Danelectro AC-1 Wasabi Chorus-Trem

It has many knobs and settings so it takes some time and patients to find what works for you but this also means it's versatile thus convenient in that.

strats-wasabi-rat-mi audio blues pro-dd6 delay- fender twin reverb.

I love the way it sounds. On the mildest settings for both chorus and tremolo it adds subtle depth to the sound which. Increased slightly it makes the sound bigger. I never can fathom anyone going over 50% on either setting. It is just unnecessary. I tried several similar pedals before choosing this one. It was immediately apparent that this is what I was looking for.

This thing is extremely solid.

Two great, usable pedals in one. What more could you ask for? Again subtlety is the key with this type of pedal. This will make your tone bigger in a good way. I play in 3 bands(punk, rock, and experimental) and this is one pedal I use in all three. I like other tremolos alright but a good chorus' is rare. Danelectro makes them well. This is like their other chorus pedals with more tweaking options.

Takes a little bit of getting used to but not too difficult

It's not noisy and tweaked properly can get into univibe territory. Yes, the knobs are a bit fiddly but for the price this thing is a godsend. Great trem and chorus on their own, but the two combined is magic! I think the previous reviewers must eat take away every night of the week. Sometimes you have to spend the time to cook for yourself.

Like a brick!

This is a great piece of kit. The minor hitches in tweaking it are far outweighed by the brilliant results when you get it right. Snap them up while you can.

This pedal definitely takes some getting used to. The concentric controls are "loose" feeling, which may seem like a simply asthetic criticism but it has negative effects: trying to adjust the lower knob also moves the higher one.

Since this is essentially two pedals in one, I'll rank them individuall for ease of use.

Chorus - Very easy to dial in whatever kind of chorus you like. At more extreme settings, with the mix on full effect, it is a very "lush" chorus, thick and juicy, but can be easily tamed by rolling the "mix" knob back and evening out the depth and rate. Depth and rate controls are not nearly as sensitive as someone here posted, in my experience, but his opinion is his and I'm not trying to say he's wrong - just not my experience with the unit. 7/10 on ease of use for the chorus because it's got everything you expect but nothing advanced or special.

Tremelo - This one's tougher. It has more adjustment options (by one - a switch to change it from a sine to a square wave, or "hill-and-valley" to "choppy on-off sound." The adjustment for this one seems more sensitive than the adjustment for the treble, and it's easy to over- or under-shoot your goal and get too much or too little depth or rate. The "depth" knob is disabled for the Saw mode, but the Saw mode is pretty useless if you ask me. Cool at first, because while your hand's on it you can get a kill-switch effect by rotating the "Rate" knob faster, but the on-off sound drowns out your actual playing. You're better off using the Sine setting with higher rate and depth than switching it to Saw mode. 5/10, because it is more difficult to adjust than it ought to be, and it has a feature that detracts from rather than enhances the usefulness of the pedal. That could have been a Triangle wave switch, much cooler sound.

I also have to detract from the overall score by one point, because the Mix contol adjusts the trem AND chorus mix. It should be another concentric knob so you can adjust them individually. I can see WHY they did it this way, but frankly the "rotating speaker" effect isn't one I will be using much and I'd like more control over the individual mixes.

So, 7/10 plus 5/10 = 6/10, minus one for that mixup and the resulting score is 5/10.

Read the rest of the review before you decide against it, though - there are plenty of great units which aren't a breeze to figure out.

Very good sound quality. I think the tremelo is just average, but the chorus is great. In an effets loop, it can be tricky to get the level matched to your signal so that you don't get a huge volume boost or drop when you engage, but that's what the four EQ options and the switch for Hum or Single on the back are for. (Well, frankly, that's NOT what they're for, but that's how I use them and it works really well for me).

The chorus, when configured properly and mixed as you like it, does anything from ultra-lush sweeping soundscapes to a milder doubling effect. Its flavor may not be for you, but it is hardly "cheesy" or strictly for "bedroom players." To my ears, it is certainly well above the Boss chorus units currently or recently in production, better than Danelectro's other full-sized Cool-Cat Chorus, and on a par with the excellent EHX chorus offerings.

I won't say much about the tremelo - it's warm, and it's a trem. It does what it does and it does it well. I'm not a big fan of tremelo, but it certainly has its uses. Configuring the rate to be mildly faster than the Chorus with a shallow depth can give a very nice subtle modulation to the chorus. I personally don't like the "rotating speaker" effect of having them wildly different, but using them in the way I just mentioned is nice.

