The Jed's Pedals Casper is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit that puts the sound of a spring reverb unit of years gone by inside a pedal. It is not a true spring reverb: the maker describes the circuit path as an analog/digital spring reverb emulation built around a PT2399 chip and a Belton Brick module, and says it is "as close as you will get without actually building a spring reverb!"1 For players browsing reverb pedals, it sits in the DIY kit corner of that world rather than among factory-built units.
Controls
The Casper carries three knobs, and the maker suggests skinny sized knobs for the build1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack | Pre-delay control, offering slap back to chasm like delay1 |
| Dwell | Sets the length and thickness of the decay1 |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the reverb vs the dry mix1 |
Kit versions and options
The Casper is sold in six versions, so a builder can buy as much or as little of the work as they want1:
- PCB Only: just the plain PCB, no reverb brick1
- PCB and Brick
- PCB and Components
- PCB and Components and off board parts
- Full Kit
- Full Kit and Drilling
Drilling is an optional extra for the Full Kit, with a small surcharge, and includes all the holes needed for a complete pedal1. On the brick itself, buyers can choose between short or long decay1.
The PCB Only option does not include a reverb brick, so it is not a working reverb on its own1.
For builders who would rather skip the soldering, a pre-built option is available. If you select it, you must add your knobs separately from the maker's knob section, or the unit will arrive without them1. Pre-built kits carry a 12 month repair warranty, so should a fault develop the maker will repair it1.
Enclosure and build
The Casper fits inside Jed's Pedals' JP125B enclosure, which has top mounted jacks as standard1. The kit features the ability to use right angled pots to ensure a neat presentation inside the box1.
Relation to other pedals
Jed's Pedals states that the kit compares to the EQD Ghost Echo, and says this is for comparison only, with no endorsement1. Separately, an independent write-up of a related circuit on the Tagboard Effects blog described the Casper Electronics Echobender as "a mix of multi FX pedal and noise maker," a project documented by contributors including mirosol, IvIark and JaviCAP2.
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Questions
Is the Jed's Pedals Casper a real spring reverb?
No. Jed's Pedals describes the Casper as a spring reverb emulation, not a true spring reverb. The circuit path is an analogue/digital emulation built around a PT2399 chip and a Belton Brick module. The maker says it is as close as you will get to a real spring reverb without actually building one.
Does the Casper come assembled?
Only if you choose the Pre Built Kit option. The Casper is sold as a DIY pedal kit, and the pre-built option carries a 12 month repair warranty from the maker. If you select the pre-built version you must add your knobs separately from the maker's knob section.
What enclosure does the Casper fit?
The Casper fits inside Jed's Pedals' JP125B enclosure. The maker describes the enclosure as top mounted jacks as standard, and the kit features the ability to use right angled pots for a neat presentation inside it.
What is the reverb brick in the Casper?
The reverb brick is a Belton Brick module used alongside a PT2399 chip to produce the Casper's analogue/digital spring reverb emulation. Buyers can choose between a short or long decay brick. Note that the PCB Only version of the kit does not include a reverb brick.
Is the Casper similar to the EQD Ghost Echo?
Jed's Pedals says the kit compares to the EQD Ghost Echo, and states this is for comparison only, with no endorsement.
What does the Casper kit include in each version?
The Casper is sold in six versions: PCB Only (just the plain PCB, no reverb brick), PCB and Brick, PCB and Components, PCB and Components plus off board parts, Full Kit, and Full Kit and Drilling. Drilling is an optional extra on the Full Kit for a small surcharge and includes all the holes needed for a complete pedal.
Sources (2)
- Casper | DIY Guitar Effects Pedal Kits, Jed's Pedals (jedspeds.co.uk)
- Guitar FX Layouts: Casper Electronics Echobender, tagboardeffects.blogspot.com, 2013-03-31
