Airis Effects Tri-Channel Overdrive [Discontinued]
Photo By: RHK Studios
Product Overview:
Airis Effects is an upcoming boutique effects pedal company base out of Ontario Canada, and founded by Richard Seidlitz in 2014. Not only do they have stock pedals readily available but are also willing to customize pedals and chassis to fit the customer's need with a 2 year warranty to boot!
Build Quality:
The Tri-Channel Overdrive is built to last hands down. It fashions a metallic midnight blue with sparkles (don’t let the sparkles fool you “laughs”) with the Airis Effects logo sporting an italicize cursive font centered above the footswtich. The indicator LED is a brilliant blue light that’s perfect for live performances, which is expected from a boutique pedal however, what really caught my attention was the LED’s placement. It’s recessed which prevents it from getting damaged from the rowdiest crowds, because let’s face it. Any stage-less show will get hectic and pits will breakout right in front of you at a moments thought. (Always a recipe for a good time for sure “laughs.”) The Tri-Channel’s AC adapter is mounted right on the metal chassis and the potentiometers feel solid when dialing in, and lastly. The black brushed aluminum knobs are a perfect touch aesthetically, but just wished the dial knob indicator was more visible. Perhaps a thicker white line? Overall the Tri-Channel OD is a beautiful yet practical build that will last you the test of time.
Tonal Qualities:
The Tri-Channel has a similar feel like the Savage Drive where it acts more like a clean Pre EQ'd boost pedal than a traditional clipping overdrive like the Boss Blues Driver or the Maxon OD808. It allows more natural bass from the guitar into the signal without it compressing too much when front ending an already distorted amplifier. The Tri-Channel is very neutral sounding overall but has the ability to add an aggressive texture to the gain stage along with a minuscule mid hump. (yes the Tri-Channel does jent "laughs") The Tri-Channel has an amazing amount of output to really push your preamp tubes. The toggle switch on the left of the pedal has three positions / modes. The top position being the "hottest" mode, the middle position is the "normal" mode, and the lowest position has even lesser output / gain. So if you need that OD1 / crunch channel on your Marshall JCM, Peavey 6505+ , or Mesa Dual Rec to be your high gain rhythm channel? This would be the perfect overdrive for that while keeping the natural characteristics of your amplifier in tact while adding a Airis texture to your rig.
Conclusion:
This is by far my favorite Airis Effects overdrive / boost pedal. It's refined, It's extremely unique sounding, it has an amazing output to noise ratio, (except the tone knob past 2 O Clock) It's extremely flexible thanks to the 3 way toggle switch, and it just looks great! I give this pedal a rating of
9 out of 10!
Video Demonstrations
Signal Chain
|
LTD EX-307 (Bridge EMG 81-7 Neck EMG 707)
|
Digitech Whammy
|
Digitech Polara Reverb
|
Airis Effects Tri-Channel Overdrive
|
ISP Decimator Noise Gate
|
Krankenstein Original Head (MXR Carbon Copy in FX-Loop)
|
Powered By Omega (CV-75 mic'd)
|
Shure SM57
|
Presonus Firestudio