8/10, because the Chorus is a 10/10 for sound (to my ears) and the Trem is a 6/10.

I have an eclectic pedalboard which includes pedals from many makers, and specifically a strangely large number of Danelectro pedals (honestly, I didn't set out with that in mind, it just kind of happened - not that I'm upset that it did!). They all have plastic jacks, and I have never had any reliability problems. However, I can definitely imagine the plastic jacks (which are likely soldered to the PCB) causing issues with real abuse. My pedals are well secured and connected with short leads, and the first and last pedals I plug into and out of both have firm, metal jacks attached to the chassis of the pedal. I would not feel comfortable going from my guitar into a plastic input jack, nor going from a plastic input jack into the amp. It just doesn't seem like a good idea.

10/10 for reliability in my experience, but 5/10 for using plastic jacks even though the rest of the pedal is sturdy metal construction - 7.5 out of ten, rounding down to 7.

Never had any problems, but I've heard bad things about Dan-o customer service. Not going to rate it, but let's just say I'm counting on them not breaking.

I think I've said enough about the pedal, honestly. If there's anything else you're curious about, try it out for yourself (or if that's not an option, find a good online video review). I understand why some don't like its sound, but I count myself firmly and happily among those who do - it's that kind of pedal, you'll love it or hate it.

For the full price of $120, I'd give it a 7/10 value - two pedals in one, half good and half great. But I got it on clearance for about a fourth of the price brand new, which makes it a definite 10/10. So, 8.5/10, rounding down again to 8.

Works out if you are a bedroom jammer. I am so the cumbersome controls are only a mild annoyance. The fact that the tremolo knob (top) turns too when you turn the chorus knob (bottom) really sucks.

You can't get good sounds out of it.

No.

The chorus sucks. In every of it's four preset tones, *your* tone vanishes. There was no hint of my guitar's non-effected sound when this thing was on. Maybe you want a totally different sounding setup when you use a chorus. Not me. The mix knob doesn't help either as the overpowering tone, er, enhancements are too much.

Volume boosts and drops are all over the place. The pickup selector switch makes everything worse in different directions. The tone selections make everything worse in different directions. It's amazing that this is still available for sale online.

Oh, the tremolo might sound good, but the huge volume boost when it is engaged kept me from even trying. The dry/wet mix control is not concentric either so your mix settings for chorus or trem will affect the other effect as well. ugh

It's a brick made out of metal. Would survive much abuse. A gig without backup? How about I wouldnt' use it period.

piss poor pedal whose builders should be punished.

Very lame. First off, all the connections on the back of the pedal (input, stereo outputs, 9V adapter) are crammed too close to one another. So what, you say? Well, they also put the 3-way volume input switch back here, too, and it's just about impossible to get to. Secondly, the rate and depth controls for two effects are of the stacked, concentric type... the chorus controls on the bottom, the tremolo controls on the top. While this set up works in some instances, on the Wasabi, the bottom controls are very difficult to access, and to make it worse, the tremolo "chicken head" knobs on top have NO RESISTANCE... every time you want to adjust the chorus knob, it is impossible to avoid moving the tremolo knob and changing your settings. Last but not least, there is a 4 position tone switch, which is a complete waste of time, as all 4 tone flavors suck.The pedal sounds best (a realtive term in this case) when they are bypassed. A textbook example of poor desing. One point awarded for looks and the light up "tail lights".

In a word, terrible. The chorus is Cheesy with a capital "C". The depth knob goes from so subtle you can't hear it, then right away to seasick, with no stops in between. The aforementioned tone knob just makes it worse when engaged. Possibly the worst chorus I've ever used in my 30+ years of playing.
The tremolo has a very annoying volume boost when engaged, rendering it pretty much useless in a live situation. There is the input selector switch which is supposed to handle this, but it doesn't. In the "off" position, the volume boost is still quite noticable. In the "single coil" position, whaich boosts the signal, it gets horribly overdriven. In the "humbucker" postion, which is a volume cut to compensate for the higher iutput of a 'bucker, the drop is so precipitous as to render your signal nearly inaudible.

Looks well built, weighs a ton. Would make an excellent doorstop.

I've dealt with them in the past, they are pretty good.

