Iron Ether Subterranea

[Jean Baudin]

I dunno. I've had weekly 3+ hour outdoor gigs for the past couple of years and the blue LEDs are great for that - much better than red (and led displays like on the eventide/timeline are horrible). But I'm probably in the minority here.

EDIT:
Missed HolmeBass' post - exactly.

And to comment on the knobs, I do prefer the smooth w/ blacklines too - the "ribbed" ones (twss?) are tricky to get a read in certain situations. I asked Taylor about it and the choice of knob, depends on the pots available.

 

[Jared Lash]

As for LED brightness, it seems that pedals that are too bright on a dark stage are just right on a sunny festival stage, and pedals that are fine on a dark stage are invisible on a sunny stage. So I'm for brighter LEDs since you can mitigate them with tape, but there's no way to make a dim LED brighter for a sunny stage.

I dunno. I've had weekly 3+ hour outdoor gigs for the past couple of years and the blue LEDs are great for that - much better than red (and led displays like on the eventide/timeline are horrible). But I'm probably in the minority here.

Good points and obviously everyone's situations are different. I currently play very few day gigs so that's where my perspective lies.

 

[M Sterling]

I'd say blue and I like them bright so I can see better on a sunny stage. I think it's a little harder to see the red ones.

 

[HolmeBass]

I will add back in that knobs with high contrast lines are better than other, perhaps more stylish, options. What about little mini chicken-head knobs? Does such a thing even exist?

 

[DeltaPhoenix]

What about little mini chicken-head knobs? Does such a thing even exist?

Maybe, check Mammoth Electronics if you want some on yours. I like the Xerograph knobs with the darkened in line.

 

[HolmeBass]

Sort of like the ones on the Polytope- those work just fine for me.

 

[amos]

To put it simply, in my opinion, Blue LEDs are just too bright.

 

[FretNoMore]

To put it simply, in my opinion, Blue LEDs are just too bright.

Have to agree with that. Blue LEDs, and white, actually several in other colors as well on my board, have white electrical tape over them to make them tolerable. I'm nearly blinded when looking at them uncovered.

I don't often play outdoors in daylight, so that's not a concern. And, the sticky tape can come off in that case.

 

[tink9975]

That should be the next pedal innovation, an inside/outside or day/night switch to control the brightness of the LEDs

 

[bellrach]

That should be the next pedal innovation, an inside/outside or day/night switch to control the brightness of the LEDs

^this

 

[mmbongo]

Have to agree with that. Blue LEDs, and white, actually several in other colors as well on my board, have white electrical tape over them to make them tolerable. I'm nearly blinded when looking at them uncovered.

I don't often play outdoors in daylight, so that's not a concern. And, the sticky tape can come off in that case.

VFE Pedals get mad props from me for having a trim pot to adjust the LED level.

I have no idea why everyone doesn't do this.

 

[bongomania]

Cost.

 

[HolmeBass]

I almost posted the same thing- a sensor, like on cheap alarm clocks. But that's just more weight, cost, and space consumed on a pedal. I like the trim pot idea, you could just adjust your peds before playing outside, then set them back to dim for the majority of night gigs. I'm sure Jean would just *love* to pry all his pedals off of his board before and after his weekly outdoor gig, open each one up, and adjust the internal trim pot.

Maybe some tape over the brightest lights is the easiest, cheapest solution? Or just wear your sunglasses at night gigs so you can feel cool?

 

[dalo]

I prefer blue.
That being said, I've already place my order and will be happy no matter the color of the LED.

 

[Yurtra]

I think red would look killer!

 

[insomniac2295]

That's useful feedback. I know some of the really early pedals had crazy bright LEDs but if it's a problem on the Polytope I suppose we need to tone it down a bit!

How's about this: Adjustable LED brightness via an internal trimmer with a resistor in series so you can't burn out the LED? I've been contemplating this for my own personal builds...

 

[insomniac2295]

Regarding the red/blue debate- Couldn't you use a bi-color LED and a mini toggle switch to get the best of both worlds?

 

[sclemmer]

When are these things going to ship?

 

[Taylor Livingston]

They start shipping in about 2 to 3 weeks.

 

[sclemmer]

The wait is killing me...