Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

Multi-effects are largely sold to teens looking for a million sounds. And usually there are a half dozen "good" sounds in the box and 999,994 junk sounds left. Had the good boy or girl simply built up a small pedal collection piece by piece, he or she could be happily on his or her way to tone nirvana. Carl Martin, known for making top-knotch equipment of unmatched quality and tonality entered the multi-fx camp with something new: an all analog multi-fx floor console. It does what individual pedals--in just the same manner (no futzy menus and hard to read displays) as their boutique pedals. So for the price of a couple top-quality pedals, the Quattro gives you all you need in an easy to use, great sounding multi-effect unit. Don't think of it as a multi-effect unit; think of it as a pedal collection!

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

Quattro is a high quality device that puts a first-rate compressor and two very usable gain stages/overdrives ahead of a send/return loop and follows the return with an excellent chorus and a very good-sounding (though limited) echo (whose delay time can only be adjusted by tap tempo). On its own, Quattro offers a ton of good tone choices for a rock player. True, at 21" across, it hogs board space, but at +/- $425 on sale at GC, it's definitely cost-effective for the number and quality of effects.

I use a wah pedal and flanger (for Van Halen/Heart tones) pedal ahead of the Quattro (that is, ahead of the compression and distortion) and have a fuzz pedal followed by a Keeley super mod in the effects loop. The former provides a heavier choice for distorted tones right after the O/Ds and the later provides a choice of sixteen (including some exotic) modulation effects on two banks. I generally leave the Keeley's plate reverb on and sometimes choose one more from the second effect bank if a song calls for exotic flavors. Following the return, Quattro's chorus is almost always active in the chain. Ahead of the loop, the compressor is a constant (tho set fairly low) presence and the two overdrives get a ton of use. They're out of the signal chain only for clean tones, on one hand and fuzz, on the other. Of the Quattro's built-in effects, only the echo gets limited time.

Net, net: Quattro is a fantastic way to cover most rock sounds with a minimum of batteries, cables, wall warts, etc (which is to say, a minimum of problems), My entire effects rig has only five boxes (wah, flanger, Quattro, fuzz, and supermod station).... and there's not a lot of tones that I can't dial in with a tap.

My only issues are the limited control for the echo and the loud "pop" that often occurs when switching the drive function on or off. All other switching (including A/B drive selection) is silent. A tuner would be nice. Fix those and Quattro is a 5 star buy.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

When you see a multi-effects unit like the Quattro, you might first think "versatility" at the expense of sound quality, but this thing is 180 degrees the other way 'round. You step though each effect, as follows.

The compressor is great. Don't overdo it and you'll get unobtrusive sustain. Just dial in the fluidity you need. Then, move on to.....

Drive 1 This can be quickly dialed in (to an amp's clean channel) for a great crunch tone. Strike a few power chords and you'll get there in no time. Then, it's on to....

Drive 2 This adds substantial gain and - when dialed in - the result can be a beautiful vehicle for melodic runs. The increased level means that this setting can get you a great boosted lead tone. Crunch and lead are now settled, but may things may still sound a bit thin to some. So..

A little chorus. This effect adds flesh and rounds out the sound. I love a LITTLE of this for the single coils on my Tele, but back off even further with humbuckers. A little goes a long way, but it's worth adding in.

The default echo (100ms) effectively functions as a reverb and simply adds more body. Some have complained that making tap tempo the only adjustment here is limiting (fair enough), but the idea seems to be easy access to solid rock tones - Clean, crunch, lead - with a single channel amp. For this purpose, the Quattro works incredibly well. If you want exotic echo effects, the Quattro makes you work for them. But, if that's what you really want, the Quattro might not be the best choice for you, anyway.

Bottom line: Quatto isn't every tone you'd event want in one box. It's an easy solution for rock tones.

I dinged the Quattro one star for a lack of versatility, but this thing might deserve a sixth star for excellence within its narrower mission. If you play primarily rock music and you've got an amp that shines clean, this device will do the rest with great sound, easy set-up, and no wall warts, batteries or cords to complicate life.