Throne Room Pedals makes The Revelator, a compact distortion pedal that covers far more ground than its name suggests. The maker describes it as "an extremely versatile pedal that is known for its huge range of available gain and boost"1, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed it up as "about as versatile as you can get with a boost-overdrive-distortion-fuzz pedal"2. In practice that means one box on your board can do the work of a boost, an overdrive, a distortion and a fuzz, depending on where you set it.
Controls and the clipping toggle
The pedal keeps the usual three knobs, Volume, Gain and Tone, and adds a 3-way clipping toggle that switches between silicone, germanium and IC-based distortion1. The maker explains that "the 3-way clipping toggle switches between silicone, germanium, and IC-based distortion"1, which changes the character of the dirt rather than just the amount of it.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer described what the settings do in practice:
"The Silicone and Germanium selections sound great: fuzzy, creamy, overdriven distortion with a tinge of fuzz when the Gain is past 3:00. The IC toggle is the one that really shines, in my opinion, cutting through any mix you can throw at it. Great, smooth drive with loads of sustain for days."2
So the two diode settings lean toward a fuzzier, creamier drive, while the IC setting is the smoother, more cutting voice of the pedal2.
Using it as a boost
The Revelator earns its place on the boost side of its resume in two ways. Turn the Gain down and, in Pedal of the Day's words, "it's also an awesome clean boost"2. The maker adds a second option: "With the toggle in the middle position, you get a huge volume boost that will overdrive a tube amp or help you stand out"1. That makes it useful either as a always-on level lift into a cranked amp or as a solo boost on top of an existing drive sound.
The same reviewer's overall verdict was that "this pedal is extremely useful in many different sonic situations, and can absolutely be dialed in to fit your needs"2.
On the board
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.49 x 2.75 x 1.92 in2 |
| Weight | 8.2 oz2 |
| Jacks | Neutrik, 1/4 inch2 |
| Switching | True bypass2 |
| Power | 9V DC center negative2 |
| Finish | Double durable powder coated2 |
The 9V DC center negative requirement is the standard for modern pedals, so it will run from a normal pedalboard power supply output2. True bypass switching means the circuit is out of the signal path entirely when the pedal is off2.
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Questions
Is The Revelator true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day lists the switching as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the circuit loading it. That matters if you run it on a board with other effects, since a buffered pedal can subtly change your tone when switched off.
What power supply does the Throne Room Pedals Revelator need?
The Revelator runs on a 9V DC supply with a center negative plug, the same standard as most modern pedals, so a regular pedalboard power supply output or a one-spot style adapter will suit it. Pedal of the Day lists this as the power requirement.
Can The Revelator work as a clean boost?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's reviewer notes that turning the Gain knob down turns the pedal into a clean boost. The maker also points out that with the toggle in the middle position you get a large volume boost that can overdrive a tube amp or help you stand out in solos.
How big is the Throne Room Pedals Revelator?
Pedal of the Day lists the dimensions as 4.49 x 2.75 x 1.92 inches and the weight as 8.2 oz. That is a compact enclosure by pedalboard standards, and the finish is described as a double durable powder coat.
What do the Silicone, Germanium and IC settings sound like?
The three-way clipping toggle switches between silicone, germanium and IC-based distortion. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the Silicone and Germanium settings gave a fuzzy, creamy overdriven distortion with a tinge of fuzz when the Gain was pushed past 3:00, while the IC setting was the one that really shone, cutting through any mix with smooth drive and loads of sustain.
Sources (2)
- The Revelator Distortion, Revival Engineering (throneroompedals.com)
- Throne Room Pedals The Revelator Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2014-05-03
