The two-in-one “sonic refractor” takes tremolo and wavefolding to radical new depths.
Pros: Huge range of usable sounds. Delicious distortion tones. Broadens your conception of what guitar can be.
Build quirks will turn some users off.
$279
Cosmodio Gravity Well
cosmod.io
Know what a wavefolder does to your guitar signal? If you don’t, that’s okay. I didn’t either until I started messing around with the all-analog Cosmodio Instruments Gravity Well. It’s a dual-effect pedal with a tremolo and wavefolder, the latter more widely used in synthesis that , at a certain threshold, shifts or inverts the direction the wave is traveling—in essence, folding it upon itself. Used together here, they make up what Cosmodio calls a sonic refractor.
Two Plus One
Gravity Well’s design and control set make it a charm to use. Two footswitches engage tremolo and wavefolder independently, and one of three toggle switches swaps the order of the effects. The two 3-way switches toggle different tone and voice options, from darker and thicker to brighter and more aggressive. (Mixing and matching with these two toggles yields great results).
The wavefolder, which has an all-analog signal path bit a digitally controlled LFO, is controlled by knobs for both gain and volume, which provide enormous dynamic range. The LFO tremolo gets three knobs: speed, depth, and waveform. The first two are self-explanatory, but the latter offers switching between eight different tremolo waveforms. You’ll find standard sawtooth, triangle, square, and sine waves, but Cosmodio also included some wacko shapes: asymmetric swoop, ramp, sample and hold, and random. These weirder forms force truly weird relationships with the pedal, forcing your playing into increasingly unpredictable and bizarre territories.
This is all housed in a trippy, beautifully decorated Hammond 1590BB-sized enclosure, with in/out, expression pedal, and power jacks. I had concerns about the durability of the expression jack because it’s not sealed to its opening with an outer nut and washer, making it feel more susceptible to damage if a cable gets stepped on or jostled near the connection, as well as from moisture. After a look at the interior, though, the build seems sturdy as any I’ve seen.
Splatterhouse Audio
Cosmodio’s claim that the refractor is a “first-of-its-kind” modulation effect is pretty grand, but wavefolders are rare-ish in the guitar domain and pairing it with tremolo creates some pretty foreign sounds. Barton McGuire, the Massachusetts-based builder behind Cosmodio, released a few videos that demonstrate, visually, how a wavefolder impacts your guitar’s signal—I highly suggest checking them out to understand some of the principles behind the effect (and to see an ’80s Muppet Babies-branded keyboard in action).
By folding a waveform back on itself, rather than clipping it as a conventional distortion would, the wavefolder section produces colliding, reflecting overtones and harmonics. The resulting distortion is unique: It can sound lo-fi and broken in the low- to mid-gain range, or synthy and extraterrestrial when the gain is dimed. Add in the tremolo, and you’ve got a lot of sonic variables to play with.
Used independently, the tremolo effect is great, but the wavefolder is where the real fun is. With the gain at 12 o’clock, it mimics a vintage 1x10 tube amp cranked to the breaking point by a splatty germanium OD. A soft touch cleans up the signal really nicely, while maintaining the weirdness the wavefolder imparts to its signal. With forceful pick strokes at high gain, it functions like a unique fuzz-distortion hybrid with bizarre alien artifacts punching through the synthy goop.
One forum commenter suggested that the Gravity Well effect is often in charge as much the guitar itself, and that’s spot on at the pedal’s extremes. Whatever you expect from your usual playing techniques tends to go out the window —generating instead crumbling, sputtering bursts of blubbering sound. Learning to respond to the pedal in these environments can redefine the guitar as an instrument, and that’s a big part of Gravity Well’s magic.
The Verdict
Gravity Well is the most fun I’ve had with a modulation pedal in a while. It strikes a brilliant balance between adventurous and useful, with a broad range of LFO modulations and a totally excellent oddball distortion. The combination of the two effects yields some of the coolest sounds I’ve heard from an electric guitar, and at $279, it’s a very reasonably priced journey to deeply inspiring corners you probably never expected your 6-string (or bass, or drums, or Muppet Babies Casio EP-10) to lead you to.
