EarthQuaker Devices The Warden Optical Compressor Pedal

The Name Says It All

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The Warden keeps your dynamics in line. But it does so in eminently musical fashion. This EarthQuaker Devices' optical compressor pedal sports classic feedback-style circuitry and a feature set you'd expect to find on studio compressors. Built with high-grade components and internally powered by 18 volts, The Warden has gobs of gain and sustain on tap. With total control over attack, release, sustain, and ratio, The Warden delivers everything from heavy squash with quick attack and release to super-subtle compression. Optical compressors enjoy a reputation for having more character than VCA- or FET-based designs, and Sweetwater can attest that EarthQuaker Devices' The Warden sounds wonderfully warm and characterful, indeed.

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• Classic feedback-style compression
• From the pedal gurus at EarthQuaker Devices

A feedback-style compressor, The Warden likes it hot - as in, the louder the signal, the more compression you get. Short sustain equals little compression, more sluggish attack and release, and cooler signal; maximum sustain equals heavy compression, longer sustain, hotter signal, and more sprightly attack and release. If you've ever used a Teletronix LA-2A (the holy grail among those in the know), that's classic feedback-style compression, in all its glory. The Warden nails it. Add dead-quiet operation and a complete modern control set to the vintage mojo, and you've got what may be the ultimate compressor pedal for guitar or anything else. Put EarthQuaker Devices The Warden in your signal chain, and you'll hear what we mean.

Akron, Ohio's EarthQuaker Devices is a boutique pedal company that puts all of their focus on building tools for musicians to find their own tone. Their designs range from enhanced classics to pedals that have never been seen or heard before. Company founder Jamie Stillman was working with rock band the Black Keys when he came upon a design for the pedal that kick-started the company's success. Ever since then EarthQuaker Devices has been committed to helping you find your tone with high-quality products at great prices.

• Warm, characterful optical compression with tons of control:
  • Tone: The Warden can mildly color your tone; dial in coloration to taste:
    • Counterclockwise is treble cut, clockwise is treble boost
    • Around 11 o'clock, the tone is nearly flat
  • Level: controls the overall output and is affected by the sustain and ratio settings
  • Sustain: controls how hot the signal is, which changes the dynamics of the compression
  • Ratio: determines how much the gain reduction affects your signal:
    • All the way up is full compression
    • The compression is reduced as you turn the knob counterclockwise
  • Attack: controls how quickly the compressor reacts and starts leveling the signal:
    • All the way counterclockwise is a fast, nearly immediate reaction
    • Turning the attack clockwise slows the reaction time
  • Release: controls recovery, as determined by the sustain and ratio settings
• True bypass
• Requires standard 9-volt DC power supply with 2.1mm negative-center barrel
• Handcrafted in EarthQuaker's Akron, Ohio, factory