The Curse is a boutique analog delay pedal from Dwarfcraft Devices, an American pedal builder. It was shown at the Summer NAMM Show in July 2017, with 666ms of delay time, modulation controls and CV inputs. At that point it had not been released: Dwarfcraft Devices expected it to be ready by the end of September 2017, and the pedal had no official product page or price yet1.
What it does
The Curse carries the basic delay controls for the usual Delay Time, Mix and Feedback parameters, so a player can set repeats, level and regeneration in the familiar way. On top of that sits a modulation section with a control called Skew for the waveforms, which are random, square and sine1.
The CV (Control Voltage) inputs are what set it apart from a straightforward delay. There are inputs for Tap Tempo and for Modulation, and the pedal can be clocked to other sources through CV. Gearnews suggested that with CV inputs for clocking to other sources, "you could make a lot of very strange noises with this effect pedal"1.
Sound and character
Dwarfcraft Devices leaned into the pedal's name. Gearnews wrote that with 666ms of delay time, "The Curse seems to exude evil". The modulation and CV options mean extreme settings that are far from subtle are on the table, though the pedal can do more 'normal' modulations as well1.
"you can make extreme settings that are far from subtle, though it can do more 'normal' modulations as well"
Release status and price
The Curse was announced at Summer NAMM 2017. Dwarfcraft Devices said they were hoping to get it out for under USD 450, and the RRP was listed as TBC, due in September. As of the 25 July 2017 report, the pedal had not got an official product page or price1.
This page records The Curse as it was announced in July 2017.
For context on the maker, Dwarfcraft Devices had previously released its first delay pedal, the Mini Van, in February 2016, a step into delay for a maker known mainly for fuzz and octave pedals. The Curse would have been its second entry in the delay field.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Questions
Is the Dwarfcraft Devices Curse analog or digital?
The Curse was presented as a boutique analogue delay. Gearnews described it as "a new boutique analog delay from the American pedal builder" when Dwarfcraft Devices showed it at Summer NAMM 2017. Analogue delays store the repeated signal in the analogue domain rather than converting it to digital, which is the design choice Dwarfcraft made here.
What is the maximum delay time of The Curse?
The Curse offers 666ms of maximum delay time, a figure Dwarfcraft Devices gave when the pedal was shown at Summer NAMM 2017. Gearnews noted the number fits the pedal's deliberately evil theme. Delay Time is one of the pedal's basic controls, alongside Mix and Feedback.
Was The Curse ever released?
As of the reporting from 25 July 2017, The Curse had not been released. Dwarfcraft Devices showed it at Summer NAMM 2017 and expected it to be ready by the end of September that year, but at the time of the report the pedal had no official product page or price. This page records the pedal as it was announced.
What do the CV inputs on The Curse control?
The Curse carries CV (Control Voltage) inputs for Tap Tempo and Modulation. Gearnews also noted the CV inputs allow clocking to other sources, which opens up extreme, far-from-subtle settings, though the pedal can also do more normal modulations.
What modulation waveforms does The Curse offer?
The modulation section offers three waveforms, selected with the Skew control: random, square and sine. Combined with the CV inputs for modulation, these give the pedal a wide range of movement, from conventional sweeps to stranger, less predictable shapes.
How much was The Curse expected to cost?
No official price was set when the pedal was announced. At Summer NAMM 2017, Dwarfcraft Devices said they were hoping to get it out for under USD 450, and the RRP was listed as TBC, with the pedal due in September.
Sources (1)
- Dwarfcraft Devices' The Curse: an evil new twist on guitar delay pedals, gearnews.com, 2017-07-25
