a new effect pedal and electronic musical instrument manufacturer based in Massachusetts, has launched its first product: the Pet Yeti distortion and fuzz pedal.
The Pet Yeti is an all-analog distortion machine designed to offer a massive variety of distortion sounds that can range from refined to extreme and even bizarre. It delivers a completely novel design, not based on any pre-existing circuit or pedal archetype, and offers musicians a fresh take on distortion and fuzz. Itās purpose-built for use with any instrument and excels at processing not only electric guitars, but also bass guitars, drum machines, acoustic-electric stringed instruments, and synthesizers.
The Pet Yetiās distortion capabilities include an expansive gain range with cascading gain stages, selectable clipping configurations (including symmetrical, asymmetrical, silicon, germanium, and op-amp clipping), and an analog bit crusher. The pedalās five-knob control set includes Gain and output Level knobs; a Shape knob for controlling pre-distortion low-end; and a Tone knob for adjusting post-distortion EQ. It also offers a Clean knob for controlling a parallel unmodified signal path that can be independently mixed into the output signal. This Clean blend allows for layered, multi-dimensional tones, and retains low-end and crystalline transients that are critical to instruments like bass and percussion.
The Pet Yetiās tone sculpting capabilities are enhanced by three toggle switches:
- āVoiceā selects between three different clipping configurations ā essentially different flavors of distortion and tone.
- āBiteā activates/deactivates the analog bit crusher, which smashes your signal into a square wave to provide some of the most extreme hard clipping and gating physically possible. At lower gain settings this produces fun gated lo-fi video game-like tones. At high gain settings, it becomes a searing torrent of extreme blown-out fuzztortion.
- āStrengthā controls the first gain stage which boosts the input signal to determine how hard to hit the main gain stage. Choose āLoā for more headroom, āHiā for more breakup,āMaxā for all-out mayhem.
The Pet Yeti is approachable and easy to use, despite its advanced feature set. Its carefully spaced control layout is optimized for easy spontaneous adjustments. Its top-mounted input, output, and power jacks ensure an efficient footprint on a pedalboard or desktop. You can choose between two color schemes: āNeon Nuclear Wastelandā and āDark Doomy Deathscapeā featuring stunning faceplate artwork by accomplished pop-artist GOLDSUIT.
Pet Yeti features include:
- True bypass switching
- 9-volt operation via external power supply - no battery compartment
- Built in USA
The Pet Yeti carries a $219 street price.
For more information, please visit cosmod.io.
Watch Bohlinger get deep in the tube with Danelectro's compact, 100-percent genuine spring reverb.
The voice of the guitar can make the unfamiliar familiar, expand the mind, and fill the heart with inspiration. Donāt be afraid to reach for sounds that elevate. A host of great players, and listening experiences, are available to inspire you.
In late fall, I had the good fortune of hearing David Gilmour and Adrian Belew live, within the same week. Although itās been nearly two months now, Iām still buzzing. Why? Because Iām hooked on tone, and Gilmour and Belew craft some of the finest, most exciting guitar tones Iāve ever heard.
Theyāre wildly different players. Gilmour, essentially, takes blues-based guitar āoutsideā; Belew takes āoutsideā playing inside pop- and rock-song structures. Both are brilliant at mating the familiar and unfamiliar, which also makes the unfamiliar more acceptable to mainstream earsāthereby expanding what might be considered the āacceptableā vocabulary of guitar.
Belew was performing as part of the BEAT Tour, conjuring up the music of the highly influential King Crimson albums of the ā80s, and was playing with another powerful tone creator, Steve Vai, who had the unenviable role of tackling the parts of Crimson founder Robert Fripp, who is a truly inimitable guitarist. But Vai did a wonderful job, and his tones were, of course, superb.
