Small Signal Shredder
Plumes® is a unique, all-analog take on a classic tube-style overdrive circuit offering 3 different clipping voices, plenty of headroom, and almost three-dimensional clarity that will push your amp beyond the limits. The redesigned tone control is finely tuned to sculpt bass, clear highs and focusing mids with blooming sustain.
1. Level: controls the output volume.
2. Gain: This controls the amount of training.
3. Tone: More bass on the left, more midrange in the middle and more treble on the right.
4. Clipping modes (3-way toggle):
1. Symmetrical LED Cutoff - No more crunch and compression.
2. No Clipping - Wide-aperture OpAmp drive for clean boost.
3. Asymmetric Silicon Diode Cutoff - More transparency with a loose feel.
Design Notes
Plumes is an overdrive based on that classic overrated tube circuit that you all know, and that amps love. While this particular circuit has been done to death, we here at special effects pedal brand EarthQuaker Devices think the Plumes offer an original take on the tired old dead horse that everyone loves to beat. You can't live without it, so we give you more. Doctor’s orders and what not….
To start, we removed the sacred 4558 IC and the classic BJT transistor buffers and replaced them with JFET op-amps and increased the input impedance to almost 10 megaohms! This provides less noise, better signal integrity and more chime in the high end. We power this OpAmp by taking the 9v input and converting it internally to +/- 9v to give it more headroom. The end result is a more three-dimensional sound with added clarity that really pushes a beautiful tube amp over the edge. You might notice how those badass leads that you're always ripping apart will explode on those awful not-good cymbals that your drummer is constantly fighting over. They look like diamonds…a million fucking diamonds!
We've also added three different clipping options for your consideration. Mode 1 is symmetrical clipping using a pair of light-emitting diodes. This is the crispest setting that Plumes has to offer. When played through a clean amp, it will provide a reasonable facsimile of that classic black and gold British tube amp tone. If you already have your amp dirty, using this mode will make it dirty. Mode 2 is Clean Boost mode. This completely eliminates the soft clipping diodes and leaves you with a direct OpAmp drive. This is perfect for pushing your clean sound forward or for driving an already overdriven amp's preamp into tasteful breakup territory. Mode 3 is an asymmetrical silicon diode arrangement similar to the original screamer but with more output and clean clarity; the tone that some describe as “transparent”. It's almost like your clean sound is mixed with a slightly less clean sound, you know? Using this mode gives warmer low-end response and lower output. It's less hard on your amp and your ears. It's a nice, classic tone that the whole group can enjoy.
Not enough for you? We've also improved the way the classic tone control works while leaving it familiar enough to keep you warm and comfortable. It's still a safe space, no worries here. It is now useful across the entire range. The low end is big and clear, and the high end is bright and sharp without killing the mids. Just the right amount of tonal tickle to excite those eardrums while still giving that familiar mid-heavy dynamism.
Dimensions: 4.75 x 2.50 x 2.25 in (121 x 64 x 57 mm) with buttons
Current draw: 25 mA
Input impedance: 10 MΩ
Output impedance: 100
Flexi-Switch® technology
This device features Flexi-Switch® technology! This relay-based true bypass switching style allows you to use momentary and latching style switching simultaneously.
For standard locking operation, press the footswitch once to activate the effect, then press again to bypass.
For momentary operation, hold the pedal down for as long as you want to use the effect. Once you release the switch, the effect is bypassed.
Since the switching is relay based, it requires power to transmit the signal.
Power
This device takes a standard 9 volt DC power supply with a 2.1mm negative center barrel. We always recommend pedal specific transformer isolated wall power supplies or isolated multiple output power supplies. The pedals will make extra noise if there is ripple or dirty power. Switching power supplies, daisy chains, and non-pedal-specific power supplies also don't filter dirty power and let unwanted noise through. DO NOT OPERATE AT HIGHER VOLTAGES!