I play all kinds of rock, soul, funk, blues, whatever, and I am a gear fanatic. I own the Danectro Dan Echo, PB&J Delay, and the Tuna Melt Tremolo, all excellent pedals which I love and highly recommend. I thought the Wasabi Chorus Trem was a great idea... free up some space on my board by combining 2 pedals in 1. I really wanted to like this pedal, but Danelectro completely missed the boat on this one, Small wonder they've been discontinued. Back it goes.

Very easy to use. More control than you'd typically find on a chorus/trem. The EQ features are very flexible without overcomplicating the sound options. Manual is simple and straightforward.

Really, the sound of both sides of the pedal are smoother than many more-expensive options out there. Some chorus pedals can be too 'syrupy', and have a short range of usable sounds before it borders on spaceship-landing sound effects. The Wasabi has a broad sweep of good chorus, from fast and lush Police style sound, to a warbly Nirvana, leslie-ish effect.

The trem is even better. Goes from smooth volume flutter in soft mode (great for adding texture to picking arpeggios, or ballad chords), to chopper effects, where you can time the tempo to your tune and get a raw LFO type effect for heavy rock chords.

Works well with other pedals. No real complaints. Some people have mentioned the slight volume drop when engaged... all you have to do is set the switch to single coil and you get a few Dbs of extra volume when the pedal is on.

Built like a tank. Switches are soft-engage, and the lights are bright and easy to see. Can't imagine how id damage it other than shearing knobs off somehow.

Not had any need

It's not the last pedal you'll ever want, but for the money you really can't do better. This is the first 10 i've handed out, simply cause the thing is so inexpensive, sounds good, and is feature-laden.

Its very easy to get a good sound out of. It is quite flexible too with the eq knobs and the range of the depth and speed knobs. I don't really like the double-knob setup as it makes it especially hard to change the chorus settings, but I usually set and forget effects like this so I only have to do it once when I first set everything up. If you need to tweak settings for each song it may be a consideration for you. I still don't really understand the use of the humbucker/singlecoil/normal switch on the back. I mean I understand what it does, I just can't undestand why you would use it. I use humbuckers and using the hum switch gives a very noticable drop in volume when the effect is switched on. My solution is to just use this switch in the normal position which is the effect signal is the same level as your normal signal. If you use the single coil position it is possible to boost the signal. This thing also has stereo outs which is very very cool.

I love the sound of this thing. Danelectro do the best "warm" chorus. I have not heard the cool cat chorus but I know a lot of people love it. I have a milkshake danelectro mini which I just love the sound of. It is so warm! This can give me a similar sound, it sounds a bit more hi-fi to me, cleaner maybe, which you may like or not depending on your taste. I actually prefer the sound of the milkshake somewhat, but I am trying to keep my pedals to a minimum and trem and chorus are the two modulation/volume effects I use the most. This chorus of course is much more flexible with the eq, direct/effect, hum/single/normal controls.

I personally use the eq in the flat position and like stated above the boost/cut switch in the normal position. This is supposed to give my effected sound the same level as my uneffected sound. Well, not quite. There is a slight boost compared with my danelectro minis, both for the chorus and the tremolo. I can live with it, but again, the minis do such a good job of when you turn them on it sounds just like you added an effect without adding or cutting your gain or changing your tone at all.

As for the tremolo, again my reference is the dano TunaMelt tremolo. The trem in the wasabi is much more lush if that makes any sense. Its like 3D compared with the TunaMelts 2D. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the tuna melt, it is a no-nonsense get-the-job-done tremolo pedal. The wasabi just sounds more lush, like you took the tremolo out of a great vintage tube amp and put it in this pedal. The slight boost is annoying, but honestly, it is so slight that you can just vary your picking dynamics to compensate. Its not going to drive your amp into overdrive or anything. Then again, if you use humbuckers and you set the gain switch to single coils you might be able to! Anyway, I wish it was just like the tuna melt in this regard when you hear your tone before and then when you switch the effect on you hear your tone just with the effect added. Perhaps this has something to do with true-bypass vs. buffered bypass as I think the wasabi has true and the minis have buffered.

Anyway, the long and short of it is, the chorus and the trem sound great and have quite a variety of sounds in there.

I have a ton of dano minis and none of them have given me so much as a hiccup in their reliablilty. Before you say to yourself that I must be some bedroom beginner, think again. I have been playing for almost 20 years, I have played professionally, I teach, and I have gigged with these pedals. No problems. The wasabi looks 1000 times more sturdy than the minis so I imagine I can rely on it and I will until I have reason to doubt it. I won't leave a rating here since it is still new.