To me, great tone is alive, breathing, and so huge and powerful it becomes an inspiring language. Its scope can barely be contained by a venue or an analog or digital medium. At Madison Square Garden, as Gilmour sustained some of his most majestic tonesāthose where his guitar sound is clean, growling, foreign, and comforting all at onceāit felt as if what was emanating from his instrument and amps was permeating every centimeter of the building, like an incredibly powerful and gargantuan, but gentle, beast.
āThe guitar becomes a kind of tuning fork that resonates with the sound of being alive.ā
It certainly filled me in a way that was akin to a spiritual experience. I felt elevated, joyful, relieved of burdensāthen, and now, as I recall the effect of those sounds. That is the magic of great tone: It transports us, soothes us, and maybe even enlightens us to new possibilities. And that effect doesnāt just happen live. Listen to Sonny Sharrockās recording of āPromises Kept,ā or Anthony Pirog soloing on the Messtheticsā Anthropocosmic Nest, or Jimi Hendrixās āFreedom.ā (Or, for that matter, any of the Hendrix studio recordings remixed and remastered under the sensibilities of John McDermott.) Then, thereās Jeff Beckās Blow by Blow, and so many other recordings where the guitar becomes a kind of tuning fork that resonates with the sound of being alive. The psychoacoustic effects of great tones are undeniable and strong, and if we really love music, and remain open to all of its possibilities, we can feel them as tangibly as we feel the earth or the rays of the sun.
Sure, that might all sound very new age, but great tones are built from wood and wires and science and all the stuff that goes into a guitar. And into a signal chain. As youāve noticed, this is our annual āPro Pedalboardsā issue, and I urge you to considerāor better yet, listen toāall the sounds the 21 guitarists in our keystone story create as you examine the pedals they use to help make them. Pathways to your own new sounds may present themselves, or at least a better understanding of how a carefully curated pedalboard can help create great tones, make the unfamiliar familiar, and maybe even be mind-expanding.
After all these years, some players still complain that pedals have no role other than to ruin a guitarās natural tone. They are wrong. The tones of guitarists like Gilmour, Belew, Vai, Hendrix, Pirog, and many more prove that. The real truth about great tones, and pedals and other gear used with forethought and virtuosity, is that they are not really about guitar at all. They are about accessing and freeing imagination, about crafting sounds not previously or rarely heard in service of making the world a bigger, better, more joyful place. As Timothy Leary never said, when it comes to pedalboards and other tools of musical creativity, itās time to turn on, tune up, and stretch out!
Follow along as we build a one-of-a-kind Strat featuring top-notch components, modern upgrades, and classic vibes. Plus, see how a vintage neck stacks up against a modern one in our tone test. Watch the demo and enter for your chance to win this custom guitar!
With 350W RMS, AMP TONE control, and custom Celestion speaker, the TONEX is designed to deliver "unmatched realism."
"The next step in its relentless pursuit of tonal perfection for studio and stage. Born from the same innovative drive that introduced the world's most advanced AI-based amp modeling, TONEX Cab ensures that every nuance of modern rigs shines onstage. It sets the new standard for FRFR powered cabinets for authentic amp tones, delivering unmatched realism to TONEX Tone Models or any other professional amp modeler or capture system."
Setting a New Standard
- Professional full-range flat-response (FRFR) powered cab for guitar
- True 350 W RMS / 700 W Peak with audiophile-grade power amps and advanced DSP control
- The most compact 12" power cab on the market, only 28 lbs. (12.7 kg)
- Exclusive AMP TONE control for amp-in-the-room feel and response
- Custom Celestion 12'' guitar speaker and 1'' high-performance compression driver
- 132 dB Max SPL for exceptional punch and clarity on any stage
- Programmable 3-band EQ, custom IR loader with 8 onboard presets and software editor
- Inputs: XLR/1/4" combo jack Main and AUX inputs, MIDI I/O and USB
- Output: XLR output (Pre/Post processing) for FOH or cab linking, GND lift
- Durable wood construction with elegant design and finish
- Swappable grill cloths (sold separately) and integrated tilt-back legs
Finally, Amp-in-the-room Tone and Feel
Thanks to its unique DSP algorithms, TONEX Cab's exclusive AMP TONE control stands apart from any other FRFR in the market today, allowing players to dial in the perfect amount of real amp feel and response to any room or venue.
