*PRE-ORDER* PIQUE Dynamic Pre Amplifier/Buffer and Harmonic Enhancer
The Pique is an expansion and revision on our Preamp 150 design and consists of 3 main parts; a boost/preamp, a high headroom buffer and a harmonic enhancer/exciter, all segments of which are switchable via 4 rocker switches and a master foot-switch. The boost circuit is identical to the Mile End Effects Preamp 150 circuit, using the same NOS JFETs found in the original RE-150 Space Echo and creating that same sought after glassy boost or always-on Preamp. The Pique also acts as a high headroom buffer, restoring clarity and strength to your signal through long cabling, pedal chains and impedance mismatches. Finally, this device functions as a dynamic equalizer where phase manipulation and harmonic synthesis are applied to certain frequencies so as to enhance transients with the addition of subtle harmonic distortion. All of these elements combine to create a very versatile tone shaping utility that happily sits anywhere between your instrument output and the rest of your signal chain.
THE PREAMP/BOOST:
The preamp/boost function on the Pique is the result of a love for the way a vintage Space Echo sounds when the preamp pushes an amplifier right to the brink of overdrive. The harmonically rich and glassy tone that this preamp provides is something that I found unique about the feel and tonal characteristics of the RE-150 due in part to its JFET based design, differing from the later 201 and 301 OpAmp based preamps. The gorgeous, dynamic sound that the RE-150 Preamp produces is really something special and has been faithfully recreated here using the same NOS JFET transistors found in the original units.
THE BUFFER:
The buffer acts as high headroom, unity gain current amplifier for your signal. Operating at 18vDC, this buffer compensates for loss of clarity and preserves high frequencies and signal strength even when passing through long cable lengths and other effects pedals. It also transforms a high impedance (ie. guitar pickup) signal into an identical low impedance signal. This is very useful when using high impedance instruments with low impedance, line-level devices (such as mixing consoles, certain tape delays and other Hi-Z audio equipment). Turning off the main foot-switch also disengages the buffer.
THE DYNAMIC EQ:
The EQ switches involve the creation of higher order harmonics by implementing filtering, very slight phase shifts and musically related harmonics to the audio signal.
HIGH FREQ.: The High Frequency switch creates a phase manipulation and adds saturation applied to high frequencies (above 1500hZ) so as to enhance transients.
The way it works is that some of the input signal is diverted via a high pass filter and harmonics generating circuit (in this case using op-amps). These harmonics are generated when elements within the circuit introduce distortion to the signal. For the high end frequencies, a high‑pass filter is used to remove unwanted low frequencies so that the newly generated harmonic content exists only at the top end of the audio spectrum. By using filters to keep the distortion in the upper frequencies of the signal, it's possible to fill in missing or ‘weak’ high frequency detail in a way that our brains will accept as natural. Then a very small amount of the processed signal is mixed back into the original signal allowing the audio to appear far more detailed without a perceived difference in amplitude. This will enhance dull audio and further add breath to transient sounds to produce an apparent increase in dimension, vibrance and presence.
BRILLIANCE: The brilliance switch works much like a simple bright cap or bright switch on an amplifier. Using a low value capacitor, low end is further filtered out of the signal allowing only specific high frequencies to pass.
LOW FREQ.: The Low Frequency switch works on the principle that in real life, high‑frequency sounds travel slightly faster than low‑frequency sounds. With a phase shifted low pass filter introduced to compress, saturate and delay low end information, the signal is given the impression of producing more immediate and enhanced perceived low end depth. Phase-lagging, saturating and compressing frequencies below 150hZ subtly makes low end content seem bigger.
The Pique pre amp is lovingly handcrafted in Montréal, Québec with high quality components and comes with a lifetime warranty.
This pedal requires 9vDC, centre negative power and requires 250mA of current.
.
The Pique is an expansion and revision on our Preamp 150 design and consists of 3 main parts; a boost/preamp, a high headroom buffer and a harmonic enhancer/exciter, all segments of which are switchable via 4 rocker switches and a master foot-switch. The boost circuit is identical to the Mile End Effects Preamp 150 circuit, using the same NOS JFETs found in the original RE-150 Space Echo and creating that same sought after glassy boost or always-on Preamp. The Pique also acts as a high headroom buffer, restoring clarity and strength to your signal through long cabling, pedal chains and impedance mismatches. Finally, this device functions as a dynamic equalizer where phase manipulation and harmonic synthesis are applied to certain frequencies so as to enhance transients with the addition of subtle harmonic distortion. All of these elements combine to create a very versatile tone shaping utility that happily sits anywhere between your instrument output and the rest of your signal chain.
THE PREAMP/BOOST:
The preamp/boost function on the Pique is the result of a love for the way a vintage Space Echo sounds when the preamp pushes an amplifier right to the brink of overdrive. The harmonically rich and glassy tone that this preamp provides is something that I found unique about the feel and tonal characteristics of the RE-150 due in part to its JFET based design, differing from the later 201 and 301 OpAmp based preamps. The gorgeous, dynamic sound that the RE-150 Preamp produces is really something special and has been faithfully recreated here using the same NOS JFET transistors found in the original units.
THE BUFFER:
The buffer acts as high headroom, unity gain current amplifier for your signal. Operating at 18vDC, this buffer compensates for loss of clarity and preserves high frequencies and signal strength even when passing through long cable lengths and other effects pedals. It also transforms a high impedance (ie. guitar pickup) signal into an identical low impedance signal. This is very useful when using high impedance instruments with low impedance, line-level devices (such as mixing consoles, certain tape delays and other Hi-Z audio equipment). Turning off the main foot-switch also disengages the buffer.
