Mojo Hand FX Unleashes the Klon-Style Sericon

December 6, 2021 · 5 sources

Mojo Hand FX announced the Sericon, a Klon-style overdrive pedal with three gain stages and a low-pass filter, built in a limited run and set to be discontinued once its parts and enclosures run out¹. The pedal is made in the USA, carries a lifetime warranty, and ships as an individually serial-number plated limited production issue with true bypass²¹.

The Sericon's circuit is identical to the ProAnalog Devices Manticore V2, a circuit Delicious Audio described as very well regarded, with the project finished under the Mojo Hand FX brand¹. Delicious Audio called the result "a highly tweakable and interactive version of a 'professional' gold overdrive"¹. The name comes from an alchemical term for "a solution of unknown composition," as Guitar World reported³. Visually, the pedal keeps things spare: MusicRadar noted "just five red dials on a silver painted enclosure"⁴.

Inside, the signal is split into two op-amp stages with separate Gain and Drive controls, which then meet at a third gain stage¹. The five controls each shape a different part of that chain:

• Drive sets the level of the first gain stage, which in turn affects the harmonic complexity of the later stages⁵
• Gain adjusts the gain of the second stage¹
• Blaze is the final adjustable gain stage, built around a low-pass filter; at lower Gain and Drive settings it brings in low-end warmth, while turning it counterclockwise tightens the low end and turning it clockwise adds beef and thick saturation¹
• Treble is a post-distortion control of the high frequencies¹

Gearnews found the pedal offered more than the usual Klone fare, writing: "Overall, it is a nice take on a Klon-style circuit, and not just your average Klone trying to replicate the original," with the low-pass filter potentially adding more girth to the overall sound and design⁵.

Power comes from a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included, and there is no battery provision¹⁴. The enclosure measures 4.7" L x 3.69" W x 1.37" H¹.