PHILADELPHIA PEDAL

Initially known as the PUSHERMAN (named because of my obsession with the Impressions & Curtis Mayfield at the time), the PHILADELPHIA PEDAL is a simple boost circuit that I originally used for teaching electronics where a minimal-parts/maximum-reward project is ideal.

After building numerous examples in class, I began building versions of this pedal to sell/donate and gift to friends, with each run/year being a little or wildly different (see photos). I eventually sent an oddball version of the pedal to Ira Kaplan & Yo La Tengo who used it on their “Bunker Sessions” EP and tour. Ira mentioned it in a Guitar World interview and referred to it as “the Philadelphia pedal” which makes more sense than “pusherman” (I hate to admit I don’t think Curtis Mayfield would have loved this pedal), so let’s be pragmatic >>> introducing the PHILADELPHIA PEDAL.

What is it? Here’s the description I sent to Ira >>> this is a simple, but unique device. It’s a one-transistor circuit closest to an LPB-1 (old Electro Harmonix boost circuit) with an output level control (proportion), and an adjustable gain control (sculpt). The “sculpt” controls both gain and sustain but in a somewhat chaotic or contradictory manner; increasing (moving clockwise) the control will, at first, add more gain and distortion while increasing sustain, but at a point, it will start to reduce sustain and continue to increase in gain. The DIRT switch throws a pair of germanium clipping diodes to ground to completely level your circuit.

All PHILADELPHIA PEDALS are drilled, designed, adorned, built, soldered, and tested by Matt Manhire. Pedals are built point-to-point with a mix of vintage & modern “tube amp” components, single-point grounding, solid copper bus bar, switchcraft jacks, and other high quality parts.

Power: use a 2.1mm center-negative 9v supply. Pedal features extra filtering (for the cheap power supplies) and diode protection (for the wrong power supplies). No batteries unless custom ordered

Dimensions: 4.7” x 3.7”

Sound: See demo below.

Buy: Check the SHOP or get in touch!