EQD Sunn O))) HalfLife: Compact Doom!
Octaver, distortion and booster in one wall of sound!
EarthQuaker Devices has announced the release of the Sunn O))) HalfLife pedal. Taking the Life pedal, making it more compact and a permanent fixture in their lineup.
Contents: EQD Sunn O))) HalfLife
Sunn O)))
The Sunn O))) collaborations with EQD have been ongoing for several years, and together they have released various limited-edition runs of the Life pedal. It combines an octave, distortion and booster to create a wall of Doom-laden tones perfect for low-tuned madness at extremely high volumes!
Life Versions
There was the initial highly-limited 2019 run, and then a short run in gold, and one in silver, all in the same year. followed by a short run in 2020 as well. Plus, they have had many limited-run colour ‘band’ options and even a cast-iron enclosure version.
Version 3 is the most recent and is still currently available in the large format.
Sunn O))) HalfLife
This new Sunn O))) HalfLife model includes everything everyone wants from Life, just in a new, compact form factor with a slight change to the control layout compared to its larger sibling.
While previous versions were limited runs that relied on rare, vintage components, EQD founder Jamie Stillman has completely reworked the circuit using readily available modern parts.
Doom Controls
The control layout is now much more intuitive, with the Amplitude and Octave knobs swapping places for easier on-the-fly adjustments. EQD has also refined the analog octave effect, making it far more prominent while fully preserving the low-end response.
Inside, the signal flows strictly from Octave to Distortion to Boost, with independent footswitches for the distortion and booster circuits.
Expression
An all-discrete, analog full-wave rectifier sits at the input, and the Octave knob blends the effect in seamlessly. For hands-free control, an expression pedal can be connected to the Octave EXP jack to sweep the mix mid-riff.
Because this analog, monophonic effect tracks best on single notes played above the 12th fret using a neck pickup, maxing out the control transforms the pedal into a raging, vintage Shin-Ei Super Fuzz-style beast.
White Face Rodent
The distortion section is faithfully modelled after the legendary “White Face” (ProCo RAT) circuit and features a three-way clipping switch to match any rig. OpAmp mode bypasses all diodes for a massive, uncompressed, high-volume assault.
Asymm mode combines two silicon diodes and one LED for a smooth, compressed crunch that mirrors the natural sag of a cranked tube amp. Symm mode uses the stock, double-silicon diode configuration for a classic, tight, heavily compressed distortion.
MOSFET Boost
The final stage is a completely clean, high-impedance, discrete MOSFET booster controlled by the Magnitude knob. It adds no colouration or clipping of its own. Instead, it acts as a transparent booster engineered to drive tube amplifiers into total harmonic saturation and feedback.
Who is it for?
Jamie Stillman and EQD have packed a lot into one very compact pedal; the price point is also lower than the larger-format Life V3 model. If you want transparent overdrive, Klon-style drive tones, this is not the effect you are looking for!
However, if you are seeking ‘Massive Doom Riffs’ with bowel-wrenching low-end, this one is for you. Being compact is also a huge bonus for some players, and if you own one of the rarer Life pedals, you can leave it at home and gig with this new, readily available model instead.
Price & Availability
The EQD Sunn O))) HalfLife is available at Thomann, priced at $291/£260/€299 and should be shipping sometime in July.
More Information
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