THE DYNAMIC EQ:
The EQ switches involve the creation of higher order harmonics by implementing filtering, very slight phase shifts and musically related harmonics to the audio signal.
HIGH FREQ.: The High Frequency switch creates a phase manipulation and adds saturation applied to high frequencies (above 1500hZ) so as to enhance transients.
The way it works is that some of the input signal is diverted via a high pass filter and harmonics generating circuit (in this case using op-amps). These harmonics are generated when elements within the circuit introduce distortion to the signal. For the high end frequencies, a high‑pass filter is used to remove unwanted low frequencies so that the newly generated harmonic content exists only at the top end of the audio spectrum. By using filters to keep the distortion in the upper frequencies of the signal, it's possible to fill in missing or ‘weak’ high frequency detail in a way that our brains will accept as natural. Then a very small amount of the processed signal is mixed back into the original signal allowing the audio to appear far more detailed without a perceived difference in amplitude. This will enhance dull audio and further add breath to transient sounds to produce an apparent increase in dimension, vibrance and presence.
BRILLIANCE: The brilliance switch works much like a simple bright cap or bright switch on an amplifier. Using a low value capacitor, low end is further filtered out of the signal allowing only specific high frequencies to pass.
LOW FREQ.: The Low Frequency switch works on the principle that in real life, high‑frequency sounds travel slightly faster than low‑frequency sounds. With a phase shifted low pass filter introduced to compress, saturate and delay low end information, the signal is given the impression of producing more immediate and enhanced perceived low end depth. Phase-lagging, saturating and compressing frequencies below 150hZ subtly makes low end content seem bigger.
The Pique pre amp is lovingly handcrafted in Montréal, Québec with high quality components and comes with a lifetime warranty.
This pedal requires 9vDC, centre negative power and requires 250mA of current.
.
The Pique is an expansion and revision on our Preamp 150 design and consists of 3 main parts; a boost/preamp, a high headroom buffer and a harmonic enhancer/exciter, all segments of which are switchable via 4 rocker switches and a master foot-switch. The boost circuit is identical to the Mile End Effects Preamp 150 circuit, using the same NOS JFETs found in the original RE-150 Space Echo and creating that same sought after glassy boost or always-on Preamp. The Pique also acts as a high headroom buffer, restoring clarity and strength to your signal through long cabling, pedal chains and impedance mismatches. Finally, this device functions as a dynamic equalizer where phase manipulation and harmonic synthesis are applied to certain frequencies so as to enhance transients with the addition of subtle harmonic distortion. All of these elements combine to create a very versatile tone shaping utility that happily sits anywhere between your instrument output and the rest of your signal chain.
THE PREAMP/BOOST:
The preamp/boost function on the Pique is the result of a love for the way a vintage Space Echo sounds when the preamp pushes an amplifier right to the brink of overdrive. The harmonically rich and glassy tone that this preamp provides is something that I found unique about the feel and tonal characteristics of the RE-150 due in part to its JFET based design, differing from the later 201 and 301 OpAmp based preamps. The gorgeous, dynamic sound that the RE-150 Preamp produces is really something special and has been faithfully recreated here using the same NOS JFET transistors found in the original units.
THE BUFFER:
The buffer acts as high headroom, unity gain current amplifier for your signal. Operating at 18vDC, this buffer compensates for loss of clarity and preserves high frequencies and signal strength even when passing through long cable lengths and other effects pedals. It also transforms a high impedance (ie. guitar pickup) signal into an identical low impedance signal. This is very useful when using high impedance instruments with low impedance, line-level devices (such as mixing consoles, certain tape delays and other Hi-Z audio equipment). Turning off the main foot-switch also disengages the buffer.
THE DYNAMIC EQ:
The EQ switches involve the creation of higher order harmonics by implementing filtering, very slight phase shifts and musically related harmonics to the audio signal.
HIGH FREQ.: The High Frequency switch creates a phase manipulation and adds saturation applied to high frequencies (above 1500hZ) so as to enhance transients.
The way it works is that some of the input signal is diverted via a high pass filter and harmonics generating circuit (in this case using op-amps). These harmonics are generated when elements within the circuit introduce distortion to the signal. For the high end frequencies, a high‑pass filter is used to remove unwanted low frequencies so that the newly generated harmonic content exists only at the top end of the audio spectrum. By using filters to keep the distortion in the upper frequencies of the signal, it's possible to fill in missing or ‘weak’ high frequency detail in a way that our brains will accept as natural. Then a very small amount of the processed signal is mixed back into the original signal allowing the audio to appear far more detailed without a perceived difference in amplitude. This will enhance dull audio and further add breath to transient sounds to produce an apparent increase in dimension, vibrance and presence.
BRILLIANCE: The brilliance switch works much like a simple bright cap or bright switch on an amplifier. Using a low value capacitor, low end is further filtered out of the signal allowing only specific high frequencies to pass.
LOW FREQ.: The Low Frequency switch works on the principle that in real life, high‑frequency sounds travel slightly faster than low‑frequency sounds. With a phase shifted low pass filter introduced to compress, saturate and delay low end information, the signal is given the impression of producing more immediate and enhanced perceived low end depth. Phase-lagging, saturating and compressing frequencies below 150hZ subtly makes low end content seem bigger.
The Pique pre amp is lovingly handcrafted in Montréal, Québec with high quality components and comes with a lifetime warranty.
This pedal requires 9vDC, centre negative power and requires 250mA of current.
.