The Knockout is a cool idea. With quick knob rotations, dramatically different (but useable) tones await, and its foot-switchability makes it an excellent means of achieving a quick sonic costume change on the fly. For example, I turned up the low knob, cut the high, and dialed in a moderate amount of dry signal. The result: thick and bootylicious reggae thud with the flick of a switch, which fit the bill perfectly. The reverse is also possible: Reducing low and favoring high made for finger-sensitive, thwack-y sounds that seemed appropriate for clangy rock à la John Entwistle. The pedal was ruggedly constructed, with a solid-thunking metal footswitch and bright indicator LED.
Electro-Harmonix designed the Steel Leather to emphasize and expand the narrow range of frequencies that best identify a bass’s attack. An expander is the opposite of a compressor; it makes quiet sounds quieter and a loud signal louder. The Steel Leather is particularly versatile thanks to the response control, which governs the sensitivity of the expander to input dynamics. At a low setting, it emphasizes only the loudest notes played. As it’s turned up, it acts on progressively more of the input-amplitude range. This musical and variable ability to adjust sensitivity makes the Steel Leather an intriguing component of a signal chain. By trial-and-error, I was able to find the pedal’s sweet spot, making it kick in only on loud passages of a bass line, giving my tone just enough edge and boost to anchor it soundly in the groove. I’m no metal bassist, but I’ve often heard my metal and hard-rock-playing friends lament the challenge of cutting through amid their music’s thick sonic density. The Steel Leather seems like a no-brainer for any bassist looking for a subtle but powerful means of asserting themselves in the thick of a mix.
TECH SPECS
Steel Leather
Input impedance 1MΩ
Controls EFFECT LEVEL; RESPONSE (controls sensitivity to attack dynamics)
Throughput True bypass
Knockout
Input Impedance 390kΩ
Controls LOW, volume control for 7-pole lowpass filter with 85Hz cutoff frequency; DRY, volume control for input signal; HIGH, volume control for 6-pole highpass filter with 6.5kHz cutoff frequency
Throughput True bypass
Both pedals
Made in U.S.A.
Warranty One year limited
ELECTRO-HARMONIX KNOCKOUT
Street $67
Pros Flexible and inexpensive means of achieving footswitchable and dramatic tone alterations
Cons None
Bottom line For not much money, the Knockout is a truly powerful tone sculptor.
ELECTRO-HARMONIX STEEL LEATHER
Street $67
Pros Instant cut-through in even the densest mixes
Cons None
Bottom line A cheap way to slice through thick mud.
CONTACT
www.ehx.com
718-937-8300