The SolidGoldFX Oblivion Quad Flange is a flanger pedal built around three distinct flange modes: a classic through-zero flanger, a bi-flange and a quad-flange that runs four independent, offset modulating delay lines at once12. Alongside the mode switch it offers tap tempo, speed ramping, LFO braking, a lo-fi Degrade mode and an expression/CV input whose job is set by internal dipswitches13.
SolidGoldFX announced the pedal in July 2020, with Guitar World and MusicRadar covering the launch3, and Delicious Audio reported it as released in April 20213. MusicRadar noted that it is hand-made at SolidGoldFX's facilities in Montreal, Canada4. At launch, Guitar World listed it at £245 in the UK, with the US price still to be confirmed2; MusicRadar reported it sold out at solidgoldfx.com but available to order from select dealers worldwide4.
Three flanger modes, up to four delay lines
The Flange toggle selects between the pedal's three modes3:
| Flange switch position | Mode | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Classic through-zero flanger | A single classic flanger voice that sweeps through zero delay3 |
| Center | Bi-flange | Modulates 2 independent delay lines; MusicRadar says the offset pair gives a more dramatic sweep sound34 |
| Right | Quad-flange | Swirls 4 independent delay lines3 |
The quad mode is the pedal's headline feature. MusicRadar described it as bringing "four individual offset modulating delay lines for hulking waves of flange swoosh"4, and Guitar World quoted the maker's own description of what the four delay lines add:
"massive swooshing tsunamis of ominous textures."
A 3-position LFO waveform switch shapes the modulation itself, and SolidGoldFX specifies an analog dry blend, so your untouched dry signal stays in the analog domain alongside the wet effect1. A Blend control adjusts the wet and dry mix2.
The controls and footswitch functions
The control set covers the modulation, the feedback and how the effect behaves in time32:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Regen | Controls the amount of feedback; at higher clockwise levels the pedal begins to self-oscillate, and it can also be taken over by an expression pedal3 |
| Blend | Adjusts the wet and dry mix2 |
| Ramp | A momentary feature: holding the tap tempo switch speeds up or slows down the flanger. Off at center, ramps down below noon and up above noon, with distance from noon setting the ramp speed3 |
| 1/4-1/2-1 | Three tap tempo multipliers: left is whole notes (1/4x), center is half notes (0.5x), right is quarter notes (1x)3 |
| Flange | Selects the classic through-zero, bi-flange or quad-flange mode3 |
| Degrade | Switches on the lo-fi mode when set to the right3 |
| LFO Waveform | 3-position switch selecting the LFO shape1 |
There are two footswitches, and their duties include tap tempo, speed ramping and LFO braking5:
- Bypass/Hold Brake footswitch: turns the effect on and off. Hold it down while the effect is on and the LFO momentarily pauses until you release it3.
- Tap/Hold Ramp footswitch: provides the tap tempo. Hold it down and it ramps the speed and depth up or down depending on where the Ramp knob is set3.
Degrade mode
The Degrade toggle switches on a lo-fi mode when set to the right, and each of the three flange settings has its own lo-fi version, varying the level of signal degradation3. Delicious Audio described the result as "textures reminiscent of ring modulators and other glitchy effects"3, and Guitar World similarly noted lo-fi sounds "reminiscent of ring mods or robotic overtones" in each mode2. For a player, it is a second, rougher character available in every mode rather than a separate effect.
Expression and CV control
The EXP jack takes an expression pedal that takes over certain knob functions, decided by internal dipswitches3. The documented settings are:
| Dipswitches | What the expression pedal/CV controls |
|---|---|
| Up/Up | Speed and depth36 |
| Up/Down | Feedback36 |
| Down/Down | Speed6 |
The same jack is also usable for 0 to 5V CV operation with a special cable: a mono 1/8" or 1/4" to 1/4" TRS cable with the ring disconnected for most applications3. That makes the pedal workable from synth control voltages as well as a standard expression pedal.
Power and connections
The Oblivion runs on a 9V DC power supply, center negative, with a 2,1 mm connector and a 60 mA current draw1. Gearnews reported the same 60 mA figure at launch6.
Connections are straightforward: an In jack for your instrument or another pedal, an Out jack for your amplifier or the next pedal, and the EXP jack for expression or CV3. MusicRadar noted the jacks are top-mounted, taking less width on a pedalboard4.
The specifications list a 9V DC power supply only, with no battery option, so the pedal needs a spot on a powered pedalboard or its own adapter1.
What reviewers said
Coverage at launch focused on the pedal's range. Guitar World called it a flanger taken "to new extremes," pointing to the three modes and the four independent offset modulating delay lines2. MusicRadar framed it around the question of whether it could change players' perception of flanger pedals, highlighting the expression capability, true bypass and top-mounted jacks4. Pedal of the Day's 2021 review walked through the three flange modes, the Degrade modes, the tap tempo footswitch functions and the expression/CV jack5.
Videos
Knobs
The Pedal Zone
AndyDemos
Questions
What is Quad Flange mode on the SolidGoldFX Oblivion?
Quad Flange is the right position of the Flange toggle. It runs four independent, offset modulating delay lines at once, which Guitar World described as producing massive swooshing tsunamis of ominous textures. It is the most extreme of the pedal's three modes, alongside a classic through-zero flanger and a two-delay-line bi-flange.
Does the Oblivion Quad Flanger have true bypass?
Yes. SolidGoldFX specifies soft touch true bypass switching, and Guitar World described it as soft touch-relay true bypass switching. When the pedal is off, your dry signal does not pass through the effect circuitry.
Can you use an expression pedal with the SolidGoldFX Oblivion?
Yes. The EXP jack takes an expression pedal, and internal dipswitches decide what it controls: Up/Up assigns it to speed and depth, Up/Down to feedback, and Down/Down to speed. The same jack also accepts 0 to 5V CV control with a suitable cable.
What does the Degrade mode do?
The Degrade toggle switches on a lo-fi mode when set to the right. Each of the three flange modes has its own lo-fi setting that varies the level of signal degradation, adding textures Delicious Audio described as reminiscent of ring modulators and other glitchy effects.
Does the Oblivion Quad Flanger have tap tempo?
Yes. The Tap/Hold Ramp footswitch provides tap tempo, and the 1/4-1/2-1 toggle gives three multipliers: whole notes at the left position, half notes in the center and quarter notes at the right. Holding the tap switch ramps the speed up or down depending on the Ramp knob.
What voltage does the SolidGoldFX Oblivion need?
It runs on a 9V DC power supply, center negative, with a 2.1 mm connector and a 60 mA current draw. There is no battery option in the specifications, so it needs a pedalboard power supply or a dedicated adapter.
Sources (6)
- OBLIVION, SolidGoldFX
- SolidGoldFX takes flanger pedals to new extremes with the Oblivion Quad Flange, Guitar World, 2020-07-17
- SolidGoldFX Oblivion Quad Flanger, Delicious Audio, 2021-04-16
- Can SolidGold FX's Oblivion Quad change the perception of flanger pedals?, MusicRadar, 2020-07-20
- SolidGoldFX Oblivion Quad Flanger, Pedal of the Day, 2021-10-17
- The new SolidGoldFX Oblivion Quad Flanger gives you complete control, gearnews.com, 2020-07-16
