Colorsound
Colorsound
Also known as: Coloursound, Color Sound, Colorsound by Sola Sound
UnclaimedColorsound is a British effects pedal brand created in 1967 by brothers Larry and Joe Macari in London. The pedals were manufactured by Sola Sound, another Macari-owned company, and sold through the family's legendary Macari's Musical Exchange shop on Denmark Street in Soho. The name "Colorsound" came from the concept of housing each type of effect in a different-colored enclosure. Key designer...
$175.00
in Wah Pedals Rank
Colorsound is a British effects pedal brand created in 1967 by brothers Larry and Joe Macari in London. The pedals were manufactured by Sola Sound, another Macari-owned company, and sold through the family's legendary Macari's Musical Exchange shop on Denmark Street in Soho. The name "Colorsound" came from the concept of housing each type of effect in a different-colored enclosure. Key designer Gary Hurst, who had previously created the Tone Bender fuzz circuit for Sola Sound, designed many of the brand's most iconic circuits, including the Power Boost — one of the first overdrive pedals ever made.
Colorsound is best known for the Tone Bender fuzz (produced in several iterations including the MK I, MK II, MK IV, Supa Tonebender, and Jumbo), the Power Boost, and the Overdriver. The lineup also includes the Wah Wah (designed by Dick Denney), the Octivider, Ring Modulator, and Tremolo. These pedals helped define the sound of 1960s and 1970s British rock. Jimmy Page used the Tone Bender on Led Zeppelin's debut album, David Gilmour employed the Power Boost and Overdriver extensively throughout Pink Floyd's classic era, Jeff Beck favored the Overdriver for its dynamic response, and Pete Townshend and Mick Ronson were early adopters of the Tone Bender.
The original Colorsound range had largely disappeared from the market by 1979, but the Macari family revived the brand in the late 1990s with handmade reissues faithful to the original circuits. The brand is now operated by Anthony and Steve Macari from their London shops on Denmark Street and Charing Cross Road, where they continue to produce Tone Benders and other classic Colorsound designs.
Colorsound has 46 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Fuzz Effects Pedals, Overdrive Effects Pedals, and Multi Effects Pedals. Their gear is featured by 57 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Electronic. Notable users include Steve Hackett, Grant Nicholas, and David Gilmour.
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