Fredric Effects Harmonic Percolator / Perky Harlot

This is an improved clone of the Interfax Harmonic Percolator, an oddball overdrive/distortion pedal from the 1970s popularised by Steve Albini of Shellac. Built to the most recent 'general consensus' schematic, with the addition of a switch to disengage the clipping diodes, for a more open overdriven sound, which adds to the versatility of the effect. The blue and black versions feature all the hard-to-find parts of the originals, but in a modern pedal-board friendly package, with DC power, LED indicator and normal rotary pots instead of sliders.

Note I no longer offer a switchable noise reduction circuit in the black HP. (The NR always took out some of the good stuff!)

Information

Specs are as follows:

Vintage white (formerly beige): NOS Russian MP16B Ge & standard 2N3904 Si transistors, Russian KD514A silicon diodes (£75)
Blue or Black: Vintage correct NOS 2N404(A) & 2N3565 transistors, 1N695 Germanium diodes (£90)


High Quality:

• Professionally powder coated and screen printed enclosures
• PCB construction (not perf or vero)
• Neutrik or Lumberg jacks
• Alpha footswitch and pots

Powered by battery or standard center-neg DC jack, clear red LED. Small, MXR-sized enclosure. Pedals are hand-made, individually tested and guaranteed for the first owner for two years.

A Harlot's Progress

You can now choose whether you pedal is labelled 'Harmonic Percolator' or 'Perky Harlot'.

Demo

Production notes

The noise reduction circuit in earlier versions of the black percolator (no longer available) is fully bypassable via a series of DIP switches on the circuit board. The key to these is printed inside the pedal, and also available here.