The GarageTone Axle Grease is the delay pedal in the GarageTone line from Visual Sound, a Nashville-based company that has made effects since 1994. It is a compact, affordable delay aimed at short, quick repeats: slapback, fast chord stops and quick melody lines. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that at very quick delay settings it "actually achieves a cool reverb-like effect," and judged it "perfect for players who don't want to spend a fortune for a quality delay pedal or for whom delay is not their primary effect."1
What it does
The Axle Grease covers the short-delay end of the delay pedal range. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as well suited to slapback and fast delays on short chord stops and quick melody lines, and called it great for rockabilly-inspired slapback. At really quick delay settings the pedal produces a reverb-like effect, which extends what a player can get from a single small box. The trade-off is a limited maximum delay time: slow passages with big spaces between repeats are not where this pedal is at home.1
The reviewer's overall verdict was "warm analog tone at a digital price," positioning it as a straightforward delay for players whose main sound lies elsewhere, such as players centered on overdrive or distortion who want a simple slapback on tap.1
Controls and hardware
The pedal keeps things simple: one knob and a footswitch.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Controls the number of delay repeats per second1 |
Hardware details from the review:
- Sturdy housing made of folded dark gray metal1
- On/off switch1
- Red LED indicator1
- Single input and output1
Where it sits in Visual Sound's range
The Axle Grease is the delay offering in Visual Sound's GarageTone line, listed at a street price of $70 USD.1 The sturdy housing is made of folded dark gray metal, and the pedal includes an on/off switch, a red LED indicator, and a single input and output.1 Its Time knob controls the number of delay repeats per second.1 Reviewers judged it well suited to players who don't want to spend a fortune for a quality delay pedal, or for whom delay is not their primary effect, noting great rockabilly-inspired slapback and a warm analog tone at a digital price.1
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer summed the pedal up this way:
"The Axle Grease Delay is perfect for players who don't want to spend a fortune for a quality delay pedal or for whom delay is not their primary effect."
The same review praised the warm analog tone at the price and singled out the rockabilly slapback territory as a strength, while noting the limited maximum delay time as the boundary of what the pedal covers.1
Videos
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Ernie Williamson Music
Sources (1)
- Visual Sound GarageTone Axle Grease Delay Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-10-20
