The VFE Tractor Beam is an analog phaser built around JFET stages, with three voicings selected by a mode switch: a synced phase sweep, a warbling vibe sweep, and a blend of the two. VFE designed it, in the maker's words, "much more about the far more useful subtle phase tones that can really make your riffs without dominating your tone," rather than only extreme phase sounds1.
VFE describes the Tractor Beam as a phaser aimed at subtle phase tones rather than extreme sounds, saying it was "much more about the far more useful subtle phase tones that can really make your riffs without dominating your to"3.
The controls
The front panel carries four knobs and the mode switch, each documented in the build manual1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| SPEED | Sets the speed of the phaser. In version 2, max speed increased by 50% and the slowest rate doubled; custom-made pots give a wide range |
| MODE | Selects the voicing: P = synced phase sweep, V = warbling vibe sweep, PV = half phase, half vibe |
| MIX | Blends dry and wet signal; 12:00 yields the strongest phasing, counterclockwise gives a resonant tone with less pitch modulation, clockwise gives pitch modulation with less phase resonance |
| LEVEL (internal) | Trimpot that sets the output volume |
Version 2 of the Tractor Beam reworked the range and sweep of the SPEED, CENTER, and FEEDBACK controls to make them easier to dial in1.
The internal JFET trimpot is factory set for maximum phase sweep. The manual is explicit: "DO NOT ADJUST"1.
Power and build notes
The manual lists current draw of 14mA off and 22mA on, measured at 9.42vDC with a One Spot supply1. The circuit uses bi-polar power, and the parts list does not include switching board parts for that reason1. The board itself measures 2.17" W x 2.02" H1.
For builders, the manual spells out the parts and calibration:
- Requires 4 matched 2n5952 JFET transistors, or an appropriate JFET substitute1
- 200k Bourns 3362p trimpot as the "JFET" calibration trimmer1
- 20k Bourns 3362p trimpot1
- DPDT On/Off/On switch1
- The included 1MC pot is custom-made with a 5% tolerance1
- 1.4k or 1.5k resistors can be substituted for the 1.43k resistors1
Calibration after population follows a set sequence: set all pots to the 12:00 position, the Stages switch to "4" and the Mode switch to "P", then adjust the 200k "JFET" trimmer until phasing is heard1.
For noise reduction, a cap is soldered in parallel with the 4.3v Zener diode. Peter of VFE designed the circuit and recommends a value between 22uF and 100uF1.
The PCBs are the actual boards used to build the recently discontinued line of VFE pedals, provided for DIY use only. They may not be used in any commercial endeavor, including the sale of completed pedals or kits1.
A different pedal with the same name
IdiotBox Effects also sells a pedal called the Tractor Beam, which is unrelated to the VFE phaser. The maker describes it as a standalone version of the muff portion of its No Moon pedal, a fuzz-family circuit with SUSTAIN, TONE and VOLUME controls4. Its product page lists a common 9-18vdc "CENTER NEGATIVE" 2.1mm BOSS style power input and battery snap, with current draw listed as "?mA"5. Players searching for either pedal should check which one they are looking at: one is a phaser, the other a fuzz-style distortion circuit in the distortion and fuzz territory.
Sources (5)
- Microsoft Word, madbeanpedals.com, 2019
- The Motherload, VFE Pedals
- VFE Pedals Enterprise Phaser, Pedal of the Day, 2015-08-20
- Trash Compactor, IdiotBox Effects
- Tractor Beam, IdiotBox Effects
