Lighthouse Multi Effects Pedal | Three Independent Gain Stages With Dedicated Effects Loops

Description

Description of Product

Some projects begin with a circuit.

This one began with a frustration.

Every time I wanted to step forward for a solo I found myself reaching for two or three different pedals. A boost. A delay. Maybe an overdrive. Sometimes a fuzz as well. Before long I was concentrating more on my feet than my playing.

The Lighthouse is my answer to that problem.

Built entirely by hand on traditional tagboard, it combines three independent Hello Sailor Effects circuits into a single enclosure. Each circuit has its own dedicated footswitch, its own controls and its own true bypass effects loop. Press one switch and the complete sound comes alive, including any pedals connected to that circuit’s effects loop.

The first circuit is the Abbey Road Fuzz, built with a carefully matched pair of NOS gold pin NKT silicon transistors. These transistors have become favourites of mine because they sit beautifully between silicon and germanium. They retain the stability and output of silicon whilst responding to the guitar’s volume control with the warmth and clean up normally associated with germanium designs. Dedicated Fuzz and Volume controls allow the circuit to remain faithful to the original concept.

The second circuit is my negative ground Rangemaster, built around a genuine Made in Great Britain Mullard OC81 germanium transistor. It delivers everything I love about a vintage Rangemaster whilst working happily from a standard modern pedalboard power supply. Alongside the Boost control is my three position EQ switch, allowing the circuit to move from classic treble lift through richer midrange voices to suit different guitars and amplifiers.

The third circuit is the Kossoff Drive. Developed from years of chasing the feel rather than simply the sound of Paul Kossoff’s playing, it uses dedicated Volume, Tone and Gain controls to produce everything from edge of breakup through to rich classic British overdrive.

Each gain stage has its own dedicated true bypass effects loop.

Turn on the Abbey Road Fuzz and its delay, modulation or reverb appears with it.

Turn on the Rangemaster and its own effects chain is recalled automatically.

Turn on the Kossoff Drive and its lead effects arrive with a single press.

Nothing else needs to change.

Every signal path, every effects loop and every circuit has been hand wired on traditional tagboard. It is comfortably the largest and most complex tagboard pedal I have ever built, containing hundreds of individual solder joints and an extraordinary amount of planning before the first component was fitted.

The enclosure reflects that philosophy. Finished in aged metallic blue and white with traditional tattoo flash artwork, the lighthouse represents guidance while the compass represents direction. Together they embody exactly what this pedal was built to do, helping the player reach the sound they want with the fewest possible decisions.

Description of Sound

The Lighthouse is less about creating new sounds than making familiar sounds easier to reach.

The Abbey Road Fuzz retains the expressive clean up that has become one of its defining characteristics. Wide open it delivers rich sustaining fuzz. Roll the guitar volume back and it cleans naturally without losing its musicality.

The Rangemaster brings attack, clarity and harmonic excitement. Whether pushing a clean amplifier or driving one already working hard, it adds presence without masking the guitar beneath it.

The Kossoff Drive delivers the thick, vocal character that inspired its creation, responding naturally to picking dynamics and encouraging the player to work with the guitar rather than simply stamping on another pedal.

The biggest difference, however, is not tonal.

It is behavioural.

Instead of remembering combinations of pedals, you simply choose the sound you want.

One footswitch.

One complete sound.

Real World Testimonials

“Best fuzz I’ve ever played.”
Abbey Road Fuzz

“Joe’s pedals never a let down and this one sounds fantastic.”
Abbey Road Fuzz

“Excellent Rangemaster. One of the best and useful ones I’ve played.”
Rangemaster

“The desert island, single pedal for rock’n’roll.”
Rangemaster

“This is without a doubt one of the best distortion drive pedals I’ve ever played and I played a lot.”

“Joe‘s pedals are unique and up there with the best.”
Kossoff Drive

This is a one off build containing three completely independent Hello Sailor Effects circuits, three dedicated true bypass effects loops and the largest tagboard layout I have ever produced. It was built to remove unnecessary complexity from the pedalboard without compromising the sounds I rely on every time I play. It will never be repeated in exactly the same form. If it speaks to you, it is available.