The Red Witch Seven Sisters Grace is a small analog compressor pedal from New Zealand maker Red Witch, released in 2011 as part of the seven-pedal Seven Sisters range. What set the range apart was power: Red Witch billed the Sisters as the world's first rechargeable guitar pedals, each built around a Lithium Ion cell, like the one in a cell phone or digital camera, with internal charging circuitry1.
The Grace is a simple two-knob compressor. Red Witch describes it as going "from subtle to bold, soft to firm," delivering "a remarkably versatile device in a super small package"1. MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen heard that range in practice: "from a clean boost, through a tightening and thickening of your sound, to more obvious compression with a snap to the front end of the notes"2.
What it does
A compressor evens out the difference between your loudest and quietest notes, raising sustain and tightening the front end of each attack. The Grace does this with two knobs and nothing else: MusicRadar called it "a simple two-knob design, with one to turn up the compression and one for the volume"2.
At low compression settings Curwen found it works as a clean boost; pushed further it thickens and tightens the sound, and at the top of its range it gives what he described as more obvious compression with a snap to the front of the notes2. For a player new to compression, that single-knob approach means one control to learn instead of the threshold, ratio, attack and release knobs found on larger studio-style pedals.
The enclosure is a proprietary, custom-made diecast box with the jack sockets mounted on the top side rather than the sides, which saves width on a pedalboard13. MusicRadar noted the finish comes "in a shade that complements any Seafoam Green Fender"2.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Compression | Sets the amount of compression, from subtle to bold1 |
| Volume | Sets the output level1 |
That is the whole panel. Premier Guitar's review of the range observed that "each Sister has two knobs for adjusting tone parameters," so the Grace keeps the family format rather than adding compressor-specific controls4.
Power: 9V DC or internal rechargeable cell
The Grace runs either from its internal rechargeable battery or a standard 9V DC wall wart supply1. The battery is the interesting part. Red Witch's instructions are simple: "Simply connect Grace to a regular guitar pedal power supply, charge her for four hours and Voila! 120 hours of actual use"1. Premier Guitar adds that the first charge should be 12 hours, with four hours for later charges, using the left-hand power socket4.
The 110mA current draw1 is what the pedal pulls while charging its lithium cell from your power supply. If you run the Grace on a powered board, budget for that draw rather than the few milliamps a small analog pedal usually needs.
When Red Witch launched the range in 2011, the firm said an overnight charge would be "good for 1-2 weeks worth of gigging," and that any DC adapter between 9 and 18 volts could be used to charge it3. MusicRadar's reviewer also pointed out a practical benefit of the battery: if your power supply goes down onstage, the pedal keeps working5.
History and versions
The Seven Sisters range debuted at NAMM 2011, designed by Ben Fulton of Red Witch Pedals43. It comprises seven pedals in the same 90mm x 30mm x 45mm enclosure, all with the same rechargeable lithium battery system and true-bypass switching:
Battery life varies across the range: the Grace, Scarlett and Eve give 120 hours of use from a four-hour charge, Ivy gives 220 hours, and Lily and Ruby give 300 hours178. Red Witch ships all pedals in 100% recycled packaging1.
All seven pedals are now listed as sold out on Red Witch's site, so the Grace is a secondhand-market item1.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen reviewed the Grace and concluded that "she's a decent-sounding, value-for-money compressor that will slot neatly into any 'board"2.
Premier Guitar reviewed the range as a whole, including the Grace alongside the Lily Boost and Ivy Distortion, and took a broader view: "The Seven Sisters pedals are a pioneering innovation, and Fulton probably deserves a Boy Scout medal for the work he's d"6. The same review found the small size suits cluttered boards and fly-in gigs, and predicted the pedals would age well on gigging players' boards6.
Videos
Red Witch Pedals
Guitar Mastery Method
Questions
Is the Red Witch Seven Sisters Grace true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch lists true bypass for the Grace Compressor, and the whole Seven Sisters range uses a sturdy true-bypass switch, so the pedal passes your dry signal uncolored when it is switched off. That matters on a small board where the Grace sits in front of other effects.
How long does the Seven Sisters Grace battery last on a charge?
Red Witch says a four-hour charge from a regular guitar pedal power supply gives 120 hours of actual use, and MusicRadar's reviewer confirmed the same figure. Premier Guitar notes the first charge should be 12 hours. On a gigging schedule, that works out to well over a week of playing between charges.
How big is the Red Witch Seven Sisters Grace?
It measures 90mm x 30mm x 45mm and weighs 157 grams, with the jack sockets mounted on the top side of the enclosure rather than the sides. That footprint is shared across the Seven Sisters range, which is what makes the pedals suited to cluttered boards and fly-in gigs.
Is the Seven Sisters Grace still made?
No. Red Witch's product page lists the Grace Compressor as sold out, and the same applies to the other Seven Sisters pedals. The range arrived in 2011 and is no longer in production, so finding one means the secondhand market.
How much current does the Seven Sisters Grace draw?
Red Witch lists a current draw of 110mA. That is higher than many small analog pedals because the Grace charges its internal lithium cell while powered, so plan for it when sizing a power supply for your board.
Sources (8)
- Seven Sisters Grace Compressor, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch Seven Sisters Grace review, MusicRadar, 2014-04-12
- NAMM 2011: Red Witch debut Seven Sisters pedals, MusicRadar, 2011-01-17
- Comprehensive Review of Red Witch Guitar Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2011-12-20
- Red Witch Seven Sisters Ruby review, MusicRadar, 2014-05-12
- Red Witch Lily, Grace & Ivy Pedals Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-12-27
- Seven Sisters Ivy Distortion, Red Witch Pedals
- Seven Sisters Ruby Fuzz, Red Witch Pedals
