The Southampton Pedals Utility Knife Modulator is a compact modulation pedal that puts four effects in one box: flanger, chorus, tremolo and a 6-stage phaser. Delicious Audio's product page describes it with the line "Featuring flange, chorus, tremolo, and a 6-stage phaser, this could be the only modulation pedal you need."1 It runs in a true bypass setup with top-mounted jacks.1
What it does
The idea behind the Utility Knife Modulator is breadth rather than depth: instead of committing a pedalboard slot to a single flanger, chorus, tremolo or phaser, it carries all four behind one set of controls. A 4-way rotary knob selects the effect, and the same Rate, Depth and Volume knobs serve whichever mode is chosen.23
"Featuring flange, chorus, tremolo, and a 6-stage phaser, this could be the only modulation pedal you need."
Controls and layout
The control set is deliberately small. Guitar.com noted that "there are only three other knobs to tinker with: 'Rate,' 'Depth' and 'Volume'" alongside the rotary mode selector.3
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rotary knob (4-way) | Selects the desired effect: flanger, chorus, tremolo or phaser2 |
| Rate | Sets the speed of the modulation3 |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the modulation3 |
| Volume | Sets the output level3 |
The input and output jacks are located at the top of the box, in a true bypass setup with top-mounted jacks, which keeps the pedal's footprint shallow on a board.21
Premier Guitar's reviewer found that the Volume knob does more than set level: "The volume control has the bonus of adding color as well as more presence to the selected modulation mode."2
History
The Utility Knife Modulator is made by Southampton Pedals, whose product page describes it as a four-effect modulation unit covering flange, chorus, tremolo and a 6-stage phaser, built in a true bypass setup with top-mounted jacks.1
Videos
Southampton Pedals
Southampton Pedals
Southampton Pedals
Questions
What effects does the Southampton Pedals Utility Knife Modulator include?
It packs four modulation effects in one compact enclosure: flanger, chorus, tremolo and a 6-stage phaser. A 4-way rotary knob selects the effect, and three knobs labeled Rate, Depth and Volume shape it. Delicious Audio's product page describes it as four high-quality effects designed to sound good at all control settings, and suggests it could be the only modulation pedal a player needs.
When was the Utility Knife Modulator released?
The pedal was shown at the Delicious Audio NAMM 2018 Stompbox Booth in January 2018, and Reverb.com unveiled a video of it in March 2018. Guitar.com reported the launch of the pedal on August 28, 2018, listing it at $215.
Sources (3)
- Southampton Pedals Utility Knife Modulator, Delicious Audio, 2018-03-13
- Southampton Pedals Utility Knife Review, Premier Guitar, 2018-08-25
- Southampton springs new Utility Knife pedal, Guitar.com, 2018-08-28
