Supercool Pedals, based in Peterborough, Ontario, released the original Spritz compressor, a simple 2-knob pedal, back in 2022. Earlier this year, builder Jamie Muir overhauled that design and released the Spritz! Saturator, adding a “tube simulation” overdrive circuit with its own discrete controls in addition to the familiar dual-knob setup. Like its titular drink on a hot summer afternoon, the Spritz! Saturator is a refreshing, invigorating treat.
Drink Up
The Spritz! Saturator follows the Caffeine Boost and original Spritz as Supercool’s third pedal with art inspired by a delicious Italian beverage, and the company’s now-signature aesthetic cheek is a fun jolt to have on your board (and might give you a hankering for an icy aperitif). With two main knobs in the vein of the Ross Compressor and MXR Dyna Comp, the Spritz! keeps operation simple. But the added “tube simulation” feature, a simple JFET circuit activated by a small button perched atop the pedal’s face and tweaked with a mini knob between the two big guns, brings enhanced functionality to a familiar effect.
When the tube simulation circuit is engaged, its small control knob is illuminated, but manipulating the knob itself is a bit tricky given its location and size; I sometimes found myself wishing for a bigger knob, and a separate footswitch to kick on the saturation for lead or heavier moments.
Puttin’ on the Spritz
I liked the Spritz! Saturator on guitar, but I loved it on bass. With a Jazz-style bass through a Peavey solid-state head and Traynor 2x15 cab, the Spritz! popped my signal open like an oyster, trading a ruddy, dull exterior for a juicy, meaty interior. What I appreciated most was the presence it brought via the saturator’s full-frequency boost, which has a gentle peak in the midrange. It coated my signal in a pleasant, just-thick-enough layer of grit, and spring-loaded my bass lines. With the sustain and volume knobs at noon, each note had just a bit of extra bounce and shape.
On 6-string, I delighted in applying the Spritz! to classic power- and jangle-pop riffs, which rang out more sweetly and evenly for having the Spritz! in the mix. Compression isn’t in my usual pedal rotation, but messing with the Spritz! made me wonder why; it was great fun to tear through Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Records songs with the squeeze and light gain sugarcoating everything. If I’d had a 12-string Rickenbacker on hand, I might never have gotten around to writing this review.
The onboard dirt from the tube simulation circuit was right up my alley. It felt pleasantly tweed-like in the sense that when it’s dimed, it sags and threatens to collapse in a way that feels wonderful under the fingers in addition to sounding great. The one knock I can muster against the Spritz! is that it could use a bit more output power. Depending on your rig and where you place the pedal, you might find unity level anywhere between noon and 3 o’clock on the volume knob. But that quality also primes it for end-of-chain usage, where it can level out unruly pedals, smooth out muddy EQs, and just generally tighten up your tone.
The Verdict
Supercool’s updated Spritz! is an instantly useful piece of kit for any rig or instrument. It covers a broad range of compression applications, and sounds swell no matter how you set it. The tube simulation function is a welcome bit of extended usability and produces a lovely growl at many settings. Compression will never be the sexiest effect on your board, but if you need a rock-solid, easy-to-use compressor that injects instant pro tone into your chain, Spritz! is a competitive option.
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