The Alexander Pedals La Calavera is a phaser pedal, introduced in December 2015 and shipping at that time, that Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up as "a retro-sounding phaser with fun modern twists"12. Its graphics lean on Mexican folk art, and its three modes, Suave, Dinámica and Loco, cover everything from a traditional studio-style phase shifter to a touch-sensitive stompbox phaser and a ring-modulated oddity2. It sits in the phaser family alongside Alexander's later Luminous Phaseshifter.
The three modes
A top-panel toggle selects between the modes, and each one is a different phaser circuit rather than a variation of one1.
| Mode | What it is | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Suave | Ten-stage "studio" phase shifter with adjustable depth and feedback2 | "Lush, retro-sounding 10-stage phasing"1 |
| Dinámica | Four-stage "stompbox" phaser design where the phase speed is controllable by the player's touch2 | Speed follows playing dynamics |
| Loco | Six-stage phase shifter combined with an adjustable ring modulator2 | "Complex pulsations and surreal sweeps and burbles"1 |
On Loco, Premier Guitar's reviewer found the interaction between the two modulation stages comparable to the complex sweeps of a dual-stage phaser such as a Lovepedal Doppelganger or a Walrus Vanguard1.
Controls
Four knobs cover Rate, Intensity, Mix and Tweak, and the Tweak knob controls a different set of parameters in each mode2.
| Knob | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Wide-ranging speed control, "from glacial to ray-gun"2; in Dinámica mode it determines the maximum speed1 |
| Intensity | Controls the phaser sweep range2 |
| Mix | Full wet/dry mix in each mode, for dialing in any amount of phase or vibrato2 |
| Tweak | Different parameters per mode2: sets feedback in Suave and Loco1, sets sensitivity in Dinámica1 |
The Mix control is the route to vibrato: push it fully wet and the phase shifting becomes pitch modulation, which is why Alexander describes the mix as covering "any amount of phase or vibrato"2.
Power and switching
The pedal runs on conventional 9V power through a standard DC input12. There is no battery compartment, so a 9V DC supply is part of the deal1.
The La Calavera uses buffered bypass, not true bypass, with a soft-touch footswitch2. Premier Guitar notes "The footswitch is a silent relay," so switching is quiet1. Players who run all-true-bypass boards may want to account for the buffer in their chain.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's 2023 review is the main published verdict on the pedal. The reviewer framed it as part of Alexander's eye-catching graphic tradition, saying "The eye-popping graphics on their La Calavera phase shifter capture the loud, lurid fun of Mexican folk art"1. On the modes, the reviewer found Suave delivered lush retro phasing and that Loco's dual-stage interaction produced complex sweeps comparable to dedicated dual-stage phasers1.
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Questions
How many stages does the La Calavera phaser have?
It depends on the mode. Suave mode is a ten-stage phase shifter, which Premier Guitar described as lush and retro-sounding. Dinámica mode uses a four-stage stompbox-style phaser design where the phase speed responds to the player's touch. Loco mode combines a six-stage phase shifter with an adjustable ring modulator, so the stage count changes along with the character of the effect.
What does the Tweak knob do on the La Calavera?
The Tweak knob controls a different set of parameters in each mode. In Suave and Loco modes it sets the feedback amount. In Dinámica mode it sets the sensitivity of the touch-controlled phase speed. The other knobs, Rate, Intensity and Mix, also shift their roles from mode to mode.
Does the La Calavera have true bypass?
No. Alexander Pedals specifies buffered bypass switching with a soft-touch footswitch. Premier Guitar's review notes the footswitch is a silent relay, so switching is quiet on stage. Buffered bypass can be a consideration for players who prefer true bypass on large boards.
Can the La Calavera do vibrato?
Yes, by way of the Mix knob. Each phaser mode has a full wet/dry Mix control, and Alexander Pedals describes it as dialing in any amount of phase or vibrato. Running the Mix fully wet shifts the effect from phasing into vibrato territory.
What power supply does the La Calavera use?
The pedal runs on conventional 9V power through a standard DC input. There is no battery compartment, so a 9V DC supply is required. Use an isolated or otherwise reliable supply rather than a cheap daisy chain to keep the modulation clean.
How much does the Alexander Pedals La Calavera cost?
At its 2015 introduction the pedal carried a suggested retail price of $189.99. Premier Guitar's review lists a street price of $189. Prices may have moved since, so the current figure is best taken from the maker or a dealer.
Sources (2)
- Alexander La Calavera Phaser Review, Premier Guitar, 2016-08-08
- Alexander Pedals Launches La Calavera & Jubilee Drive, Premier Guitar, 2015-12-28
