Who: Way Huge Electronics
What: Swollen Pickle MK II (WHE 401)
Price (MSRP/PAID): $199/$125 (New)
Battery: Yes
Power Supply: Yes
Size: 5″ X 3.75″ X 2.4″ (Approx: including Jacks and knobs)
Available from: Dealers Everywhere
Comments:
The first question that people ask, how does it sound compared to the original. My feeling is that despite the desires of the ‘old elite’ the Swollen Pickle MKII is just as good, if not better, than the original. The additional controls (two internal, two external) really mean you can dial in a much wider variety of sounds, while still capturing the signature boom, drone, or shriek that the first run pickle delivered. While some think that Dunlop has ‘tainted’ the Way Huge line with it’s major market exposure, I have nothing but good things to say about this particular pedal. It certainly has lost a little of the brand cache’ that it used to have, but in the end… if it sounds good… play it! The market seems to reflect this at some level with the price of a first generation pickle sinking to around $300 when they were as high as $800 before they were reissued.
This isn’t a pedal for everyone, it’s a high gain monster that likely doesn’t have use in many musical situations, but when bomb-bastic is required the SP has plenty of power to make a statement. There are plenty of places with this pedal to dial out the low end, and just as many places that actually seem to add sub-harmonic booms… it can be tricky to dial in something that is personally useful. I actually find this to be a situation where having more choices is just confusing the issue, because I like the default configuration of sound/knobs so much.
The fit and finish is a top notch homage to the original and with a nice battery compartment added I think it sets the standard for enclosures in it’s size range. The street price of these around $130, and you see them used for well under $100. If you want to enjoy a little high gain thunder, give this one a go.
