Here’s another from the relatively slim assortment of NZ-made pedals. It’s still a bit of a mystery as to who actually mades this elusive analog phaser (a short-lived company called Holden seems to be the general consensus.. maybe someone can help me out here?), but is it the first thing I ever searched for (and found! and bought!) on TradeMe, and from which I developed a pretty serious pedal-buying addiction from ever since.
Throw it in the insert chain on a Fender Rhodes and it’s simply incredible. Sonicly, it’s pretty dirty, but if you ask me the hiss and grit just adds to the character. If you want clean, dry and clinical, go download a software plugin. With no jack for a power adapter and two internal 9V clips, this puppy sucks the juice, but makes every second it’s plugged in worth it.
Originally produced with a striking metallic-gold paint, the schmuch I bought this off had gone over the whole thing with dull red model airplane hobby paint. Dumbass. Unless you’re prepared to buff, scour or file a pedal down to its original metal casing (not always recommended, although I once saw a DOD FX-25 Envelope Filter that looked amazing completely sanded down), don’t go whacking on your own coat on paint. Unless you’re one of the guys that hand-paints the Z-Vex products, you will wind up with a lame looking pedal.
And with that, a perfect segue into the Z-Vex Woolley Mammoth…