The Roger Mayer Voodoo-1 is a distortion pedal, described by the maker as "CLASSIC SMOOTH TUBE DISTORTION FAVOURED BY PROFESSIONALS"1. Its defining trait, according to Roger Mayer, is how it responds to the guitar: "The volume control of the guitar is very effective in controlling the amount of distortion and the guitar cleans up to it's original tone very easily"2. On the character of the distortion itself, the maker says: "The distortion produced feels particularly tube like in operation and the Voodoo-1 slips into distortion with silky smoothness and compression characteristics usually only associated with vintage classic tube amplifiers"2.
Controls
The Voodoo-1 keeps things to three controls, each with a job the maker describes2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | "enables the unit to be used as a power booster without distortion up to full maxed out grunge grooviness"2 |
| Tone | "of advanced design and has been optimised to compliment various pickup types"2 |
| Output | "sets the amount of boost required"2 |
The gain control's range is what makes the booster question simple: backed off, it works as a clean power booster; turned up, it delivers the full distortion. The output control then sets how much level the pedal pushes forward. Players comparing it with other smooth, touch-sensitive drives may also want to look at overdrive pedals and fuzz pedals, or Roger Mayer's other designs such as the Visage, Mongoose-X and Spitfire-X2.
Outputs and bypass
The Voodoo-1 offers more than one way out of the pedal. Roger Mayer states: "The Voodoo-1 has a true hard wire output plus two buffered outputs that can drive long cable lengths with no high frequency loss"2. Alongside the buffered outputs, "TRADITIONAL HARD WIRE OUTPUT /BYPASS is provided as well to enable comparison between using a BUFFERED OUTPUT in your particular set-up"2. In practice that means a player with a long cable run can use a buffered output to keep the top end, while the hard wire output leaves the signal unbuffered when bypassed.
Power
The Voodoo-1 draws a current rating of 50mA or more2, which is worth checking against a daisy-chain supply's spare capacity.
Power comes from either an internal battery or a DC adapter. The maker specifies "9 volt DC. Regulated output is recommended"2, through "a standard DC power jack ( 2.1mm centre pin ) situated next to the jack sockets"2. On polarity: "It uses the standard negative centre pin connection protocol used by many leading manufacturers"2, so it fits the usual center-negative supply arrangement. The battery is internal, with a stated battery life of 150 hours2.
Size and build
The pedal is housed in Roger Mayer's Classic Style enclosure2. It runs on a 9 volt supply with a current rating of 50mA or more2, so a standard pedalboard power supply output rated at 100mA or higher covers it with room to spare.
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Questions
Does the Roger Mayer Voodoo-1 take a battery?
Yes. The Voodoo-1 has provision for an internal 9-volt battery, and Roger Mayer rates battery life at 150 hours. It can also run from a 9 volt DC adapter through a standard DC power jack with a 2.1mm centre pin, and a regulated output is recommended.
What is the polarity of the Voodoo-1 power jack?
The Voodoo-1 uses the standard negative centre pin connection protocol used by many leading manufacturers, so it shares a power supply polarity with most common pedal power supplies. The jack is a 2.1mm centre pin type situated next to the jack sockets.
How big is the Roger Mayer Voodoo-1?
The Voodoo-1 measures 95mm wide by 120mm deep by 57mm high, in Roger Mayer's Classic Style enclosure. It weighs 350g.
What does the buffered output on the Voodoo-1 do?
The Voodoo-1 has a true hard wire output plus two buffered outputs. The buffered outputs can drive long cable lengths with no high frequency loss, and the traditional hard wire bypass is provided so you can compare a buffered output against unbuffered in your own setup.
How much does the Voodoo-1 weigh?
The Voodoo-1 weighs 350g, according to Roger Mayer's product page.
Can the Voodoo-1 be used as a booster?
Yes. Roger Mayer says the gain control enables the unit to be used as a power booster without distortion, up to what he calls full maxed out grunge grooviness. The output control sets the amount of boost required.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Effects Pedals by Roger Mayer, Roger Mayer (roger-mayer.co.uk)
- Guitar Effects Pedals by Roger Mayer, Roger Mayer (roger-mayer.co.uk)
Scott Henderson
