NPD: Fortin Zuul+ Blackout

[gearJunkie]

Attempt to tame my JVM410H with the Fortin Zuul+ Blackout noise gate.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Attempt to tame my JVM410H with the Fortin Zuul+ Blackout noise gate.

View attachment 46442

This is on my short list. How do you like it?

 

[gearJunkie]

This is on my short list. How do you like it?

I haven't had a chance to plug it in and play. I'll update this thread after I sample it's effectiveness later this evening.

 

[Mikael Dez]

I’m interested in their meshuggah preamp pedal too haha

 

[gearJunkie]

I’m interested in their meshuggah preamp pedal too haha

That looks similar to my Empress Effects Heavy Menace Distortion, which is also .

 

[Mikael Dez]

That looks similar to my Empress Effects Heavy Menace Distortion, which is also .

View attachment 46471

Ok - that’s a badass pedal

 

[norminal]

Attempt to tame my JVM410H with the Fortin Zuul+ Blackout noise gate.

View attachment 46442

Is this one of those gates that you can sidechain in the effects loop?

 

[gearJunkie]

Is this one of those gates that you can sidechain in the effects loop?

Yes, similar to the awesome Lichtlaerm Key In The Gate, but with more control over hold and release times.

 

[norminal]

Yes, similar to the awesome Lichtlaerm Key In The Gate, but with more control.View attachment 46489

I’d be interested to see how it would work with EOB and low gain tones.

 

[gearJunkie]

I’d be interested to see how it would work with EOB and low gain tones.

That's on my test agenda. I'll update this thread after I spend some quality time with it.

 

[norminal]

That's on my test agenda. I'll update this thread after I spend some quality time with it.

Awesome! I look forward to your findings.

 

[HomespunEffects]

This thread is on my watch list now. Very cool.

 

[gearJunkie]

Quick first impressions...

Solid build quality

Very transparent, much more so than the Lichtlaerm KitG and ISP Decimator G-string

Super responsive and highly configurable for fast tight mega-gain djent (low hold & release) , traditional high gain amp taming, lower gain EOB (turn up the release knob to tune decay).

I tested on my custom King King 50 into both plexi clean and high gain channels with 1 to 6 gain stages in front of the amp (Tchula {2} + Protein {2} + Purple Plexi plus boost {2}).

 

[gearJunkie]

I spent quite a bit more time with the Zuul+ and my Ceriatone KK50 + multiple stacked boosts/overdrives.

After tweaking the gate, hold, and release, I have arrived at settings that work for everything except heavy gating used for effect (djent). Adjusting the controls for tighter/quicker gating and back to my default is quite easy between songs, but probably not ideal for mid-song changes.

IMO, the true measure of a gates effectiveness is actually being able to forget you are using one in the first place. The Zuul+ passes that test in blackout spades.

This one is a keeper.

Tomorrow I'll run the JVM through a similar battery of tests.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Excellent.