Mile End Effects Pique Pre-Amplifier/Buffer And Harmonic Enhancer

The Pique is an expansion and revision on our Preamp 150 design and consists of 3 main parts; a boost/preamp, a high headroom buffer and a harmonic enhancer/exciter, all segments of which are switchable via 4 rocker switches and a master foot-switch. The boost circuit is identical to the Mile End Effects Preamp 150 circuit, using the same NOS JFETs found in the original RE-150 Space Echo and creating that same sought after glassy boost or always-on Preamp. The Pique also acts as a high headroom buffer, restoring clarity and strength to your signal through long cabling, pedal chains and impedance mismatches. Finally, this device functions as a dynamic equalizer where phase manipulation and harmonic synthesis are applied to certain frequencies so as to enhance transients with the addition of subtle harmonic distortion. All of these elements combine to create a very versatile tone shaping utility that happily sits anywhere between your instrument output and the rest of your signal chain. 

THE PREAMP/BOOST:

The preamp/boost function on the Pique is the result of a love for the way a vintage Space Echo sounds when the preamp pushes an amplifier right to the brink of overdrive. The harmonically rich and glassy tone that this preamp provides is something that I found unique about the feel and tonal characteristics of the RE-150 due in part to its JFET based design, differing from the later 201 and 301 OpAmp based preamps. The gorgeous, dynamic sound that the RE-150 Preamp produces is really something special and has been faithfully recreated here using the same NOS JFET transistors found in the original units.

THE BUFFER:

The buffer acts as high headroom, unity gain current amplifier for your signal. Operating at 18vDC, this buffer compensates for loss of clarity and preserves high frequencies and signal strength even when passing through long cable lengths and other effects pedals. It also transforms a high impedance (ie. guitar pickup) signal into an identical low impedance signal. This is very useful when using high impedance instruments with low impedance, line-level devices (such as mixing consoles, certain tape delays and other Hi-Z audio equipment). Turning off the main foot-switch also disengages the buffer. 

THE DYNAMIC EQ:

The EQ switches involve the creation of higher order harmonics by implementing filtering, very slight phase shifts and musically related harmonics to the audio signal.

HIGH FREQ.: The High Frequency switch creates a phase manipulation and adds saturation applied to high frequencies (above 1500hZ) so as to enhance transients.

The way it works is that some of the input signal is diverted via a high pass filter and harmonics generating circuit (in this case using op-amps). These harmonics are generated when elements within the circuit introduce distortion to the signal. For the high end frequencies, a high‑pass filter is used to remove unwanted low frequencies so that the newly generated harmonic content exists only at the top end of the audio spectrum. By using filters to keep the distortion in the upper frequencies of the signal, it's possible to fill in missing or ‘weak’ high frequency detail in a way that our brains will accept as natural. Then a very small amount of the processed signal is mixed back into the original signal allowing the audio to appear far more detailed without a perceived difference in amplitude. This will enhance dull audio and further add breath to transient sounds to produce an apparent increase in dimension, vibrance and presence.

BRILLIANCE: The brilliance switchworks much like a simple bright cap or bright switch on an amplifier. Using a low value capacitor, low end is further filtered out of the signal allowing only specific high frequencies to pass.  

LOW FREQ.: The Low Frequency switch works on the principle that in real life, high‑frequency sounds travel slightly faster than low‑frequency sounds. With a phase shifted low pass filter introduced to compress, saturate and delay low end information, the signal is given the impression of producing more immediate and enhanced perceived low end depth. Phase-lagging, saturating and compressing frequencies below 150hZ subtly makes low end content seem bigger.

The Pique pre amp is lovingly handcrafted in Montréal, Québec with high quality components and comes with a lifetime warranty.

This pedal requires 9vDC, centre negative power and requires 250mA of current.

Warranty & Returns

All New products are covered by the manufacturers new warranty. Please check their website for the length of warranty and warranty conditions. If an item you receive is faulty get in touch with us ASAP. Second Hand products come with a 4 week warranty from us. If there is an issue let us know ASAP! This covers normal use and does not cover accidental damage, misuse, wrong power plugged into it, modding, water damage or any other damage caused by mistreatment. Just treat it nice and all will be good!

Shipping

We send A LOT of packages every week so don't worry about the shipping side of things!

We've never lost a thing and your awesome new gear will be packed up really well to avoid any damage in transit.

If your order comes in before 2pm we will ship it same day. Most of the time we pack things up all the way to 4pm so just call if you need it to leave same day after 2pm.

We ship mainly with Australia Post but may use a courier depending on location and size of the package.

Free Post ships with Australia Post standard and expected shipping times are between 4-6 business days depending on location. It will be longer to outside of metro and rural areas.

Express Post will usually be with you next business day in metro areas of QLD, NSW, SA, VIC and TAS. WA will take 2 days to metro and extra days after that to out side metro and rural areas.

Everything we ship has a tracking number with the exception of some power cables and smaller envelope packages. You will be emailed tracking once your order has been shipped!

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