Solid Gold FX has unveiled the NU-33 Vinyl Engine that adds the character of an old record to guitar playing.
The NU-33 Vinyl Engine is a dual-footswitch stompbox consists of four toggle switches, six dials, the standard ¼-inch ins and outs, and an expression pedal input. About its effect on the signal, it gives some vibrato and chorus to simulate an inconsistently-spinning turntable, along with some electrical hiss, pops, and crackles.
Control-wise, the Hiss dial mixes in white noise, the Flutter knob sets the width of the chorus/vibrato effect, while the Speed control determines how fast the LFO operates. The Blend dial combines wet and dry signals, while the Level knob acts as a master volume for slicing or boosting the stompbox. Finally, the Ramp control functions with the secondary footswitch, letting the player set a point for the LFO speed to ramp up or down.
At the center of the NU-33 Vinyl Engine are switches for enabling or disabling the crackle effect, as well as the selection of different skip patterns, waveforms, and EQ characters. Regarding the inspiration behind the stompbox, Solid Gold FX wrote:
“We love vintage guitars for very much the same reasons we love listening to vinyl. While they might not play as great as a shiny new high-end, precision built custom axe, their magic lies in their flaws. Every ding and scrape tells a story, every little bit of player wear and lacquer checking lends a feeling and leads to inspiration.
“Same goes for records… a little bit of noise and static pops add ambience, allowing the listener to get lost in the music while mesmerized by the rotating platter… it’s not so much about fidelity but rather warmth and texture to create a mood. We set out to combine our love for guitars with our love for records and the result is the NU-33.”
The NU-33 Vinyl Engine is now available for $250.
