harmonic distortion and singing feedback.
My Stratocaster’s lower-output single-coils
created a subtler saturation, but the signal
was still very cutting, resulting in a juiced,
Marshall Plexi-like tone that was simultaneously creamy, dark, and slicing. It’s remarkable—given its size—but the 44 Magnum
really can rock and rock heavily. And the
only limitation of the pedal, at least in
terms of gain range, is that it may not work
well by itself for certain genres of metal,
where extreme volume and preamp gain are
key, or for David Gilmour-style loud-and-clean applications.
I also evaluated the Magnum using a
Boss DS- 1, EHX Big Muff, and a Devi
Ever Legend of Fuzz. Here the Magnum’s
Bright switch proved to be a real asset, and
flipping it on helped the distortion pedals’
high frequencies shine through. Like most
guitarists, I generally run these pedals into
the front end of my guitar amp, effectively
funneling one preamp (the pedal) into
another (the amp’s preamp). It’s not often
that you get to hear your favorite distortion
pedals run directly into a power amp, and
it was definitely a sonic treat to experience
the fundamental voice and range of those
pedals so clearly.
The Verdict
There are a ton of potential applications for the 44 Magnum. Bass players
in smaller, quieter combos can use it to
drive a cabinet. And if you like to travel
as light as possible, but need more kick
than a small-wattage combo can deliver,
the 44 Magnum and a small cabinet are a
cost-effective and super-portable solution.
For my money, though, it’s a great piece
of insurance if you’re a touring or gigging
musician. Throw the tiny 44 Magnum into
your cable bag and you’re done with worrying about a failed amp forever. It won’t
replace your vintage or boutique tube
amp in terms of sweet tones, mega gain,
or high headroom. But it sure won’t break
your back and, at $145, it won’t break
the bank either. If your go-to amp is an
old-timer with a few quirks, you won’t be
playing Russian roulette onstage with a 44
Magnum in your holster.
Rating:
Buy If...
you regularly play electric guitar
in a live setting and subscribe to
Murphy’s Law.
Skip If...
you don’t need anything more
portable than your combo, and it
hasn’t failed you ... yet.
Electro-Harmonix
Street $145
ehx.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio clips of the pedal at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/apr2011
• Meticulous d Tape™ Echo Algorithms • Über-Flexible Tape Character Controls • Tape Age, Wow & Flutter, Tape Crinkle and More • Built-In Tape-Style Looper • True Bypass
d Tape Echo
®
www.strymon.net
