The Magnetic Effects Zig Zag is a dual-stage overdrive stompbox from the London-based maker, announced in July 2019 and available for purchase beginning August 1 of that year. It combines a JFET preamp, which Magnetic Effects says adds a tube-style feel to the harmonics and pick attack, with a second opamp/diode-based gain stage. Guitar World described the new offering as "a dual-stage drive pedal with tube-like feel."12
The controls
The Zig Zag carries six controls on its face, plus the EQ toggle1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Gain | First gain stage, voiced differently from the Preamp |
| Preamp | JFET preamp stage, voiced differently from the Gain control |
| Treble | Active treble control for tonal adjustment |
| Bass | Active bass control for tonal adjustment |
| EQ toggle | Three-position switch that changes the overall EQ voicing |
The active Treble and Bass controls, according to Premier Guitar, "allow for plenty of tonal adjustment."1
The EQ toggle has three settings. The middle position is the stock voicing; switching up or down from it changes the overall EQ voicing of the pedal by adding increasing amounts of low end and low mids. Both Premier Guitar and Guitar World describe it the same way.12
The Gain and Preamp controls are the heart of the pedal's flexibility. Magnetic Effects says they are voiced differently, so that dialing in differing amounts of each changes the overall response of the feel, EQ and gain characteristics. In practice, that means the blend of the two stages, rather than any single knob, sets the character of the drive.12
Circuit and how it works
The Zig Zag is a dual-stage drive pedal. The first stage is a JFET preamp, which Magnetic Effects says adds a tube-style feel to the harmonics and pick attack. The second stage is opamp/diode based and supplies the gain. Because the two stages are separately adjustable through the Preamp and Gain controls, the pedal covers a range from a preamp-style boost of pick attack up to fuller drive voicings, depending on how the two are set.12
Power and bypass
The pedal runs on standard 9V DC operation and is true bypass, per Premier Guitar's release announcement.1
The published specifications list 9V DC operation without a current draw figure. If you plan to run the Zig Zag from a daisy-chain supply with other pedals, that is worth knowing before you set up your board.
Where it sits in Magnetic Effects' range
The Zig Zag arrived in 2019 as part of a run of drive pedals from the London maker, whose earlier releases include the Sändare overdrive/booster. Players weighing the Zig Zag against other drives can compare it with the overdrive pedal type page for a sense of how two-stage and single-stage drives differ.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Alberto Barrero
TheGuitarGeek
Questions
Is the Magnetic Effects Zig Zag true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's press release for the Zig Zag lists True Bypass among the pedal's specifications, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal straight through when it is switched off.
What does the EQ toggle on the Zig Zag do?
The EQ toggle has three settings. The middle position is the stock voicing. According to Premier Guitar and Guitar World, switching up or down from that middle position changes the overall EQ voicing of the pedal by adding increasing amounts of low end and low mids.
How much does the Magnetic Effects Zig Zag cost?
Premier Guitar's July 2019 release announcement gives a street price of $175 plus shipping in US dollars.
What power does the Zig Zag need?
The Zig Zag runs on standard 9V DC operation, as listed in Premier Guitar's release announcement. No current draw figure is published for the pedal, so plan your supply accordingly if you intend to share one power source with other pedals.
Sources (2)
- Magnetic Effects Releases the Zig Zag and Midphoria V2, Premier Guitar, 2019-07-24
- Magnetic Effects Unveils Zig Zag Overdrive Pedal, Guitar World, 2019-07-29