Don't know.

I was a little dissapointed in this pedal at first because it did not sound more like my dano mini chorus and tremolo just in one bigger pedal which is what I was wanting. But the sounds have really grown on me and they are wonderful sounds in their own right. Its still in that dano realm of reto/vintage vibe - the chorus is warm and the trem is lush - but it definitely sounds different from the minis. As I said above I would describe the difference as 3D vs 2D. The sound just has more depth and detail in it. In some ways that is a good thing, in others I prefer the sound of the minis, but both are valid and I can live with either.

I have been trying to prefect a five pedal setup that goes something like this tuner (maybe replaced later by a wah wah vibe pedal or compressor)->distortion->mod/multi FX->Delay->Reverb. This is my second attempt at filling the chorus/trem/multi FX spot. I tried a MagicStomp first and while the delays were amazing and the chorus very lush, it did not run on a 9 volt and it had perhaps too many options. The wasabi works but I will also try a zoom G2 before deciding to keep this pedal to fill that slot in my pedalboard. So far there is somthing about ths sound of analog effects that is still very appealing to me (perhaps it is the imperfections?) so I am not sure if the G2 will work, but I am willing to give it a shot. I have tried to replace various effects with digital versons with varying success. So far I have only succeeded with delays and reverbs. I have practially given up on digital distortions and if the G2s chorus and trem don't sound good I will probably give up on modulation effects too. I have found I can do without tubes (I use a Tri-A.C. as a preamp into a 4x12 powered by a solid-state power amp and I have the best tone I have ever had) but I am not sure about analog vs digital yet when it come so modulation effects. This is based on experience, not on some voodoo belief in the superiority of analog equipment, a lot of the digital stuff is just not there yet, even though I would like it to be.

I do not own this unit, however i tryed it out for a good 2 hrs in a shop in austria. Unless you are a fat handed chump you'll have no dificulty getting to grips with the layout. It's just the controals are like my girlfriends nipples, small, fragile and hard.

Like i said i only tryed this unit out, into a HandK 60watt (solid state) amp with various guitars(gibson Lp standard, parker fly deluxe, fender strats and teles). i also tryed the small clone, and various others that where not even worth mentioning. firstly there was no immediatly noticable noise and the bypass was pretty good however there was a marauding muppet sat next to me who felt the need to asult my ears by placing destortion pedels infront of a wah (ouch). The trem effect was outstanding for a unit of this price. and with the controals you can get pretty much any trem sound you like. however i was not so impressed by the chorus effect, again you are able to manipulate the sound drastically (unlike with the small clone)with the sounds rangeing from useable to a rediculous keybord/synth sound once you pass the halfway mark, which I'm sure i could use, but wether any one would want to is a diffrent matter.
the main thing that impressed me about this unit was that you are able to controal most aspects of the sound (unlike most of the other pedels i tryed), which is good so long as you like it.
But i don't know if its just because im in austria, but there was something distinctly 80s about it.

wasabi units look unique and are solidly constructed. (it felt much more solid than the small clone).
my only gripe is the small flimsy controal knobs, the shop i tryed it out in don't take much care of their products and i have no idea howmuch use this thing got, but the controals where loose, so as the depth and speed controals are ontop of each other, i often found that when adjusting one i ajdusted them both, which got annoying.

I have no idea, its just important to know that the shop i tryed this out in was undoubtedly one of the worst shops i have ever been in, everything was coverd in dust and in a state of disrepair. So i don't even know if the unit was functoning properly (as most of the others cirtanly where not) the discheveled state of the shop put me off purtucing any thing from there.

Out of all the chourses in the shop this i believe this was the best value for money. it is by no means the best sounding, (i preferd the sound of the small clone) but there was much more scope for diffrent sounds then most of the other much more expencive units so i had the most fun with it. If your looking for the ultimate chorus i doubt this is it. however i think it would be very useable to most, and at such a price its hard to knock it's just not quite what i am looking for, but i was impressed nun the less.

I don't own this pedal, but here's a translation of that cruel bastard's reiew down below. It was done with freetranslation.com. Though not all of it transfered correctly, I cleaned up some of the grammar.



Ooooh, the first review for a product! And I write it in
/________ASS
german....how mean is that, buddies? HARHARHAR! \ HOLE!!