It achieves this through advanced algorithmic control over the custom high-wattage Celestion 12'' guitar speaker and 1'' high-performance compression driver. Together, they deliver the optimal resonance and sound dispersion players expect from a real cab. Combined with a wood cabinet, this creates a playing experience that feels alive and responsive, where every note blooms and sustains just like a traditional amp.
Ultra-portable and Powerful
TONEX Cab is the most compact 12'' powered cab in its class, leaving extra room in the car to pack two for stereo or to travel lighter. Despite its minimal size, the TONEX Cab delivers true 350 W RMS / 700 W Peak Class-D power. Its unique DSP control provides true-amp sound at any volume, reaching an astonishing 132 dB Max SPL for low-end punch and clarity at any volume. With larger venues, the XLR output can link multiple cabs for even more volume and sound dispersion.
Amplify Any Rig Anywhere
TONEX Cab is the perfect companion for amplifying the tonal richness, dynamics and feel of TONEX Tone Models and other digital amp sims. It adds muscle, articulation, and a rich multi-dimensional sound to make playing live an electrifying and immersive experience.
Its onboard IR loader lets players connect analog preamps directly to the cab or save DSP power by removing the modeler's IR block. Precision drivers also work perfectly with acoustic guitars and other audio instruments, ensuring that time-based effects shine with studio-quality clarity and detail.
Pro-level Features
TONEX Cab offers plug-and-play simplicity with additional pro features for more complex rigs. Features include a 3-band EQ for quickly dialing in your tone to a specific room without editing each preset. You can program the eight memory slots to store both EQ and AMP TONE settings, plus your cabinet IR selection using the onboard controls or the included TONEX Cab Control software. Seamlessly select between memory slots with the onboard PRESET selector or via the built-in MIDI I/O.
On Stage to FOH
TONEX Cab's balanced audio output makes it easy to customize the stage or house sound. It features pre- or post-EQ/IR for cab linking or sending sound to the front-of-house (FOH). The AUX IN allows users to monitor a band mix or play backing tracks. These flexible routing options are ideal for fine-tuning the setup at each gig, big or small.
Stereo and Stacking
With two or more TONEX Cabs, any rig becomes even more versatile. A dual TONEX pedal rig creates a lush, immersive tone with spacious, time-based effects. Players can also build a wet/dry or wet/dry/wet rig to precisely control the direct/FX mix, keeping the core tone intact while letting the wet effects add depth and space. Stack multiple cabs for a massive wall of sound and increased headroom to ensure the tone stays punchy and powerful, no matter the venue size.
Designed to Inspire
The TONEX Cab's Italian design and finish give it a timeless yet modern look under any spotlight. The integrated tilt-back legs let users angle the cab and direct the sound, which is optimal for hearing better in small or dense sound stages. Swappable optional grills (Gold/Silver) make it easy to customize each rig's appearance or keep track of different TONEX Cabs between bandmates or when running stereo rigs.
Bundled Software
TONEX Cab includes a dedicated TONEX Cab Control software application for managing and loading presets and IRs. As part of the TONEX ecosystem, it also includes TONEX SE, the most popular capture software program, with 200 Premium Tone Models, unlimited user downloads via ToneNET and AmpliTube SE for a complete tone-shaping experience.
Pricing and Availability
TONEX Cab is now available for pre-order from the IK online store and IK dealers worldwide at a special pre-order price of $/ā¬699.99 (reg. MSRP $/ā¬799.99*) with a black grill as the default. The optional gold and silver grill cloths are available at a special pre-order price of $/ā¬39.99 (reg. MSRP $/ā¬49.99*). Introductory pricing will end on March 18, with TONEX Cab shipping in April.
*Pricing excluding tax.
For more information, please visit ikmultimedia.com