Flattley Solaris Pro Fuzz With Boost Pedal
by Flattley
$349.00
The idea behind the Solaris Pro was to create a simple fuzz box that would do a few tones well, a “fuzz without fuss”. To this end the gain is pre-set to max, the volume control of your guitar can be used to change the tone so don’t forget to experiment. However, for the working musician we decided to add the sustain control and swap out the Norm/Norm+ toggle switch for a boost foot switch to make it a little more functional for live show applications. Hence the Solaris Pro version was born and comes standard with two halo light rings fitted.
The blue halo light ring installed diffuses the light when playing live, avoiding being blinded by the standard LEDs just as you are about to go into that all important solo thus giving a larger area to see where the pedal is located easily on the pedal board on darkened stages. The addition of the aluminium foot topper gives you more real estate for contact when switching the pedal on and off during quick changes when playing live.
All Flattley “Platinum Range” pedals are hand processed in our Flattley paint shop. The bare aluminium enclosure is abraded prior to painting with the etch primer. The etch primer acts as a anti corrosive layer and allows the primer to bond to the enclosure ensuring a tough resilient paint finish.
Multiple coats of base coat primer are applied which are then lightly abraded to remove any blemishes or paint speckles prior to the application of the base colour. We apply several coats of base colour until an even coverage occurs and the base colour develops rich smooth depth. Metallic holographic chrome flake is then applied using a clear inter coat which adds that all important Flattley sparkle.
The pedal enclosure is now ready to be hydro dipped in its Flattley graphics. This is the process whereby the graphics are applied using water activated film, the residual PVA film is then washed off and the enclosure is then allowed to dry naturally.
Once dried the lacquer process begins. Each “Flattley Platinum” pedal has a minimum of three coats of lacquer which are all wet sanded between coats. Once the lacquer has hardened, it is then hand polished using three different grades of polishing compounds and it then has a final polish to achieve a high gloss finish using a wool finishing pad. This process gives the smooth deep lustre finish that is inherent in all Flattley Guitar and Bass effects pedals.
Bypass switch: the effect is on when the halo indicator is lit.
Volume: The volume control allows the user to determine the output volume of the effect only. It can be used to equalise the volume to the bypassed guitar signal or to dial in as much boost or cut as required. Note that at minimum there is no sound from the effect (always worth checking if the effect is not working). At maximum there is a fair amount of boost so use with caution.
Tone: Tone control fully anti-clockwise gives a fuzz that is creamy (the sound of the original Solaris), tone control fully clockwise gives more treble without losing all the bottom end. The effect is the same for both positions of the Boost switch.
Sustain: Controls the maximum amount of fuzz sustain.
Boost Switch: the halo indicator shows which boost circuit is engaged at all times. If the indicator is off the original diode clipping of the second distortion stage is engaged, this gives a mellower tone with more sustain. If the indicator is on this selects an alternative more aggressive tone by changing some of the feedback components in the second distortion stage, this gives a lift in volume with a harder edge with less sustain.
Note that if the effect is bypassed boost has no effect on the sound.
Hints and Tips: as well as being used as a full on fuzz monster there is another surprising low distortion use as follows. With boost on and sustain fully anti-clockwise the sound is relatively clean as the first distortion stage barely clips and the second distortion stage clipping level has been increased by having boost on.
The blue halo light ring installed diffuses the light when playing live, avoiding being blinded by the standard LEDs just as you are about to go into that all important solo thus giving a larger area to see where the pedal is located easily on the pedal board on darkened stages. The addition of the aluminium foot topper gives you more real estate for contact when switching the pedal on and off during quick changes when playing live.
All Flattley “Platinum Range” pedals are hand processed in our Flattley paint shop. The bare aluminium enclosure is abraded prior to painting with the etch primer. The etch primer acts as a anti corrosive layer and allows the primer to bond to the enclosure ensuring a tough resilient paint finish.
Multiple coats of base coat primer are applied which are then lightly abraded to remove any blemishes or paint speckles prior to the application of the base colour. We apply several coats of base colour until an even coverage occurs and the base colour develops rich smooth depth. Metallic holographic chrome flake is then applied using a clear inter coat which adds that all important Flattley sparkle.
The pedal enclosure is now ready to be hydro dipped in its Flattley graphics. This is the process whereby the graphics are applied using water activated film, the residual PVA film is then washed off and the enclosure is then allowed to dry naturally.
Once dried the lacquer process begins. Each “Flattley Platinum” pedal has a minimum of three coats of lacquer which are all wet sanded between coats. Once the lacquer has hardened, it is then hand polished using three different grades of polishing compounds and it then has a final polish to achieve a high gloss finish using a wool finishing pad. This process gives the smooth deep lustre finish that is inherent in all Flattley Guitar and Bass effects pedals.
Bypass switch: the effect is on when the halo indicator is lit.
Volume: The volume control allows the user to determine the output volume of the effect only. It can be used to equalise the volume to the bypassed guitar signal or to dial in as much boost or cut as required. Note that at minimum there is no sound from the effect (always worth checking if the effect is not working). At maximum there is a fair amount of boost so use with caution.
Tone: Tone control fully anti-clockwise gives a fuzz that is creamy (the sound of the original Solaris), tone control fully clockwise gives more treble without losing all the bottom end. The effect is the same for both positions of the Boost switch.
Sustain: Controls the maximum amount of fuzz sustain.
Boost Switch: the halo indicator shows which boost circuit is engaged at all times. If the indicator is off the original diode clipping of the second distortion stage is engaged, this gives a mellower tone with more sustain. If the indicator is on this selects an alternative more aggressive tone by changing some of the feedback components in the second distortion stage, this gives a lift in volume with a harder edge with less sustain.
Note that if the effect is bypassed boost has no effect on the sound.
Hints and Tips: as well as being used as a full on fuzz monster there is another surprising low distortion use as follows. With boost on and sustain fully anti-clockwise the sound is relatively clean as the first distortion stage barely clips and the second distortion stage clipping level has been increased by having boost on.
- The Solaris Pro comes in a 1590BB Enclosure (L x W x D): 119 x 94 x 30 mm (67 x 3.68 x 1.18 inch)
- Standard negative centre, -9v dc tip power supply unit/power brick required
- No internal 9v dc battery function
- 20mm anodised aluminium custom etched control knobs
- Blue halo light rings installed
- The Solaris Pro comes with blue custom etched aluminium foot toppers
- This edition comes in blue flames hydro graphics.
- All our pedals are handmade, hand wired, boutique custom guitar and bass pedal effects manufactured in the UK using only the highest quality components ensuring every aspect of our pedal’s build process results in a truly outstanding product.
