The Mojo Hand FX Park Theater is a compact hall reverb and echo pedal, built on a DSP (digital signal processor) platform and voiced to simulate the sound of playing in a theater-type space. Mojo Hand FX describes it as a space emulator, and the pedal was conceived with a purpose beyond effects: it was created to raise money for a music venue, the Park Theater, that needed immediate repair1.
Where it came from
Premier Guitar announced the Park Theater on 2 August 2019 as a new DSP release from Mojo Hand FX, created as a way to raise money for a beloved music venue in need of immediate repair. The pedal was conceived as a space emulator, simulating venues such as the Park Theater, which have their own acoustic character1. At launch it carried an introductory price of $1251; the current list price on the maker's product page is $149.002.
The controls: Space, Echo and Mix
The pedal has three knobs1, each covering a distinct job:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space | Adjusts the reverberation time. Decay ranges from a medium hall to lush, near-infinite ambiance. The reverb has predelay by default and is interactive with the Echo knob setting2 |
| Echo | Single knob controls delay time and the amount of repeats. Far left disengages the echo; a bit up gives quick slapback with 1 to 2 repeats; beyond 11 o'clock, longer delay time with more repeats, maxing out at about 365ms with 5 to 6 repeats2 |
| Mix | Dry/wet blend. The dry signal stays at the same level from far left to noon, gradually bringing in the wet signal; from noon to max the dry signal is reduced and the wet signal smoothly takes over2 |
The Space knob's range is broad by design. Mojo Hand FX says you can choose the room size and reflection you like, and everything is possible from a very short doubling effect to a long sustaining hall, with extra range for ambient players2.
Power and size
The Park Theater runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included2. Current draw is about 70mA2, which is within reach of most pedalboard power supplies but worth accounting for if you daisy chain pedals on one output.
The enclosure measures 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 2" and weighs 8 oz.1, a compact footprint that sits comfortably on a crowded board.
No power supply is included with the pedal, so you will need your own 9V DC center negative adapter2.
How it sits in the Mojo Hand FX range
The Park Theater pairs reverb with echo in one box. Mojo Hand FX also makes the RVT, which combines reverb with tremolo and vibrato, and the SMPLoFi, a lo-fi bitcrusher, reverb and filter pedal. For a wider look at the category, see the site's Reverb Pedals page21.
Videos
A77.STUDIO
Cusack Music
Flipside Music
Questions
Is the Mojo Hand FX Park Theatre analog or digital?
It is a digital pedal. Premier Guitar described it as a DSP release, meaning the reverb and echo are generated by a digital signal processor rather than analog circuitry. The dry signal path and the pedal's compact size are unaffected by this, but players who insist on analog reverb should know the Park Theatre is a digital design.
What power supply does the Park Theatre need?
A standard 9V DC center negative supply, which is not included with the pedal. Mojo Hand FX lists the current draw at about 70mA, so a typical pedalboard power supply output will run it, but it is worth checking that your supply's output can handle the draw before daisy chaining it with other pedals.
How much does the Mojo Hand FX Park Theatre cost?
Mojo Hand FX lists the Park Theatre at $149.00 USD on its product page. When the pedal was announced in August 2019, Premier Guitar reported an introductory price of $125, so the current list price is higher than the launch price.
What does the Echo knob do on the Park Theatre?
The Echo knob is a single control for both delay time and the number of repeats. Fully left, the echo is disengaged. A little way up it gives a quick slapback with one or two repeats. Past 11 o'clock you get a longer delay time with more repeats, topping out at about 365ms with five to six repeats.
How big is the Park Theatre pedal?
Premier Guitar lists the enclosure at 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 by 2 inches, weighing 8 oz. That is a compact footprint by pedalboard standards, so it fits alongside standard-sized pedals without taking up much room.
Sources (2)
- Mojo Hand FX Unveils the Park Theatre and RVT, Premier Guitar, 2019-08-02
- Park Theatre, Mojo Hand FX
