The Elysian Pedals Sick Bacchus Chorus Flanger is a modulation pedal that puts two effects in one box: a chorus and a flanger, each with its own character. Pedal of the Day describes it as "the completely different Sick Bacchus Chorus Flanger," and notes that "The Chorus and Flanger modes each offer their own unique modulated tone." For players who want both chorus and flanger sounds without dedicating two pedalboard slots, it covers both in a single modulation footprint.1
Controls
The pedal keeps things simple: "This modulation unit features just four controls and one toggle," according to Pedal of the Day.1
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Adjusts the gain circuit, which increases volume and distortion, but not to extreme measures1 |
| Speed | Sets the rate of the modulation1 |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the modulation1 |
| Intensity | Blends your wet and dry signals1 |
| Toggle | Selects between Chorus and Flanger modes1 |
The Gain knob is the unusual one for a modulation pedal. Because it drives a gain circuit, it can add a touch of saturation and level on top of the chorus or flanger effect, though Pedal of the Day is clear it does not go "to extreme measures."1
Mono, stereo and where to put it
The Sick Bacchus "runs in either Mono or Stereo. In the Stereo setting, the right channel is 5ms behind the left one," which is what gives the stereo output its widened, spread character.1
It is also flexible about placement in a rig. Pedal of the Day reports that it "sounds great in front of an amp OR in the effects loop, and can also be run straight into your favorite interface," so it works equally well as a front-of-amp pedal, in the loop, or as a recording tool direct into an audio interface.1
The Sick Bacchus uses buffered bypass, not true bypass. That is worth knowing if you plan the order of a pedalboard around bypass type.1
Artwork
The enclosure carries a distinctive finish: "The background art of the Sick Bacchus is magnified pictures of artist Jackson Pollack's actual studio floor," according to Pedal of the Day.1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal on 23 August 2023 and came away positive on both usability and range: "The Sick Bacchus is very easy to set and use in any situation," and "the sonic options here are vast and plentiful."1
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Pair of Pandas
Guy Incognito
Questions
Is the Elysian Sick Bacchus true bypass?
No. The Sick Bacchus uses buffered bypass rather than true bypass. A buffer keeps the signal strong through long cable runs, which some players prefer on a large pedalboard, though it means the pedal is always in the signal path in some form.
Does the Sick Bacchus run in stereo?
Yes. The pedal runs in either mono or stereo. In the stereo setting, the right channel is 5ms behind the left one, which gives the modulated effect a wider, spread-out sound when feeding two channels or a stereo rig.
What does the Gain knob do on the Sick Bacchus?
Gain adjusts the pedal's gain circuit, which increases volume and distortion, but not to extreme measures. It lets you push the effect a little for more saturation and level without turning the Sick Bacchus into a full-on distortion pedal.
Can the Sick Bacchus go in an amp's effects loop?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes that it sounds great in front of an amp or in the effects loop, and can also be run straight into an audio interface.
Can I plug the Sick Bacchus straight into an audio interface?
Yes. The pedal can be run straight into your favorite interface, according to Pedal of the Day, so you can record with it without an amplifier.
What does the Intensity knob do on the Sick Bacchus?
Intensity blends your wet and dry signals, letting you set how much of the modulated effect sits alongside your clean tone. It works alongside the pedal's Speed and Depth controls.
Sources (1)
- Elysian Pedals Sick Bacchus Chorus Flanger, Pedal of the Day, 2023-08-23