The Soundslice FX Kobold Vintage Fuzz + Delay is a two effect pedal that combines a '70s style fuzz with a warm delay in a single box. It comes from Soundslice FX, a small boutique manufacturer based in Quebec, and Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as "a seriously gnarly delay + fuzz from a small boutique manufacturer based in Quebec"1.
The two sides work differently. The fuzz is always on and has no bypass or level control of its own: its only control is Texture, which shapes the harmonics content of the fuzz tone. The delay side is more flexible, and can be added or entirely removed through the Delay knob1. If you are comparing it with single effect units, it sits between a fuzz pedal and a delay pedal in one enclosure.
The controls
The Kobold keeps things simple with three knobs1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DELAY | Controls the delay time |
| REPEATS | Controls the amount of repeats |
| TEXTURE | Controls the harmonics and texture of the fuzz tone |
The Delay knob covers time from short slapback echo to long and spacey repetitions, and turning it down removes the delay from the signal entirely, leaving the always on fuzz on its own1.
The Kobold's control layout is simple: a DELAY knob controls the delay time, a REPEATS knob controls the amount of repeats, and a TEXTURE knob controls the harmonics and texture of the fuzz tone1.
Power and battery
The Kobold requires a 9V DC center negative power supply. It has no battery option: "Soundslicefx pedals, for environmental reasons, do not use batteries and never will"1.
There is no battery compartment, so a 9V DC center negative supply is required to use the pedal at all. Factor a spare outlet or sufficient current into your pedalboard power budget.
Where it fits
Delicious Audio describes the fuzz as having "a clear '70s sonic character," and says the combination of fuzz and warm delay "lends itself to a variety of genres from stoner rock and heavy psych, to retro garage punk"1. Players drawn to saturated vintage fuzz with echo behind it, in the territory of distortion pedals and overdrive pedals but with more grit, are the audience the design points to.
Videos
collector//emitter
Harsh Tones, Inc.
aj
Questions
Can the fuzz on the Soundslice FX Kobold be turned off?
No. The fuzz side of the Kobold is always on and has no level or bypass control of its own. Its only control is the Texture knob, which shapes the harmonics content of the fuzz tone. The delay side, by contrast, can be added or entirely removed through the Delay knob, so the pedal runs from fuzz alone up to fuzz plus long, spacey repeats.
Does the Kobold Vintage Fuzz + Delay take a battery?
No. Soundslice FX pedals do not use batteries and, the maker says, never will, for environmental reasons. The Kobold runs from a 9V DC center negative power supply instead, so plan for a dedicated outlet or a supply with enough current on your pedalboard.
What power supply does the Kobold use?
The Kobold requires a 9V DC center negative power supply, the standard format for most pedalboard supplies. No battery option exists, as Soundslice FX omits batteries from all of its pedals for environmental reasons.
How long can the delay time go on the Kobold?
The Delay knob controls delay time, and the range runs from short slapback echo to long and spacey repetitions. There is no published maximum time figure, but the knob covers everything from tight rockabilly style slapback to long, ambient repeats.
What kinds of music suit the Kobold Fuzz + Delay?
Delicious Audio describes the combination of '70s style fuzz and warm delay as lending itself to a variety of genres, from stoner rock and heavy psych to retro garage punk. Players after a vintage flavored, saturated fuzz with echo behind it are the natural audience.
Sources (1)
- Soundslice FX Kobold Vintage Fuzz + Delay, Delicious Audio, 2020-06-23