Diamond Pedals
From Montreal, Canada
Innovating Sonic Excellence
It’s back! The legend that is Diamond Pedals gets resurrected to once again inspire the pedal world.
Originally founded by Michael Knappe in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2003 Diamond Pedals had a goal to create devices that improve the sound quality of the modern guitar player, while maintaining familiar product usability. In 2005, a new era of innovation in the pedal industry was ushered in. That was the year that Diamond introduced their now legendary Compressor and the game-changing Memory Lane; the world-first all analog tap-tempo Delay.
The next few years saw many innovative Diamond designs being brought to the market and many now beloved industry staples would leave the brand’s workbenches. However, in 2020 and right in the midst of the global pandemic, Diamond Pedals was sadly forced to shut down their operations.
Seeking to assist their fellow Canadian brand, SolidGoldFX mastermind Greg Djerrahian reached out to see if he could help out, whether that be assisting with manufacturing, producing parts or other elements of pedal production as they wanted to do whatever it could to “keep this pedal institution alive.” One thing led to another and SolidGoldFX ended up acquiring the Diamond Pedals brand and designs in 2021.
After two long years of endless research, development and tinkering with Diamond’s original and long admired pedal circuits, Greg and his team have launched 5 new devices, all building on the original designs of Diamond’s most iconic flagship pedals.
Reborn, Diamond Pedals will continue the development of sonically excellent and inspiringly innovative effects, with all design and manufacturing now happening in their fully equipped facility located in Montreal, Canada.
The first line of Diamond re-releases includes the venerable MEMORY LANE – digital Bucket Brigade Delay (dBBD), their legendary Compressors resurrected as COMP/EQ and BASS COMP/EQ, the DRIVE, which revives the original J-Drive, as well as the TREMOLO, all faithfully re-created, expanded with new features and circuit upgrades and made ready for the modern era.
MEMORY LANE
Blending analog companding, anti-aliasing|reconstruction filters with a bucket brigade style delay line, we have immaculately captured the ethereal essence of the original big-box Memory Lane using Diamond’s innovative digital Bucket Brigade Delay technology (dBBD). Basically what we’re saying is, you get all the goodness of the original Memory Lane in a smaller footprint, over double the delay time, extended frequency response, higher SNR, and at a fraction of the current draw.
This innovative progression of the Memory Lane is defined by 3 distinct delay lines to offer modern or vintage sounds.
The Memory Lane Jr. circuit reincarnated. Our original compander equipped dBBD delay line delivering up to 1200ms of lush, modulated repeats.
The Memory Lane’s original fixed sampling rate delay line has been augmented with a new warm delay mode offering vintage BBD style variable sampling rate, warmer repeats and a 1200ms maximum delay time for gorgeous ambient delays as well as a new vintage mode designed to capture the magic of analog BBD delay pedals. Variable sampling rate, snappier repeats and 50ms-550ms delay times inspired by yesterday’s big box delays.
For the modern pedal-user’s needs. Space saving design, without any loss of quality. Features include top mounted jacks, Burr-Brown equipped buffered bypass with optional trails, tap tempo with subdivisions, AutoDiv, Doubler, momentary or latching modulation and more.
COMP/EQ
There isn’t a compressor that’s more sought after than the Diamond yellow box. This next-gen COMP/EQ maintains the classic circuit architecture while increasing range and functionality. The new EQ section allows you to sculpt your tone in the same box that squashes it (that’s a good thing).
Furthermore, the new Attack switch allows you to go from the signature ultra-snappy Diamond comp style all the way to softer transparent compression.
What a buzzword “compression” is. But as soon as you slap one into your chain, you can never go back. Applicable in almost every situation, compression is the glue that keeps your tone tight and in the pocket.
Rather than mess with perfection, the Diamond Comp/EQ augments the original yellow box design with a new Mids boost/cut control, Attack switch, custom spec’d, US made opto-isolators and modern, quiet switching.
While the original Diamond Compressor was a formidable pedal, we can confidently say that this next-generation is the best version of the Diamond Compressor yet.
Tremolo
Tremolo has been a staple effect since the 60’s. Now it’s time to welcome it to the 21st century. Don’t let your preconceptions fool you, this is not your average trem.
The new Diamond Tremolo takes what it means to be a tremolo and pushes it well beyond the limits. We started with 11 rhythm control positions, and 3 different modes, but then decided to introduce a secondary tremolo circuit based around a FET that provides a sharp edge, completely killed, tremolo effect. With the way this circuit chops your signal, we’ve coined it the CHOPPER. With all of this, the updated Diamond Tremolo will be your go-to tone warping machine
Tremolos are the kind of pedal that once you turn it on, you never go back.
The Diamond Tremolo offers both warm, natural vintage amp-style optical tremolo with sine, shark tooth and square waveforms as well as a precise FET Chopper with momentary Dicer function. But like we said above, we’ve introduced the effect to the modern world by way of creating 3 distinct modes that introduce entirely new feature sets and in turn ways of operating the pedal
Small but mighty. Loaded yet user friendly. The Tremolo offers Tap Tempo with subdivisions, 11 position Rhythm control, Insta-Chop, momentary or latching speed Doubler, and more.
DRIVE
Soaked to the bone in legendary Diamond DNA, the new generation Diamond DRIVE is built on a foundation of signature drive and EQ soundblocks.
Distilling the most desirable and functional elements from the almighty J-Drive, Blaze, and Fireburst pedals, the Diamond Drive combines a warm and wide-ranging overdrive built around a Premium Sound Burr-Brown Op-amp with a dual band, post-gain active EQ.
The new Diamond Drive was designed to nail the most demanding sessions. The Warm toggle will tame an overly bright amp or give your tone just the right amount of cream, while the wide-ranging Bass, Treble, and Drive controls will deliver anything from a touch of hair to amp-sizzling overdrive. Sculpt your driven tones to perfection.
BASS COMP/EQ
There’s something truly magical about finding the compression sweet-spot on bass. Enter the Diamond BASS COMP/EQ. This bad-boy will go on your board, and never come off. This next-gen compressor maintains the classic circuit architecture while increasing range and functionality.
The new EQ section allows you to sculpt your tone in the same box that squashes it (that’s a good thing). Furthermore, the tilt switch allows you select the fulcrum frequency of the Tilt EQ for sculpting those all-important mids.
Rather than mess with perfection, the Diamond Comp/EQ augments the original bass-tuned yellow box design with a new Mids boost/cut control, 3-position Tilt Frequency switch, custom spec’d, US made opto-isolators and modern, quiet switching.
While the original Diamond Compressor was a formidable pedal, we can confidently say that this next-generation is the best version of the Diamond Compressor yet.
Combining silky smooth, natural optical compression with our signature hi-fi inspired, centre-detent active tilt EQ and Mid boost/cut control, the Comp/EQ is a mastering solution for your effects chain….one you might never turn off.
Audio Distribution Group is proud to be the exclusive UK and European distributor for Diamond Pedals.