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Poly Effects Josh Smith Flat V Overdrive/Distortion Pedal

SKU 20POL004
Sold out
Original price $ 399.00
Original price $ 399.00 - Original price $ 399.00
Original price $ 399.00
Current price $ 349.00
$ 349.00 - $ 349.00
Current price $ 349.00

Josh Smith Flat V is a collaboration between Josh Smith and Poly Effects.  Flat V is a gain pedal with 2 channels. Channel A is transistor based with selectable diodes. Channel B is an amp style gain circuit with cascaded JFETs replacing valves. Synth style resonant filters shape the tone of channel B.

All presets have 2 sides that allow you to blend between 2 values of each slider. You can blend with the waveshapes, MIDI or an envelope that reacts to your playing. Blending allows very complex tremolo, envelope filter and auto wah effects.

100% analog signal path with digital control.
Josh has been using it on tour for the last few months and the presets in bank 1 are made by Josh.  Preset 1 is his default "use it basically all the time sound", replacing his previous main pedal. You'll notice his latest board doesn't have a Tchula on it.

Flat V provides a very diverse range of gain options by choosing stacking order of the channels, diode types and gain. The weirdiest bit of it is the tone shaping design. Most pedal give you a traditional EQ, but you've got one of those on your amp. So instead Flat V includes 2 24 dB 4 pole resonant synth style analog filters. This type of filter was featured on synths like those by Oberheim and has a lot of character especially when resontant. It can self oscillate as well in which case the pedal becomes a synth.  It is a different way of thinking to get the most out of it though.

Every presets has 2 sides, this only relates to channel B, and allows you to blend between any of the slider controls. This means you can do tremolo (harmonic, amplitude and bias), swells, envelope filter, autowah. So all the sliders exist in side 1 and side 2. So if you set the volume a little lower in side 2, and turn on a wave shape, it'll tremolo by varying the volume. Think of it like setting a heel up and down position. The spread / depth control (called sens for the envelope attack / sens) controls how close to each side the resulting blend gets. Preset 6 is a good example of a gentle tremolo.

The LEDs will light up for the controls that are currently active. So when you've got A channel active you only see the diode selector, as A is very simple and has no other controls.

The leds light up in the colour of the preset so it's easy to see at a glance on stage if you're on the right preset.

The touch interface will go to sleep if you haven't touched it in a while to avoid accidently bumping and conserve power. Just tap any control to wake it up again.

Stacking A and B can get noisy if you have a lot of gain, as the transistor and JFET stages are quite sensitive to environmental noise compared to op amp gain. The pedal can get to ludicrous gain if you want.