This thing has a quantity of buttons. Clearly, two pedals in one. To regulate a few things: "Speed" and "Depth" are Doppelpotis: interior for Trem, the ring (not very easy to recognize) for Chorus. In between a 5-fach-Dreh-Regler, around different EQ-Presets anzuwahlen.

In addition a switch in order to turn the Trem "soft" or "hard", and a trick regulator for that mix between dry and effect signal. At the head side, there's a slide that adjusts 3 different entrance level strengths.

In addition the entire stereo is put out of. To be sure only the dry signal lies on an exit.

Conclusion: This is not for a beginner. There must be a bit of tweeking before one understands it's possibilities/or adjust the device to the owner's characteristic taste.

My Setup: Gibson harvest Paul or SG / boss of done TU2 / Rocktron Austin gold Overdrive (alternatively Digitech sound Driver) / what subscriptions AC-1 / 85er fender Concert II / 2x12"Box characteristic building with Celestion old men cheek and Vintage 30.

What first is noticeable: the Tremolo tends for rustling. Lies probably on that, that it "actively" works. That is: unlike in other pedals the total level is not sunk through the Trem, but rather remains on accustomed height. That is not can have now again klasse...man simply everything. Much important: the "threshold" is very quite soft and rhythmic so that one can adapt the effect wonderfully to a given speed or can adjust its game on that. Class. Also the "hard" option (the Stotter-effect) is quite useful because one can defuse it through the mix-regulator (that a Trem-pedal otherwise has not). Because of the Tremolos, I bought the device. And I am very satisfied therewith.

In the Chorus, one is remembered inevitable that this series became conceives deliberately "to one side of the Mainstream". That is a VERY violent effect. If one brings the regulators about in middle position, (or quite courageous further tears open), jault the thing through the entire frequency spectrum. In the extreme case, it sounds would shake, as one permanently at the lever of a Floyd-rose - discreet is what other! But: also the Chorus fells through a very round, rhythmic modulation up. Univibe-fans will receipt that with a wide grinning. A sooner inconspicuous, easy Chorus-effect does not go if the Depth-regulator does not stand over 10 o'clock and Speed over 11th millimeter working - the regulators are expressed effectively.

In addition one can engage yet a few things with the EQ-Presets. "Flat" is clear: what reingeht, comes also out. 1 raises the heights somewhat, 2 dunnt that middle from, 3 is dull, 4 with days-hollowly-nasal. Also here extreme. Not that what they make everyone. Setting 2 felled expressed me well because my Setup of house is right out of mittenbetont. Angezerrte Powerchords, Riffing or cleane Arpeggios sound therewith very prettily openly and execution capable. Cool!

Spassig correct it becomes then if one lets run both effects together. One can synchronize it in the speed, what yet relatively harmlessly sounds. But if one lets run the Chorus about half so quickly like the Tremolo, one gets a sow lecherous Rotary-Speaker simulation. And in attitudes Asynchronous totally, the entire room begins to wabbern. To not to bear Atemberaubend.....aber long. I tend is to the idea the "fewer more".

The Pickup-Switch can be used by the way (in the Single-Coil-position) in order to overcharge the entrance and to raise the level of the effect. A hidden Overdrive-option. Thoroughly interestingly, if the Amp already in the angezerrten Berich works. I OD-pedals belonged already, that sounded worse. The switch can sink the level naturally also if one needs that for accompanying-part.

Possibilities in large numbers, characteristic and especially self-willed sounds to basteln.....und the pedal sounds always round, warmly and musically, very "by analogy". Pretty.

For the housing, there would have to be a design-price. '59er Eldorado-Heckflossen in which two Lampchen are incorporated, that indicate, if the effect runs. If one wants to turn on the stage once, do not forget: blinking. And the entire in sheet Placid Blue. Lecherous, lecherous, lecherous. More does not go. To the low knees.

Yet in addition the entire thing is out of shower iron and ventured a satisfied kilo. Therewith one can chop probably nails into the wall. The foot switches are large, solidly and satisfied can be moved. Only the trick regulators project a piece.

If the wiring and electrics are also so solid, nothing can go wrong actually. Made in China.

I have let surprise myself with the device since I aquired it, a short time ago

For what is there any guarantee? A subject like this was until now with none of my devices.

