The Emma Electronic PY-1 PisdiYAUwot is a metal distortion pedal designed to produce what the maker calls super-tight and super-fast distortion that cuts through with great definition. Premier Guitar's reviewer put it plainly: "It was clear from the first note that this is definitely a metal pedal. The sharp and brutal attack was both punishing a"1. It sits in the distortion family, alongside the maker's other drives such as the ReezaFRATzitz and ReezaFRATzitz 2.
Controls and layout
A total of five controls cover Level, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Gain1. That is a full three-band EQ on top of the usual level and gain, which gives a player direct control over how the pedal sits in a mix: scooping the mids, tightening the low end, or pushing the treble for cut.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume |
| Bass | Low EQ |
| Mid | Middle EQ |
| Treble | High EQ |
| Gain | Distortion amount |
The jacks sit on the top front of the pedal, with the Input and Output on either side of a 9VDC input between them1. Top-mounted jacks make the pedal easier to fit on a crowded board.
Power and bypass
The PY-1 runs from a 9VDC input or a 9V battery. The battery is accessed by removing four Phillips machine screws on the back panel1, so it is a job with a screwdriver rather than a quick swap.
The pedal does not use true bypass. It uses Emma's "Untrue Bypass" circuit, a buffered bypass that the manual says is "way better" sounding1. Players who build boards around all-true-bypass signal paths should account for the buffer.
The name and the box
According to the EMMA website, the name PisdiYAUwot loosely translates to "contraption"1. The pedal comes in the standard EMMA aluminum box, approximately 3 ½" x 4 ½", with a skull and lightning bolt graphic and two red LEDs that light up like eyes when the pedal is engaged1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review is the published verdict on record. The reviewer found the pedal unmistakably aimed at metal, with a sharp and brutal attack that read as both punishing and tight1. The maker's own description, quoted in the review, frames the goal the same way: "The PisdiYAUwot is a metal pedal designed to produce super-tight and super-fast distortion that cuts through with great "1.
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Questions
Is the Emma PY-1 PisdiYAUwot true bypass?
No. The PY-1 uses Emma's "Untrue Bypass" circuit, a buffered bypass rather than true bypass. According to Premier Guitar's review, the manual describes this buffered approach as "way better" sounding. A buffer keeps the signal path consistent when the pedal is off, which matters on larger pedalboards with long cable runs.
Can the Emma PY-1 PisdiYAUwot run on a 9V battery?
Yes. Alongside the 9VDC input, the pedal can be powered with a 9V battery. Premier Guitar's review notes the battery is accessed by removing four Phillips machine screws on the back panel, so swapping one is not as quick as on pedals with a simple swing-door battery bay.
What does PisdiYAUwot mean?
According to the EMMA website, the name loosely translates to "contraption." It fits a naming habit at the Swedish maker, whose other pedals carry similarly playful names such as the ReezaFRATzitz.
What EQ controls does the Emma PY-1 have?
The PY-1 has five controls in total: Level, Bass, Mid, Treble, and Gain. That gives players a three-band EQ plus output level and distortion amount, which is more tonal shaping than many metal pedals that offer only level and tone.
How much does the Emma PY-1 PisdiYAUwot cost?
The PY-1 PisdiYAUwot carries a street price of $249 in US dollars, as listed by Premier Guitar. It is distributed by Godlyke, per the review's listing.
Sources (1)
- Emma PY-1 PisdiYAUwot Distortion Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-10-28
