Crazy Tube Circuits launches Sidekick JR modulation, delay and reverb pedal

September 20, 2023 · 3 sources

Crazy Tube Circuits announced the Sidekick JR, a compact modulation, delay and reverb pedal, in September 2023. MusicRadar reported the pedal on 19 September¹; Gearnews published its coverage on 20 September².

The Sidekick JR is the successor to the original Sidekick from 2019²¹. It has three effect sections: modulation, delay and reverb². MusicRadar reports the modulation algorithms increase from two on the original to three, inspired by Boss's 1980s effects: an Ensemble for chorus tones, a Dimension algorithm and a flanger mode¹. Gearnews describes the Ensemble as delivering "warm and gentle modulated chorus sounds" and the Dimension as making the sound image appear more three-dimensional than a typical chorus². The delay section increases from one algorithm to two, combining tape echo with digital delay inspired by 1980s rack units¹. The reverb section doubles from the original, with plate, spring and hall in Bank A and gated, exciter and shimmer in Bank B²¹.

The pedal has two footswitches, and its effects can be used independently or simultaneously, combining analog mixing, buffering and filtering with digital effects¹. An internal switch selects true or buffered bypass with reverb tails¹. The delay and reverb sections operate independently, and the modulation can be assigned to either by default; with the separately available XT footswitch, the modulation section becomes fully independent and can be switched on and off on its own²¹. MusicRadar reports the smaller enclosure meant dropping the speaker sim DI and headphone output of the larger Sidekick¹. Gearnews describes a "Power-up Bypass/Engage Preset" function that sets the mode engaged when power is connected².

According to PedalPedia, the circuit type is hybrid, it runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 210mA³. Gearnews lists the Sidekick JR at $256.00 and the XT footswitch at $46.00, and reports the pedal is available from Thomann².

Gearnews wrote that the pedal "certainly offers a lot of value for money for one pedal"².