Life Pedal is a distortion with a blendable analog octave up and a booster combined in one compact package. The "Amplitude" side is faithfully modeled after the classic "White Face" distortion unit, using modern, reliable components to last a lifetime. The only modifications made to the original circuit are in the clipping section. The traditional circuit uses a single pair of silicon diodes for a tight, compressed crunch. The Life Pedal introduces two additional clipping options to better adapt to different rigs. The first position is no diodes to allow for full, grinding Op Amp assault at maximum volume. The second position utilizes two silicon diodes and one LED in an asymmetrical clipping configuration. This delivers a slightly compressed and smooth crunch, similar to a valve amplifier. The last position is the stock double silicon diode configuration which provides that classic tone you know and love.
The Octave in Life Pedal is an all-discrete, analog full-wave rectifier base on a classic vintage design. Located at the input of the circuit, the Octave control slowly blends in the octave effects as you turn it clockwise. This feature can also be used via expression control allowing for wild, hands-free octave swells mid-riff or using the footswitch for immediate octave fuzz destruction. Because this is an analog octave effect, it is monophonic and works best playing single notes above the twelfth fret while using the neck pickup. Playing chords with the analog octave will sound clanging and chaotic. Using the bridge pickup and playing below the twelfth fret will produce a very subtle octave effect. Going full Octave transforms Life Pedal from a simple distortion device into a swelling, raging fuzz similar to the classic Super Fuzz!
The "Magnitude" section of Life Pedal is a simple all-discrete MOSFET booster designed to blast your preamp tubes and drive them wild. It is a 100% clean, no-nonsense, high impedance booster that adds very little colour to your tone. It does not add distortion on its own but has plenty of output to push your amp into saturation.
The signal path goes Octave > Distortion > Boost. The octave distortion and booster can be used independently with their own respective foot switches. The Petrine Cross is the octave distortion and the Christian Cross is the booster.
Specifications
Power: standard 9-volt DC power supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel. Note: Earthquaker Devices always recommends pedal-specific, transformer-isolated wall-wart power supplies or multiple isolated-output supplies. Pedals will make extra noise if there is ripple or unclean power. Switching-type power supplies, daisy chains and non-pedal specific power supplies do not filter dirty power as well and let through unwanted noise. Do not run at higher voltages! Current Draw: 25 mA Octave Distortion: Input impedance: 1 M? / Output impedance: < 1 K? Booster: Input Impedance: 500 K? / Output Impedance: < 1 K?
Flexi-Switch Technology This device features Flexi-Switch Technology. This relay-based, true bypass switching style allows you to simultaneously use momentary and latching-style switching. • For standard latching operation, tap the footswitch once to activate the effect and then tap again to bypass. • For momentary operation, hold the footswitch down for as long as you'd like to use the effect. Once you release the switch, the effect will be bypassed. Since the switching is relay-based, it requires power to pass signal.
The sunn O))) Life Pedal V3 may just be the most refined approach for heavy, crushing tone available. Splitting the octave controls out to become independent (vs. previous models), the circuit itself has been updated to allow for a more pronounced octave effect. Alongside precise controls for distortion and boost, you get full tweakability to tame—or let loose—the Life Pedal's aggressive potential.