I have made music for 25 years. My equipment has been for years unchanged. For my sound (classic style, somewhere between Stones, Mellenkamp, Kravitz, zeppelin, Allman Brothers...), I need one very straight Sound, therefore I use maximally a modulation effect. That may provide noticeable changes occasionally. The last was a bad-Stone-Phaser of BEFORE, that becomes now from pattern.

I bought the AC-1 a couple of days ago. I needed some hours in order to find its possibilities auszuloten and an attitude, that felled me. But with what I hear now, I feel very well about it. A clear, mittelschnelles Tremolo, a discreet Chorus, that the Rhythmussounds makes -because of the EQs - prettily knackig, and a remarkable Rotary Speaker in a pedal. Very, very luscious. Very round, very "vintage", very musically. And then there is monkey around there another couple of possibilities to that with perverse extreme attitudes. Very clearly the pedal is to be incorporated there, where Danelectro hinwollte: on the far side of of the Mainstream.

Therefrom is seen it solidly constructed and sees hammer lecherous from. There a pile of joke sticks inside. Nevertheless I leave the same statement: not for a beginner. One already very exactly must know, what one wants to reach and what one better should let, over to a good (volume-serviceable!) To come Sound.

Ooooh, the first review for a product!
And I write it in german....how mean is that, buddies?
HARHARHAR!

Das Ding hat eine Menge Knopfe. Klar, zwei Pedale in einem, da gibt's einiges zu regeln. "Speed" und "Depth" sind Doppelpotis: innen fur Trem, der Ring (nicht sehr einfach zu erkennen) fur Chorus. Dazwischen ein 5-fach-Dreh-Regler, um verschiedene EQ-Presets anzuwahlen.

Dazu ein Schalter, um das Trem "soft" oder "hard" zu schalten, und ein Drehregler fur den Mix zwischen trockenem und Effektsignal. An der Kopfseite befindet sich ausserdem ein Schieber, der 3 verschiedene Eingangspegelstarken einstellt.

Dazu ist das ganze Stereo aus gelegt. Allerdings liegt auf einem Ausgang nur das trockene Signal.

Definitiv: das ist nix fur Anfanger. Da muss man eine Weile dran rumfummeln, bis man die Moglichkeiten ausgelotet , bzw. das Gerat auf den eigenen Geschmack eingestellt hat. Dann flutscht es aber.....

Mein Setup: Gibson Les Paul oder SG / Boss Tuner TU2 / Rocktron Austin Gold Overdrive (alternativ Digitech Tone Driver) / Wasabi AC-1 / 85er Fender Concert II / 2x12"Box Eigenbau mit Celestion Greenback und Vintage 30.

Was zuerst auffallt : das Tremolo neigt zum Rauschen. Liegt wohl daran, das es "aktiv" arbeitet. Das heisst: anders als bei anderen Pedalen wird der Gesamtpegel durchs Trem nicht gesenkt, sondern bleibt auf gewohnter Hohe. Das ist nun wieder klasse...man kann halt nicht alles haben. Viel wichtiger: der "Schwell" ist sehr schon weich und rhythmisch, so dass man den Effekt wunderbar an ein gegebenes Tempo anpassen oder sein Spiel darauf einstellen kann. Klasse. Auch die "hard" Option (der Stotter-Effekt) ist recht brauchbar, weil man sie durch den Mix-Regler entscharfen kann (den ein Trem-Pedal sonst nicht hat). Wegen des Tremolos habe ich das Gerat gekauft. Und ich bin sehr zufrieden damit.

Beim Chorus wird man unweigerlich daran erinnert, dass diese Serie bewusst "abseits des Mainstream" konzipiert wurde. Das ist ein SEHR heftiger Effekt. Wenn man die Regler etwa in Mittenposition bringt (oder gar mutig weiter aufreisst), jault das Ding durchs ganze Frequenzspektrum. Im Extremfall klingt es, als wurde man standig am Hebel eines Floyd-Rose rutteln - dezent ist was anderes! Aber: auch der Chorus fallt durch eine sehr runde, rhythmische Modulation auf.
Univibe-Fans werden das mit einem breiten Grinsen quittieren. Ein eher unauffalliger, leichter Chorus-Effekt geht, wenn der Depth-Regler nicht uber 10 Uhr steht und Speed nicht uber 11. Millimeterarbeit - die Regler sind ausgesprochen effektiv.

