The Analog Outfitters Scanner is an outboard effect that puts Hammond's scanner vibrato and a real spring reverb in one unit, built from salvaged Hammond reverb and vibrato sections. It is not a pedal but a desktop or rack-style box, with an acrylic top through which both the long-spring tank and the spinning vibrato motor are visible, bookended by subtly rustic woodwork. Premier Guitar reviewed it in June 2023 and listed a street price of $1,599.1
Where it came from
The Scanner is a revival of Hammond's scanner vibrato, the system originally built into Hammond organs. In 2015, Analog Outfitters resurrected this device as their Scanner, per Premier Guitar's history of modulation effects.2
The original Hammond vibrato section sent the audio signal to a delay circuit that produced nine phase-shifted copies of the original, routed to plates in a scanner assembly, where a rotating armature retrieved them.1 Analog Outfitters modifies the circuit by using a brushless DC motor they say yields more precise control of vibrato rate.1
Controls and connections
The panel is simple: two knobs for vibrato, one for reverb, and one for the DI out.1 A two-button footswitch activates each effect independently, so vibrato and reverb can be switched on their own.1
- Vibrato: two knobs, including a gain knob with a notable quirk (below)
- Reverb: one level knob for the long-spring tank1
- DI out: its own volume knob, with an independent XLR-output volume1
- Expression: a continuous-controller input for remote pedal control of vibrato rate1
- Inputs: 1/4" and XLR, with an instrument-/line-level selector1
- Footswitch: two-button, activating each effect independently1
The expression input means the vibrato speed can be ridden by foot, which suits players who want the organ-style sweep of the original scanner without reaching over to a knob. For other takes on vibrato in pedal form, see Vibrato Pedals.
What reviewers found
Premier Guitar's reviewer flagged one quirk: unity gain, the volume you'd expect if the effect were bypassed, isn't achieved until the vibrato gain knob is turned to 3 o'clock. Past that point, the tone gains tube-like saturation.1
"The sound was addictive, with a warm, delectably analog feel, and a dimensionality that simply has to be experienced to be fathomed."
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Questions
What is a Hammond Scanner Vibrato?
It is the vibrato system Hammond built into its organs. The signal goes to a delay circuit that produces nine phase-shifted copies of the original, routed to plates in a scanner assembly, where a rotating armature retrieves them. Analog Outfitters resurrected the device in 2015 as their Scanner, modifying the circuit with a brushless DC motor for more precise control of vibrato rate.
Does the Analog Outfitters Scanner have a real spring reverb?
Yes. The Scanner is built from salvaged Hammond reverb and vibrato sections, and its long-spring tank is real hardware, visible through the acrylic top alongside the spinning vibrato motor. A single knob sets the reverb level, and a two-button footswitch activates each effect independently.
Can I control the Scanner's vibrato rate with an expression pedal?
Yes. The Scanner has a continuous-controller input for remote pedal control of vibrato rate, so you can sweep the speed by foot while playing.
Does the Scanner have XLR connections?
Yes, on both sides. The inputs are 1/4-inch and XLR, with an instrument- or line-level selector, and there is an independent XLR-output volume for the DI out.
How much does the Analog Outfitters Scanner cost?
Premier Guitar's 2023 review listed a street price of $1,599.
Sources (2)
- Analog Outfitters Scanner Review, Premier Guitar, 2015-12-18
- Modulation Nation: Chorus, Phasing, and Flanging, Premier Guitar, 2018-09-20