Goddess guitar pedals return after a two-decade hiatus
Manufacturing
South Australian guitarist Brian Morrison, creator of the popular BAM Goddess Overdrive Pedal and its sister pedal the Classic, returns with new guitar pedals for the first time in 20 years.
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Morrison’s pedals have previously been used by artists such as Mark Lizotte (also known as Johnny Diesel) and Troy Cassar Daley. His latest offerings the BAM Goddess Overdrive and ClassA57 (formerly known as the “Classic”) are updates of Morrison’s previous two designs, which he handcrafted in Adelaide from 1998 until 2002.
A blues guitarist himself, Morrison originally designed the Goddess because none of the pedals on the market had what he was looking for.
“All of the pedals I used caused an unacceptable colouration of the basic guitar/amp tone combination,” Morrison says.
“Many even changed the guitar tone slightly, even in bypass mode.”
Morrison discovered other musician friends and colleagues agreed with him, so he decided to make an overdrive pedal that would provide some extra zing, grit and sustain without altering the essential tone of the guitar amp combination.
“It’s a completely fresh approach and it worked out, a lot of people liked them, and I probably sold several hundred,” he says.
Morrison is confident that his newest models are even better than his past offerings.
Boasting a unique subtle low gain, the updated pedals give your guitar a certain kick with a natural, yet crunchy vintage sound, lacking in any overpowering distortion.
“It’s really two pedals in one,” Morrison explains.
The Goddess Overdrive, priced at $280, has two levels of gain and compression control via two small switches, while the pedal’s three knobs offer the freedom to cut and boost treble at will as well as adjust the guitar’s overall level and compression.
The $250 Classic A57 lacks the treble boost, hi gain and sustain switches of the Goddess but still retains its drive and level control along with an added compression control.
Each model is handcrafted and painted by Morrison and the revised electronic circuit boards are manufactured at PCB World Solutions in Mawson Lakes. The Goddess Overdrive also sports a beautifully striking medusa inspired graphic (designed by Morrison’s brother Geoff), while the ClassA57 features a simplistic 70s inspired graphic.
The decision to reissue his products came about after a resurgence of interest in analogue pedal market and positive reception from Australian customers.
“A high proportion of customers are really glowing about them,” Morrison says.
He is also keen to expand into both the US and European markets, a move he hopes he can achieve post COVID-19 by demonstrating them at trade shows.
For now, the Goddess Overdrive is available to be shipped from his webstore and the Classic A57 will be released in the coming months.
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