It is a compact stompbox with six knobs, three toggle switches and two footswitches, made in the USA, measuring 124 x 73 x 58mm1. Guitar.com's reviewer called it "a magic box with all sorts of surprising tricks in store"1.
The controls
The front panel carries six knobs: Wow, Flutter, Volume/Ramp, Saturate, Failure, and a 12-way rotary Model control, with alternative functions in Classic mode1. Three toggle switches handle the aux footswitch function, dry blend, noise, and preset selection (1 / manual / 2)1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Model | 12-way rotary stepping through a library of tape machine models, each with its own EQ profile21 |
| Wow | Warble control, blendable with Flutter or usable alone for randomized vibrato2 |
| Flutter | Warble control, blendable with Wow for "that familiar, wistful motion" or in isolation for quivering chorus2 |
| Saturate | Tape saturation control1 |
| Failure | Introduces unpredictability: snags, drops and wrinkles, "the moments of malfunction"2 |
| Volume/Ramp | Volume, with ramp functions in Classic mode1 |
The Model knob is the heart of the pedal. Chase Bliss built its library of tape machines through frequency analysis of physical hardware, including VCRs, dictaphones and toys2. The Failure knob is a collection of the little things that go wrong with tape, and its individual fault bits can be turned off and customized to taste2.
Classic mode and the dip switches
The back panel holds 16 DIP switches, opening up a wide range of options beyond the knobs5. The most important one is Classic. Chase Bliss puts it plainly: "turn on the Classic dip switch and you'll be right back to the Generation Loss of old. Just like you remember it"2. Delicious Audio notes that Classic mode keeps things exactly as in the original, while MKII mode emulates more closely the artifacts of a VHS tape5.
Guitar.com's reviewer confirmed that "all the sounds of the previous Generation Loss are available simply by prodding the dip-switch marked 'classic'", which also unlocks the Freeze function1. The knobs take on alternative functions in Classic mode1.
Stereo, MIDI, expression and CV
The Generation Loss MKII is the first stereo pedal in Chase Bliss's classic format2. It offers stereo in and out, mono in stereo out, and a Spread option that uses the Failure knob to create what the maker calls a malfunctioning stereo image25.
Connectivity goes well beyond a standard stompbox5:
- MIDI, accepting program change and continuous controller messages2
- CV control for external analog sources24
- Expression pedal input2
- Two presets, selectable by toggle or the second footswitch21
- Internal modulation of any or all of its knobs5
From the Cooper FX Generation Loss to the MKII
The Generation Loss began as a Cooper FX pedal, familiar to many players in the pedal community6. The MKII is based on the 2019 enhanced reissue of the Cooper FX Generation Loss, designed by Tom Majeski and created in collaboration with Chase Bliss, and the pedal still carries a silhouette image of Majeski's dog Cooper on its front1. That limited edition version's Wet (Ramp) knob could control any of five parameters, Wow, Flutter, Gen, LP and HP, individually or simultaneously, with modulating (Bounce) or ramp-and-hold behavior6.
The old Cooper FX Generation Loss evolved under its new ownership at Chase Bliss1. Guitar.com reported that the MKII "isn't a simple reskin of the now-discontinued Generation Loss V2"3, and Delicious Audio describes it as a complete stereo re-do of the popular pedal by the original designer, now under the Chase Bliss Audio name5.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis reviewed the pedal in December 2022, describing it as a multi-mode digital modulation and filter pedal, made in the USA, priced at £414 / $3991. His overall verdict:
"In classic Chase Bliss style, this is a magic box with all sorts of surprising tricks in store."
He also noted its practical side: it is powered by a 9-volt mains supply only, drawing 250 mA, with no battery option1.
The Generation Loss MKII is a preorder product, with shipping targeted to start in late September and all orders out the door by early November, shipped in the order received7. It is made in the USA8.
Videos
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Emily Hopkins
Ricky Tinez
Questions
Does the Generation Loss MKII take a battery?
No. It runs on a 9V DC center negative power supply only, drawing about 250 mA. There is no battery option, so it needs a mains adapter or an isolated pedalboard power supply with enough current on tap.
How much current does the Generation Loss MKII need?
Around 250 mA at 9V DC, center negative. That is well above what a typical 100 mA output supplies, so check that your power supply can deliver enough current before plugging it in.
Is the Generation Loss MKII analog or digital?
It is digital. Guitar.com's reviewer described it as a gleamingly digital pedal, and its tape machine models were built through frequency analysis of physical hardware such as VCRs, dictaphones and toys.
Can the Generation Loss MKII sound like the original Generation Loss?
Yes. Flipping the Classic dip switch on the back restores the sound of the original Generation Loss, and Guitar.com's reviewer confirmed all the sounds of the previous pedal are available that way. Classic mode also unlocks the Freeze function.
How many presets does the Generation Loss MKII store?
Two. A three-way toggle selects preset 1, manual, or preset 2, and the second footswitch engages whichever preset is selected. MIDI program change messages can also switch presets.
Is the Generation Loss MKII true bypass?
Chase Bliss lists it as true bypass, mode dependent. That means the bypass behavior depends on which mode the pedal is in, so check the manual for how each mode handles the signal when the pedal is off.
Sources (8)
- Chase Bliss Generation Loss MkII review, Guitar.com, 2022-12-06
- Generation Loss MKII, Chase Bliss (www.chasebliss.com)
- Chase Bliss Audio announces the Generation Loss MKII VHS Duplicator, available for pre-order now, Guitar.com, 2022-06-15
- Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII VHS Duplicator, Pedal of the Day, 2022-11-12
- Chase Bliss Audio Generation Loss MkII, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-12
- Chase Bliss Audio / Cooper FX Limited Edition Generation Loss, Pedal of the Day, 2019-11-05
- Gen Loss MKII, Chase Bliss
- The Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII makes your guitar sound like a VCR, Guitar World, 2022-06-15
