We love preamp pedals, and we love reverb effects, so what could be better than to have them both in the same place? AND have them modeled after very old, specific circuitry, making the sound unlike any pedal we’ve encountered before? That’s just what has happened with the Nocturne Brain El Pescadoro Reverberant Hot Preamp, an incredible dual channel device that will transport you about 70 years into the past…
The El Pescadoro is an Octal Tube Character preamp, combined with a Chess Records Era ‘verb, to model the “Recorded Sounds” heard on those old Chicago waterfront albums. The Preamp side seeks to emulate the vintage Gibson EH150/185 amplifiers, pre-dating the Memphis sound and embracing roots rock legacy across the board. Electrified blues in a box is the name of the game here, with a range of tones from warm and saturated to bright and jangly. The Mode switch lets you select between Chitlins and Grits modes, which are based on the Instrument and Microphone channels of those classic amps, the latter of which has an extra gain stage, for two distinct and amazing tonal options.
On the Reverb side, you get a cleverly-voiced reverberation emulation circuit. Sounding great on its own, it really comes alive when being pushed by the Preamp channel, providing an ambient backdrop for recreating some pioneering sounds from eras gone by. The Mode switch here lets you go from luscious plate ambience to odd-shaped rooms and murky catacombs that lie beneath the city streets, really opening up where this reverb can take you.
From subtle reverb-infused breakup to heavy, dirty, ambient bliss, the El Pescadoro Reverberant Hot Preamp takes two classic effects and gives them a makeover like you’ve never heard. Coming from an era where the recording had a haunting bloom, this pedal emulates an iconic captured live sound that surrounds a guitar in a mix. This is our first foray into the world of The Nocturne Brain, and after deep diving into this effect, we cannot wait to check out some more of their gear in the near future. Be sure to follow them on all the socials, and check out their website for more info on this beauty of a pedal, too. Full demo below as well, cheers!
Affiliate Links:
Sweetwater – https://sweetwater.sjv.io/MX05KP
StewMac – https://stewmac.sjv.io/P0X7BQ
Perfect Circuit – https://bit.ly/3pHpS6P
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3FN04Mq
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