Gamechanger Audio and Third Man Records make the Plasma Coil

June 3, 2022 · 3 sources

Gamechanger Audio and Third Man Records created the Plasma Coil, a special version of the PLASMA Pedal, Third Man Hardware announced on July 24, 2019¹. Delicious Audio published a feature on the pedal on June 3, 2022².

The pedal is a high-voltage distortion and octave effect¹. Gamechanger says its circuit "literally amplifies the audio signal to 3500 Volts"³, and Delicious Audio describes it as converting the audio signal into a series of electrical discharges at 3.5 kV². Gamechanger gives the simplified signal chain as input, EQ, octave/effect, transformer to high voltage, xenon tube, an antenna that picks up the electromagnetic vibrations surrounding the tube, and output³. The maker states the expected life of the xenon tube is 10,000 to 70,000 hours of active playing³.

The Coil adds multiple octave-style circuits and an additional effects footswitch that can be set as latching or momentary³²¹. The effects knob selects one of six effect types: a volume boost, two subharmonic modes (bitcrush-style octave down), one upper harmonic mode (octafuzz-style octave up) and two mixed modes combining upper and lower harmonics³². Controls are two EQ knobs for low and high frequencies, a voltage knob that adjusts the current sent to the plasma tube, a master volume knob and a silent on/off footswitch³². Delicious Audio notes another difference from the original: the blend control is removed, so "with PLASMA COIL the signal is always 100% PLASMA"². Gamechanger says the pedal produces no output signal once playing stops, because the discharge in the gas-filled tube is interrupted³.

Gamechanger lists the pedal as in stock with SKU GCAPCO, a lifetime warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee³. Third Man said at launch it would be sold exclusively at its online and physical stores, in a standard black edition and a special yellow edition while supplies lasted¹. Third Man said Jack White was using the pedal in his rig on tour with The Raconteurs¹, and Gamechanger says he used it on the band's album Help Us Stranger³. Delicious Audio reports that White asked the manufacturer to collaborate on a similar device sold through the label's store².