Some pedal circuits are equals parts history and mystery, as is the inspiration for the EHX Percolator. A unique design from a Milwaukee audio repair shop in the 1970s, the original is rare, gooped, and has gained a cult-classic status. The EHX Percolator expands on this original by adding modern control to a seriously wild sounding pedal.
The basis of the pedal’s tone ranges from raunchy overdrive tones to ripping heavy fuzz. These sounds are achieved by asymmetrical clipping emphasizing even-order harmonics creating an interactive tonal experience that reacts to your playing dynamics musically with the potential for absolutely explosive tones.
The EHX Percolator includes a simple but effective control set of three knobs and a single switch yielding a near infinite possibility of sounds from sweet and gentle, to face-rippingly fierce. HARMONICS controls the input gain of the pedal from overdrive to complete fuzz destruction. The BIAS control sets the bias of the gain circuit, creating sounds from smooth drive to pseudo-octave fuzz to Velcro gated fuzz tones. BALANCE sets the overall output of the effect. The DRIVE/FUZZ toggle engages the clipping diodes in FUZZ position for heavy fuzz sounds. While in DRIVE mode with the diodes disengaged, the EHX Percolator acts more like a transistor drive pedal with a raw, organic character that’s both chewy and crunchy. Under the hood, an internal trim pot can be adjusted to further enhance and bring out the sub-octave while also adding even more gain to the circuit for massive distortion with extra rumble.
The EHX Percolator features True Bypass and a footswitch with Latching/Momentary action. Clicking the footswitch produces a normal latching function. A press and hold of the footswitch results in a momentary change between bypass states for a burst of fuzz and an instant change back to bypass when you lift your foot, or vice versa.