The Spicetone 6Appeal is a guitar effect pedal that takes a different approach to overdrive: instead of processing the whole guitar signal at once, it runs a separate analog overdrive channel for each of the six strings, plus a seventh channel for the summed signal. Spicetone launched the pedal in October 2014, describing it as a polyphonic overdrive and hexaphonic fuzz-overdrive with modulation effects, an active breakout box, and full MIDI control1. It sits in the territory between overdrive pedals and fuzz pedals, with MIDI pedal features built in.
Seven channels and Root Boost
The core of the 6Appeal is its seven analog overdrive channels. Six of them handle the strings individually, and the seventh processes the summed signal. Spicetone says that because each string has a dedicated channel, the pedal keeps the guitar's full harmonic range, and describes the sound in one word: "orchestral"1.
For players using hexaphonic 13-pin pickups, the pedal adds a Pre and Post Root Boost circuit for each string. Spicetone explains the reason: bridge-mounted 13-pin pickups lack basic harmonics, and the Root Boost circuits enhance them1.
"The best word to describe 6Appeal's sound is 'orchestral'."
Mono input and normal pickups
The 6Appeal is not limited to hexaphonic setups. It has a mono input, so you can mix in your normal pickups or use the pedal entirely in mono1. That makes it usable with a conventional guitar, either alongside a 13-pin pickup for combined sounds or on its own.
MIDI control and presets
Everything on the 6Appeal is controllable by external MIDI, including modulation tempo. The pedal also works in the other direction as an outgoing MIDI controller: you can send MIDI messages from its 10 pots and 3 footswitches1. For storing sounds, Spicetone says a guitarist has 144 preset memories for custom presets1.
What reviewers said
The pedal was announced through Premier Guitar's press coverage at launch. That coverage passed along a favorable verdict on the overall sound1:
"If only Bob Dylan had one of these when he went electric."
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Questions
What is a polyphonic overdrive?
A polyphonic overdrive processes each note or string separately rather than the whole combined guitar signal. The Spicetone 6Appeal does this with seven analog overdrive channels: one for each of the six strings, plus a seventh channel for the summed signal. Because each string has its own channel, the pedal keeps the full harmonic range of the guitar intact, which Spicetone describes as an orchestral sound.
Does the Spicetone 6Appeal need a hexaphonic pickup?
No. The pedal is built around hexaphonic 13-pin pickups, and it adds a Pre and Post Root Boost circuit for each string to enhance the basic harmonics that bridge-mounted 13-pin pickups lack. But it also has a mono input, so you can mix in your normal pickups or use the 6Appeal entirely in mono without a hexaphonic pickup.
Can I use the Spicetone 6Appeal with a normal guitar pickup?
Yes. Alongside its hexaphonic input, the 6Appeal has a mono input for normal pickups or mono use. Spicetone says you can mix in your normal pickups alongside a hexaphonic pickup, or run the pedal in mono with a conventional guitar signal.
Is the Spicetone 6Appeal analog or digital?
The overdrive section is analog. Spicetone says the 6Appeal has seven analog overdrive channels internally without any D/A or A/D converters. The pedal does include modulation effects and full MIDI functionality alongside those analog channels.
How many presets does the Spicetone 6Appeal store?
The 6Appeal stores 144 preset memories for custom presets, according to Spicetone. Everything on the pedal is also controllable by external MIDI, including modulation tempo.
Sources (1)
- Spicetone Releases the 6Appeal Polyphonic Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2014-10-06