Strymon Iridium - Not dead yet

[Karl Houseknecht]

Not a lot of discussion about this because, hey, it's old in terms of modeling units. I just unearthed my Iridium from my pedal drawer, put some of my favorite York IRs in it, and gave it a spin through my EV PXM-12MP's. And you know what? It absolutely sounds fantastic. Three basic models, no frills. Just amps. Stereo if you want them to be. Serviceable room reverb.

I ran my HX Stomp into the front using the Chime model like I would for CCM/P&W stuff and it is every bit as good as my Stadium or FM9. Great compact backup solution. Or maybe even a main rig for some. I could totally do a rock gig with the Iridium, an overdrive, delay, and wah.

Anyone else still using theirs on the regular? I know there's been calls for an updated version but honestly, why? I really think they got it right the first time.

 

[laxu]

I owned one twice and thought it was a nice little unit. It's main flaw is that it's very vintage tone focused. You can't really get like a modern modded Marshall tone out of it without some drive pedals up front.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I always wondered about them. If they would have done a high gain version; one would have made it's way through my jam room. It didn't so that was kind of that.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

Yeah, high gain is not its strong suit without other pedals. A SunSet or a Riverside (or both) into it is pretty darn great though.

 

[deadpool_25]

As I remember it, the Chime with gain dimed was way heavier than I expected. It was pretty cool just not quite what I was looking for. If I could’ve swapped the Chime for a 5150…

 

[laxu]

As I remember it, the Chime with gain dimed was way heavier than I expected. It was pretty cool just not quite what I was looking for. If I could’ve swapped the Chime for a 5150…

It has plenty of gain, but the response is just not right for anything heavier. I got some good results from the Punch model when it was set cleaner and driven with the Strymon Riverside, but it always felt like a bit of a half-assed solution.

But I think Strymon did a good job with the Iridium overall. It's not perfect, but pretty good anyway.

 

[Orvillain]

I remember thinking back when it launched, that once they did their high-gain equivalent, then I'd probably pay attention. And then they never did.

 

[laxu]

I remember thinking back when it launched, that once they did their high-gain equivalent, then I'd probably pay attention. And then they never did.

Yeah the closest Strymon has gone to high gain is the Riverside.

Strymon is kinda odd as a company because they make a lot of great stuff, but then seem to ignore some really obvious wins.

Like their Nixie 2 editor software's last update was in late 2024 and it still does not support all their pedals. Why? How hard can it be to do the same thing they did for all the supported pedals if you can't add those in an entire year?

Similarly the Iridium deserves an update that just expands what it can already do, maybe overhauls some stuff etc. But nope, a 6 years old product still sold as is.

Like I can get not putting out a Timeline MX if the BigSky MX didn't sell as expected, but there's definitely a place for other stuff on the market.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

As I remember it, the Chime with gain dimed was way heavier than I expected.

That’s because after about 2:00 on the gain knob it engages a treble booster on that model.

A high gain counterpart to the Iridium would be interesting but I don’t think it would sell because:

1. Which models? Everyone would gripe because their favorite high gain amp wasn’t represented.

2. It doesn’t seem to fit their target audience. Obviously their effects can be used with any genre, but I think Iridium covering the three basic amp types serves the main segment of folks buying their products. With two of the three amps leaning toward cleaner pedal platforms I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that’s the Sunday morning player. And that is a huge market segment.

What high gain amps would you want to see if they made an “Iridium Heavy”?

 

[laxu]

What high gain amps would you want to see if they made an “Iridium Heavy”?

Leaning on the classics would make the most sense.

• JCM800 -> modded JCM800 territory with high Drive settings
• 5150 or SLO -> boosted at high Drive
• Dual Rectifier -> boosted Recto at high Drive

Cabs would be 2x12s and 4x12s.

You can't really do a Mesa Mark series amp with the way the Iridium is set up because it would have no sensible EQ control. Unless it's just some V curve depth control similar to how the Mark V 90 preset EQ works.

I'd prefer to have it all in one product though so it covers the uses of both the lower- and higher gain players. I think there's plenty of people like me who enjoy both so they wouldn't necessarily want two pedals for that.

They could probably go even further and just add an extra 3-position toggle switch for 9 models total. Maybe something like this:

1. Low (like the current product)
   1. Fender Blackface/Tweed
   2. Vox AC30
   3. Marshall Plexi
2. Mid
   1. Dumble ODS
   2. Matchless DC30 or Trainwreck Express
   3. Marshall JCM800
3. High
   1. Dual Rectifier
   2. Diezel? Engl? Fryette?
   3. 5150? SLO?

Kinda following the Fender - Vox - Marshall thing on all models. There's just not any Vox style high gainers afaik.

 

[Jarick]

Yeah honestly it's a really well designed pedal. Full stereo, integrates really well with other pedals, sounds good with minimal fuss. Zero computers or menus required. I don't think the intent was ever to get all your sounds out of the Iridium but to use that as a virtual pedal platform amp.

 

[laxu]

Yeah honestly it's a really well designed pedal. Full stereo, integrates really well with other pedals, sounds good with minimal fuss. Zero computers or menus required. I don't think the intent was ever to get all your sounds out of the Iridium but to use that as a virtual pedal platform amp.

Yeah that's how it works best IMO.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

Leaning on the classics would make the most sense.

• JCM800 -> modded JCM800 territory with high Drive settings
• 5150 or SLO -> boosted at high Drive
• Dual Rectifier -> boosted Recto at high Drive

Those make sense, but I'd guess they'd do what they've done on the current models where there is idealized behavior and that would drive some folks batty because they're not true to the originals.

 

[laxu]

Those make sense, but I'd guess they'd do what they've done on the current models where there is idealized behavior and that would drive some folks batty because they're not true to the originals.

I don't feel the current Iridium models are particularly idealized or anything. They just represent a very specific thing and you can't operate them exactly like the real amp. E.g the mid control on the Fender model is going to do very different things, the Marshall model doesn't have a presence control and so on.

 

[deadpool_25]

That’s because after about 2:00 on the gain knob it engages a treble booster on that model.

A high gain counterpart to the Iridium would be interesting but I don’t think it would sell because:

1. Which models? Everyone would gripe because their favorite high gain amp wasn’t represented.

2. It doesn’t seem to fit their target audience. Obviously their effects can be used with any genre, but I think Iridium covering the three basic amp types serves the main segment of folks buying their products. With two of the three amps leaning toward cleaner pedal platforms I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that’s the Sunday morning player. And that is a huge market segment.

What high gain amps would you want to see if they made an “Iridium Heavy”?

I don’t disagree overall. I can answer number 1 quite easily though.

Deluxe
Marshall (Plexi to JCM800)
5150

Laxu’s post would be cool. Or even just the ability to load those models into three slots via software.

That’s why the Iridium was pretty close for me.

But yeah I can’t see it happening. Just not something that seems they’d be interested in making.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I don't expect perfection out of something like the Iridium. And I don't think anyone would be busting out an oscilloscope with the high gain iteration if they ever made one. Close enough to 5150, Recto and high gain Marshall would be great.