The LoFi Mind Effects Chrystal Machine is an original octave-up fuzz design by a young Spanish builder that incorporates three rare NOS Silicon transistors and two germanium diodes. Hosted in a large vintage-style, slanted case, this pedal can deliver a wide range of tones, from classic Germanium sounds to aggressive and raw punk rock tones reminiscent of artists like the Stooges, MC5, or Hendrix – just like its retro looks inspired by the graphics from those bands’ records.
The CM features six controls:
- Level: Adjusts the final volume of the effect.
- Oscillation: Adds self-oscillation or feedback, essentially turning the pedal into a tiny synth.
- Depth: Controls the input signal impedance, adding more distortion and octave to the effect.
- Frequency: Acts as a tone control that interacts with oscillation and depth, enabling the creation of different sounds when the pedal is oscillating.
- Warm: Introduces significant amounts of distortion by controlling the second gain stage.
- Voltage: Regulates the overall voltage of the circuit, influencing the stability and volume of the fuzz.
In summary, the CM stands out as a versatile (and cool-looking) tone-shaping tool that interacts with the original signal and responds to changes made with the guitar’s volume potentiometer.
LoFi Mind Effects Chrystal Machine, Builder’s Notes
The CRYSTAL MACHINE is a totally original fuzz design with three rare NOS silicon transistors and two germanium diodes. The crystal machine can be considered an octave up fuzz, with the function of self-silencing or more feedback, but with the CM you can get from great classic germanium tones to the blistering punk rock riffs or solos created by the Stooges, MC5 or Hendrix.The perfect description could be that inside this pedal you have Wayne Kramer having a sound battle with Jimi Hendrix.
Controls:
The CM has 5 controls
- Level, which adjusts the final volume of the effect
- Oscillation, which adds self-oscillation or feedback to the effect, making it even a small synthesizer.
- Depth, which controls the impedance or input signal, adding more distortion and octave to the effect.
- Frequency, acts as a tone control, susceptible to the oscillation and depth control, we can play with this control when the pedal is oscillating, creating different sounds.
- Warm, adds huge amounts of distortion, controlling the second gain stage and thus obtaining all more classic or more modern.
- Voltage, controls the overall voltage of the circuit, making the transistor configuration more stable or less stable, it also adds some volume to the final signal.
- In short, octafuzzes are usually one trick ponies, but in this case the CM is an all-rounder of the tone, which respects the signal and cleans with the volume potentiometer of your guitar.
Specs
The CM can be powered by either 9V batteries or power supplies.
It uses 2.1 boss type barrels, with negative center, and to avoid noise and leaks, it uses an Isolda power supply. Remember that the CM has an oscillation and noise mode, if you don’t use an isolated power supply, this noise/oscillation could leak to the other pedals even when the pedal is off. please avoid the daisy chain.