The ST-ES and ST-ET models are chock full of single-coil and humbucker pickup combinations and come equipped with a German Floyd Rose system.
The company worked with Michael Angelo Batio to design two of its three new series.
Sawtooth Guitars are proud to announce three new guitar lines for 2021! The Hybrid and ST-M24 models designed with legendary guitarist, Michael Angelo Batio, as well as the eye-catching Relic Series, are sure to blow every guitar player's minds. Sawtooth's focus is to bring high quality and innovative designs that exceed all players expectations at an achievable price. These three new guitar series from Sawtooth deserve a spot in every guitarists collection.
ES AND ET HYBRID SERIES GUITARS
Create YOUR own TONE!
Designed with legendary guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, Sawtooth's new ST-ES and ST-ET Hybrid Series offers a unique innovative design that features both single coil and Humbucker pickups all in one guitar. Each guitar is equipped with a German Floyd Rose Tremolo system. With the ST-ES and ST-ET Hybrid guitar, you can express any sound you desire across all music genre's. This is the most versatile guitar line in the industry today
ST-ES Hybrids: A classic, double cutaway body style that offers 23 different pickup combinations from Sawtooth's specially designed Alinco V Humbuckers & Single Coil pickups. Create your own tone with sounds that can only be heard on the ES Hybrid guitar! Available in both left and right hand configurations."The Hybrid ES guitar is absolutely amazing. It has 23 different pick up sounds, ranging from studio quality true single coils to full range Humbuckers! –Michael Angelo Batio
ST-ET Hybrids: A traditional, single cutaway body style that lets you choose from 15 different pickup combinations from Sawtooth's specially designed Humbucker, Lipstick and Single Coil pickups. Create your own tone with sounds that can only be heard on the ET Hybrid guitar! Available in both left and right hand configurations "Playing the Hybrid ET guitar is so inspiring. The single coil pickups and Humbuckers either alone or combined, can get so many different sounds, that I write new riffs every time I play it." – Michael Angelo Batio
The ES and ET Relic Series features ash bodies and aged Canadian Maple necks with aged sandalwood fretboards.
ES AND ET RELIC SERIES GUITARS
"The Relic guitars are special. They look fantastic and "distressed," but the hardware is new, making it a perfect guitar for performing or studio work." – Michael Angelo Batio. The Sawtooth Relic Series evokes the story of a guitar that's seen it all. Experience the feel and look of a guitar that's been there and done that. These new, individually hand relic'd, one of a kind, guitars come with custom aged worn finishes with body scars, scratches, dents, and include Sawtooth Designed Alnico V Pickups. A classic look and feel for any player. Enjoy the sweet sound that all guitarists seek from a road-worn guitar.
These Michael Angelo Batio–designed guitars come stock with Alnico V humbuckers.
ST-M24 SERIES GUITARS
The Sawtooth ST-M24 Series, also designed with Legendary Guitarist Michael Angelo Batio, offers the best value 24 fret guitar on the market today. Receive upgraded appointments from Wilkinson and Floyd Rose without the associated cost.
"The ST-M24 guitars combine classic features with a modern feel and sound. When it comes to value, they are the best!"- Michael Angelo Batio
These "made for speed" guitars are the must have for every shredder. The ST-M24 in Satin White includes a German Original Floyd Rose Tremolo System and the ST-M24 in Satin Black includes a Wilkinson Hard Tail Bridge, giving players either option. If you've been thinking about adding a 24 fret guitar to your collection, the ST-M24 series is the right choice. Available in both left and right hand configurations.
Sawtooth Guitars Michael Angelo Batio ST-M24 Satin Black Electric Guitar Demo and Overview
For more info:
sawtoothworld.com