Dazu kann man mit den EQ-Presets noch einiges anstellen. "Flat" ist klar: was reingeht, kommt auch raus. 1 hebt die Hohen etwas an, 2 dunnt die Mitten aus, 3 ist dumpf, 4 mittig-hohl-nasal. Auch hier Extreme. Nicht das, was sie alle machen. Setting 2 gefallt mir ausgesprochen gut, weil mein Setup von Haus aus recht mittenbetont ist. Angezerrte Powerchords, Riffing oder cleane Arpeggios klingen damit sehr schon offen und durchsetzungsfahig. Cool!

Richtig spassig wird's dann ,wenn man beide Effekte zusammen laufen lasst. Man kann sie im Tempo synchronisieren, was noch relativ harmlos klingt. Aber wenn man z.B. dem Chorus etwa halb so schnell wie das Tremolo laufen lasst, bekommt man eine saugeile Rotary-Speaker- Simulation. Und bei vollig asynchronen Einstellungen fangt der ganze Raum an zu wabbern. Atemberaubend.....aber nicht lange zu ertragen. Ich neige zu der Idee des "Weniger ist mehr".

Der Pickup-Switch kann ubrigens (in der Single-Coil-Stellung) genutzt werden, um den Eingang zu ubersteuern und den Pegel des Effekts anzuheben. Eine versteckte Overdrive-Option. Durchaus interessant, wenn der Amp schon im angezerrten Berich arbeitet.. Ich hab schon OD-Pedale gehort, die schlechter klangen. Der Schalter kann den Pegel naturlich auch senken, wenn man das fur Begleit-Parts braucht.

Moglichkeiten zuhauf, eigene und besonders eigenwillige Klange zu basteln.....und das Pedal klingt immer rund, warm und musikalisch, sehr "analog". Schon.

Fur das Gehause musste es einen Design-Preis geben. '59er Eldorado-Heckflossen, in die zwei Lampchen eingebaut sind, die anzeigen, wenn der Effekt lauft. Wenn man auf der Buhne mal abbiegen will: Blinken nicht vergessen. Und das ganze in Lake Placid Blue. Geil, geil, geil. Mehr geht nicht. Zum niederknien.

Noch dazu ist das ganze Ding aus Gusseisen und wiegt ein sattes Kilo. Damit kann man vermutlich Nagel in die Wand hauen. Die Fussschalter sind gross, solide und lassen sich satt bewegen. Nur die Drehregler stehen ein Stuck vor.

Wenn die Elektrik auch so solide ist, kann eigentlich nix schiefgehen. Made in China.

Ich habe das Gerat erst seit Kurzem, insofern lass ich mich mal uberraschen.

Wofur gibt's EU-Gewahrleistung?
War bislang bei keinem meiner Gerate je ein Thema.

Ich mache seit 25 Jahren Musik. Mein Equipment ist seit Jahren unverandert. Fur meine Mucke (Klassischer Rock, irgendwo zwischen Stones, Mellenkamp, Kravitz, Zeppelin, Allman Brothers...) brauche ich einen sehr straighten Sound, also benutze ich maximal einen Modulationseffekt. Der darf dann auch auffallen und wechselt gelegentlich. Der letzte war ein Bad-Stone-Phaser von EH, der jetzt ausgemustert wird.

Den AC-1 habe ich vor ein paar Tagen gekauft. Ich habe einige Stunden gebraucht, um seine Moglichkeiten auszuloten und eine Einstellung zu finden, die mir gefallt. Aber das, was ich jetzt hore, gefallt mir sehr gut. Ein deutliches, mittelschnelles Tremolo, ein dezenter Chorus, der die Rhythmussounds -wegen des EQs - schon knackig macht, und ein bemerkenswerter Rotary Speaker in einem Pedal. Sehr, sehr geil. Sehr rund, sehr "vintage", sehr musikalisch. Und dann gibt's da noch ein paar Moglichkeiten zum rumalbern mit abartigen Extremeinstellungen. Ganz klar ist das Pedal da einzuordnen, wo Danelectro hinwollte: jenseits vom Mainstream.

Davon abgesehen ist es solide gebaut und sieht hammergeil aus. Da steckt ein Haufen Spass drin. Dennoch bleibe ich dabei: nix fur Anfanger. Man muss schon sehr genau wissen, was man erreichen will und was man besser lassen sollte, um zu einem guten (band-dienlichen!) Sound zu kommen.