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Long Story Short: The N-1 is a 4 Stage Germanium transistor Fuzz with a crazy oscillation switch. It feature NOS Soviet Transistors and ammeter with laser-etched graphics on a Cold War Red powder coated enclosure.
This is a very limited edition version of the N-1. It will be the first of only a few, most likely. This one has a "Reverse" Glasnost finish, where the graphics are in Cold War Red powdercoat, and the background is laser-etched away.
This is a higher gain version of the standard N-1. It has more low end, uses 6 transistors instead of 4, and can get REALLY loud. It RIPS!!! That being the case, it should also be noted that, if you turn up the Thrust past halfway, it has a substantially higher noise floor, and you might get a little self-oscillation in the background. Roll your volume all the way back when not playing to avoid unwanted noise between songs/parts.
Glasnost was a policy of increased openness, transparency, and willingness to address problems in the last years of the USSR. In that spirit, I have designed a version of the N-1 that addresses the number one barrier to purchase: the price. Same circuit, same NOS MP38 Soviet germanium transistors, same NOS Soviet meter, but with a laser etched finish rather than the more labor intensive acid etched. The laser etched version has the graphics cut into the Cold War Red powdercoat, then finished with a clear gloss powdercoat. I opted for use 2 high quality Taiway footswitches in this version (whereas the Acid etched version features a DeMont switch for the activation switch) to further bring down costs while maintaining quality. The end result is you get the sound, feel, and function of the N-1 with a similar aesthetic. Does it look just as good as the acid-etched version? No. But, if I do say so myself, it still looks pretty darn good. And...you save 100 bucks.
Each N-1 is almost completely hand-built. I start with laser cut aluminum plate, powdercoat it, laser etch the graphics, then fold the plates into an enclosure. After that I move to clear coating, building & wiring the circuits, pedal assembly, and final testing and tweaking. These are truly hand-built pedals.
Note: Due to the extreme hand built nature of the N-1 Germanium Carrier Rocket pedal and the fact that each enclosure is individually etched and finished, your pedal will be unique. There will be imperfections and variations in the etching.
Longer Story:
The Soviets rushed the N-1 moon rocket, with its 30 separate nk-15 rocket engines!! onto the launch pad as the Americans were preparing for the manned Saturn V launch. They hadn’t had the time to even test the individual stages of the rocket. They just built the whole thing and launched it. And due to “pogo oscillation”, it exploded 100 meters off the launch pad. Back to the drawing board for some rushed modifications, supervisors silencing engineers’ concerns, and another hurried launch attempt. This launch led to the biggest man-made non-nuclear explosion in world history! After 4 failed launch attempts, the N-1 program was eventually disbanded.
In the tradition of its namesake, the N-1 Germanium Signal Carrier uses an array of vintage (NOS) low gain, Soviet-built, germanium transistors to power its fuzz tone. The American Fuzz Face used 2 med to high gain germanium transistors? Then the N-1 will use 4 low gain Russian-made ones! And we arrange them in Darlington fashion to multiply their gain! “We will bury you!!” With single coil guitars you have access to everything from a really great medium gain overdrive to a classic fuzz sound. Put some humbuckers, or, heaven help us, P-90s in front of the N-1, and now you’re into some heavy, saggy, fuzz tones.
“So, what’s the “Pogo Oscillation” switch do?” Thanks for asking: just like its namesake, it sends the circuit into chaotic oscillation. You can manipulate the oscillation sound with your guitar volume and tone controls for lots of weird sounds that will totally turn your audience off. Or…if you manage the amount of Thrust and the amount of Oscillation (side knob), you can actually add just the right amount of positive feedback to your signal to get an amazingly harmonically rich drive sound. But that’s for people who have “self-discipline”.
The NOS ammeter on the face of the pedal, like the transistors, is also Soviet built. But that is where we leave the Cold war theme and use a modern high quality Taiway miniature stomp switches for the oscillation and activation switches, US made PCB, original design aluminum enclosures laser cut in the US and folded in the Wrought Iron shop. The graphics are all laser etched in-house, and the Cold War Red powdercoat is then finished with 2 coats of ceramic wax for protection.
The N-1 carries the Wrought Iron Satisfaction Guarantee: contact us with any issues and we will make it right.
common questions:
1. Does the N-1 use Germanium clipping diodes or N1 Carbon tunneling device?
NO! It doesn't use any clipping diodes or devices!!!! Just 4 Germanium transistors in 2 pairs of Darlington configuration smashing into each other and everything around them.
2. Does the meter do anything or is it just for looks?
The NOS Soviet meter indicates signal strength. The harder you play, the harder it drives the meter.
3. Does it need to be first in my signal chain before any buffers?
Yes, unless the sound you are looking for is a hideous raspy gated terrible sound. If that's the case, put it anywhere.
4. Are you a communist?
Nope. This pedal does not intend to pay homage to Communism or the Soviet Union, it is merely
a snapshot in history: a study of technology, not a monument. The rocket it is named after was a failure of tremendous proportions.
