Pigtronix

Notes: Warm and cozy

Class A Boost will fatten up and boost anything you feed it. This deceptively simple design uses discreet J-FET transistors in a single-ended "Class A" configuration to achieve the warmest possible tone. Class A Boost can deliver up to 20db of clean boost and remains effective with both instrument and line level signals. Superior signal to noise performance allows you to put the Class A Boost anywhere in your pedal chain. It can add punch and extra output to a classic overdrive sound and is able to push distortion pedals into extremely aggressive crunch land. Class A Boost is also ideal for hitting the front end of a tube amp to achieve an added layer of sweetness.

Knob-by-knob

Level: Sets the overall output volume.

Satisfying saturation

The feed-forward J-FET based design of the Class A Boost provides up to 20db of high-headroom boost with just enough class A saturation to warm up your tone.

Gotta bounce

Late for a rehearsal several light years away, Marvin thought it was a space mirage when he first saw Class A Boost-a trampoline strapped with rocket boosters. But before he knew it, he was blasting through time and space, landing in his buddy's garage right before their drummer (also late) counted in.

Model name: Class A Boost
Function: FET Clean Boost
Category 1: Utility
Bypass: True Bypass

Electronics

Voltage: 9-18VDC
Current draw: 100mA
Input impedance: 10M O
Output impedance: Freq. dependent

Body

Length (inches): 1.5
Width (inches): 3.75
Height (inches): 1.75
Weight (lbs): 0.5

Notes: Enlightening

Elevating the groundbreaking optical compression of the original Philosopher's Tone to a new plane of tonal enlightenment, the Philosopher's Tone 2 is a world-class compressor/sustainer with footswitchable Grit, allowing for more versatility than ever before. Featuring a refined implementation of the overdrive circuit first heard in the limited-edition Gold version of this iconic compressor pedal, the unique germanium distortion found in the Philosopher's Tone 2 delivers smooth top end and rich midrange response, tailored to perfectly match the characteristics of the optical sustainer driving it. In addition to Volume and Sustain controls, the Philosopher's Tone 2 features a parallel clean Blend knob that allows musicians to mix their instrument's original tone with the compressor/sustainer effect when the Grit circuit is bypassed. This mixing technique restores natural pick-attack and allows clean settings with extreme sustain to remain dynamic and musical. When the Grit circuit is engaged, the Blend knob is automatically bypassed, circumventing the compromises of the original unit and imparting a colourful distortion to your sound in both Germanium and Silicon modes. This nonlinear diode-clipping can range from subtle overdrive to overflowing distortion, all without unwanted feedback. A Treble control located just before the master Volume provides 6db of cut or boost at 2kHz for fine-tuning the frequency response of the effect. The Philosopher's Tone 2 features true-bypass switching and internal 18V power rails for maximum clean headroom that is ideal for use with hot pickups, active bass, synthesisers and other line-level sources. Runs on 9VDC.

Knob-by-knob

Volume: Sets the overall output volume.
Treble: Boosts or cuts treble at 2kHz.
Sustain: Sets the amount of sustain.
Blend: Mixes your compressed effect with your clean signal. Note: This control is only active when the Grit footswitch is turned OFF.
Grit: Controls the gain of the overdrive stage. Note: This control is only active when the Grit footswitch is turned ON.

Rare design

Generations of guitar players have sought noiseless clean sustain from a compressor, and this was the guiding goal of the research and design behind Philosopher's Tone, yielding a compressor with an internal 18 volts of headroom and naturally musical tone control.

The evolution of Philosopher's Tone

First released in 2009 and igniting a new following for Pigtronix, the Philosopher's Tone 2 is a "best of" design, incorporating the best elements of previous iterations plus a completely redefined Grit knob for significantly more versatility.

Modern-day alchemy

Practitioners of the mystical and ancient art of alchemy long sought an element called the Philosopher's Stone. They believed, if found, it could turn lead into gold and bestow immortality upon the person who wielded it. Philosopher's Tone 2 allows players to conjure gleaming sustain, soaring lead tones, and articulation across all six strings.

Model name: Philosopher's Tone
Function: Optical Compressor Sustainer
Category 1: Compression
Bypass: True Bypass

Electronics

Voltage: 9VDC
Current draw: 100mA
Input impedance: High
Output impedance: 150ohms

Body
Length (inches): 1.5
Width (inches): 3.75
Height (inches): 1.75
Weight (lbs): 0.5