The Idolator is the third collaboration between T. Bizon, Nick Williams (ex-Dunwich Amplification) and Acid Rain Pedalworks. The Idolator is not only our take on the widely loved "Violet Rams Head" circuit, but might be one of the heaviest takes on a classic yet.
While the core of this circuit is a faithful recreation of the Violet Rams Head, it has been augmented with a few modifications and features to the core circuit, as well as an added feature outside the core circuit.
The changes to the “core” circuit are as follows:
- Vintage NOS BC238c transistors
- Clipping stages have been changed to link to a dual-gang potentiometer that sweeps between NOS Soviet Germanium diodes, Red 3mm LEDs and MOSFETs, with blended gradients of those in between.
- Added active gyrator Midrange control. Allows you to sculpt the midrange of your “Muff” sound to your choosing. 12 o’clock noon is neutral. You can give yourself the mid bump, the mid dip, or if you’re really nasty, the super mega scoop and suck it all out.
The second part of the Idolator is the “Idolize” stomp, which activates the High and Low EQ, which are an active HM2 inspired gyrator EQ that acts SEPARATELY from from the Mids control (i.e. this not the Mid band decoupled from the Highs, which is a common modification to HM2 style EQs. The "mids" of the HM2 EQ are still tied to the High control). While this totally has the ability to deliver a form of the infamous “Swedish Chainsaw” sound, it purposes is, and provides, much more than that. When not dialed to extremes, these controls are excellent at adding in some Body, Weight and/or “top end” to the signal and help sculpt your sound even further, with the ability to explode your friends and family’s skulls.
While you can certainly use this pedal into a clean amp, we created it with the purpose of using it in front of something providing some “break up”/gain (aka amp gain below half).
Original Art by Arketipe
All units will be Acid Etched with red LEDs and mini Brutalist knobs.
Featuring Neutrik and Lumberg jacks, Premium footswitches, Vintage NOS BJT transistors, Genuine Soviet germanium diodes and Texas Instruments IC's.
PCBs and SMT PCB assembly provided by JLCPCB.
Runs on standard 9v Center Negative power ONLY.
Disclaimer: Due to the nature of acid etching, no two enclosures will be exactly alike. Some details will be more apparent in some than others.