An analog octave up and JFET fuzz in a single compact package.
The Lupine is designed to serve as two fuzz pedals in one compact enclosure, complete with an extra set of input and output jacks. The Purple Lupine is an updated version of our original Lupine Analog Octave Up pedal, which is based on octave circuits of classic octave fuzzes of the past. The Blend control allows you to blend between your clean signal and the octave up circuit and theLevel control allows you to set your output volume. What's new to this version of the Lupine is the Gain control, which allows you to control the gain into the octave circuit, ranging from a subtle, sputtery octave up to a blaring and piercing octave sound that'll probably make you want to turn your tone knob down.
Paired with this octave fuzz is the new JFET-based fuzz circuit on the Cream side of the pedal. The Cream Lupine consists of 3 controls, Input, Bias, and Output, all of which interact with each other. Input sets the input level to the fuzz circuit and works like the volume knob on your guitar with a treble bleed. The Bias control sets the bias of the main gain stage of the circuit, which can give you a range from gated or sputtery fuzz to a smooth, heavy distortion. Output then sets the overall output level from the fuzz. Using these controls you can go all the way from lighter overdrive sounds to fat, heavy fuzz!
You can use the two sides separately, or combine them for more unique tones. The spiky high end of the Purple side pairs really well with the heaviness of the Cream side. If you want to use the pedal like a single fuzz pedal which has an octave side, you can put the pedal into "single fuzz" mode by holding both footswitches at startup. This makes the left footswitch engage or disengage the entire pedal and the right footswitch controls whether the octave fuzz is applied or not.
Lupine Dual Fuzz - Flower Pedals
The Lupine is available for purchase both on the Flower Pedals website and Reverb.com for $199 plus free shipping in the U.S.
For more information, please visit flower-pedals.com.
Classic 4-stage sounds are just the tip of the iceberg for this uncommonly powerful stompābut its looks can be deceiving, too.
Waveform knob facilitates an alluring variety of phase tones. Lots of parameter control.
Secondary functions can be difficult to keep track of. Some sounds don't feel as rich and dimensional as the classics.
$249
Flower Pedals Castilleja Phaser
flower-pedals.com
If you're looking for a middle ground between straightforward, vintage phase sounds and the parameter depth of a programmable device, Flower Pedals' Castilleja could be a godsend. Its orange exterior hints at classic 4-stage phase sounds of yore, but its multifunction controls are more powerful than they appear.
Of particular note is its ability to blend between adjacent waveforms (up-ramp, sawtooth, sine, square)āmy favorite featureāto open up sounds ranging from lush and hypnotic to trippy and disorienting. There's also tap-tempo and expression control, momentary and "drift" ramping modes, and switchability between phase and vibrato/chorus modes.
Recorded using a Squier Jaguar with Curtis Novak pickups (neck clean, bridge with fuzz) into a SviSound germanium fuzz, SoundBrut DrVa MkII and Ground Control Tsukuyomi boosts, a SolidgoldFx Electroman MkII echo, an Anasounds Element reverb, and then into both a 1976 Fender Vibrolux Reverb miked with a Royer R-121 and a Fender Rumble 200 1x15 miked with an Audix D6, both feeding an Audient iD44 then into GarageBand with no EQ-ing, compression, or effects.
Those who crave vintage phase richness and simplicity with a little more flexibility may wish Castilleja's many functions were a little easier to follow (e.g., with more labels on the unit itself) or involved fewer switch maneuvers and LED colors. And, depending on your phase tastes, the 3-position feedback/resonance control's oft-sqwonky tonality and auto-wah-like effect in drift mode may feel a little redundant with other effects on your board (or with effects you intentionally don't have).
That said, the opposite may well also be true: Castilleja's almost-dizzying tweakability may eliminate the need for other devices and facilitate a unique blend of modulation sounds you might not otherwise findāwith fewer foot maneuvers and less real estate, to boot.
Test Gear: Gretsch Broadkaster, Squier Telecaster with Curtis Novak JM-V and Tele-V pickups, '76 Fender Vibrolux Reverb, Goodsell Valpreaux 21
A feature-packed, four-stage phaser with two different voicings.
Looking for lush modulation to wash your tones across a prairie at sunset? Take a listen to the Castilleja Phaser! It's a 4 stage analog optical phaser with digital controls. Unlike most phasers, this one has two different voicings: the first a standard 4 stage phaser in the vein of classics such as the Phase 90, and the second voiced like the classic Univibe.
In addition to the two classic voicings, the Castilleja also has 3 levels of feedback (none, low, and high) as well as an option to switch between chorus (50/50 wet and dry) and vibrato (mostly wet) modes. Four continuously variable waveforms are selected via the Shape Knob. The frequency and depth of the LFO are controlled by the Speed and Intensity knobs. The Level controls the overall output volume with plenty of boost on tap.
The Castilleja features 3 different speed ramping modes in addition to tap tempo with 4 different subdivisions. The first mode is Momentary ramping, in which you hold the Tap/Ramp footswitch to ramp to a secondary speed, then release to ramp back to the main speed. The second mode is Latch ramping, where you just tap the Tap/Ramp footswitch to ramp to a secondary speed. Tap again to ramp back to the first speed. Last, but not least, is the Drift mode. This mode takes your base speed and then modulates that speed up and down to a different LFO.
Castilleja Phaser - Flower Pedals
A couple of little extra features are also available. One is the Exp/Tap jack, which allows you to either use an external tap connection to control tap and ramp or an expression pedal (signal tip) to control the speed. When an expression pedal is plugged in, you can set the heel and toe speeds using the Speed knob and the secondary function of the Speed knob.
For more information and demo videos or to buy a Castilleja, go to flower-pedals.com. The Castilleja is available for purchase both on the Flower Pedals website and Reverb.com for $249 plus free shipping in the U.S.
For more information:
Flower Pedals