Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal 

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

Do you want one high quality multi effects pedal you can use for your stage rig?

I wanted an all analog signal path, since I have a pretty sweet sounding hand-built amp, and you know how digital effects pedals can destroy your sound.

Compressor: I play mostly country music with a Telecaster, so the compressor is an integral part of the sound. I kind of wish I had a bit more control over the compressor, such as an attack, and perhaps blend control. This compressor can really squeeze your sound - a little goes a long way. I set mine at only 9 O'Clock and still get a very squashed sound. I set the volume to make the output a bit higher than the input to push the front end of my amp a bit.

Overdrive/Distortion: such a nice overdrive with my amp. There are two drive knobs - a low gain and high gain - with a switch for selecting which one is active. This is a great set up, since you can use Drive 1 for nice, barely overdriven rhythms and Drive 2 for high gain leads. Note that there is practically no increase in volume with switching to Drive 2 if the Drive knobs are set about the same, so it's very smooth switching back and forth.

Chorus: I don't use chorus, but you may like how subtle the effect can be, just adding some fullness. A very good chorus, but not designed for radical modulation effects.

Delay: Love the delay. It has tap tempo and that's the only way to set the delay time, so remember to tap in the initial value. Very analog-sounding, and the tone control is very useful, allowing the delay effect to stay in the background and not interfere with lead playing at all.

This pedal is also nice and quiet, at least in my rig. There is a line buffer that cannot be bypassed, but it's a high quality buffer, I believe much better than the average Boss pedal. When you think of its intended purpose as a quick, all-in-one pedal, it makes sense that it would have an always-on buffer.

The power supply is built in, so you just plug in the two-prong AC plug to your power bar. No wal-wart here.

The only things I would change is to have a blend control (blend dry and compress signal), and an attack control, and perhaps a delay time control. However, these extra controls would take up more space, and comprimise the minimilist design of the unit, so perhaps it's perfect as is.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

I thought this was my dream pedal- a multi effect unit that was analog with knobs, not digital with menus. However, after trying it out, I was very disappointed with the sound quality. The compressor is dull and lifeless, killed the tone of my guitar. Chorus is OK, nothing special. The overdrives are generic and without any distinctive character. The echo is also dull, lifeless and tone sucking. Not at all what I expected, returned it the next day.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

Stellar effects and simple to use. Nice addition of a loop for your secret tone weapon. I seldom used effects until I bought the Quattro, it's so musical and with a level control on each section it easy to balance your volumes. Sounds great in front of amp or in a loop.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

I may have recieved a defective unit. The effects sounded great, but produced a really bad hiss (though mulitple amps, power sources). The chorus was worse of all (much lounder hiss than the other effects). I really wanted to like this, but had to return it.
Nice features, but everything was really noisy. The whole unit hissed really loudly when I hooked it up to my amp (much worse than the 2-3 BOSS pedals I have). The Chorus was the most noisy of the effects - I ended up returning it...
Seemed well built, but very noisy. I was not going to spend this much only to have to add a noise gate. I may have received a defective unit as other reviews I've read were great.
Expensive! I had high hopes for it and was willing to pay the price. Noisy! I am going back to the individual pedals that work for me.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

I've only had this for a bit but can't see myself ever getting any other kind of pedal (and I'm ALWAYS buying new things). I added a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe wah in front of the signal and they cooperate very well too. May try a TS808 in the effects loop one day, but the overdrive channels are actually pretty nice sounding with the gain controls at the 8-9 o'clock position (very mild grit and kick in OD2 if I want more). The compressor sounds really good and the chorus and echo both function perfect too and introduce VERY little noise to the signal.
Not much in the way of features, but that's exactly what I wanted....simple, easy, and straightforward.
Sounds coming out of this pedal are awesome! Clean, non-evasive to your tone, and easy to tweak (even with your toes if needed).
Like others have said, add up these effects/cables/power supplies and you get a great bargin with sounds that are fantastic.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

I have owned and played a ton of guitar processors, use a Boss GT-Pro and live miking in thestudio, had every stupid tone robbing effect and gadget and finally see the light. This is simple, sounds amazing and as I said before... if you need more than these effects to play then you are just hiding behind a bunch of junk noise.
What I liked about it was the lack of features. Been playing a long time and the more years pass the less I want to F-around with layer upon layer of menus that will work in the studio and then blow when you play live. The transition from headphones to monitors to a club's monitors and your amp, never works. So, this thing you plop in front of you and... boom, your ready to go. Two overdrive settings, real-world chorus, great analog delay, and a compressor that is plainly the best I have used in 42 years of playing. If you think you need anything else, you will be playing in your bedroom on YouTube for the rest of your life. Unless of course you play in a Flock Of Seagulls tribute band.
Built like a tank, I am sure it will take a beating. I read another review that the said the knobs turn too easy.... they don't, mine was dampened fine. The only thing I am curious about is the AC cable... hardwired and no ground. I am sure they have a reason for this and the unit runs silent so that wasn't an issue. Also, I would recommend contacting the support dept of any company before you buy their products. I emailed Carl Martin a question before I received the item and they responded the same day... AND... it was the CEO.
It seems a little pricey but if you add up the Carl Martin effects it would take to make this pedal I calculated about 1400.00 So, it's a deal. No plugging in 4 - 5 boxes and running tone-sucking patch cables between them.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

This is an excellent choice for a one piece unit to cover all the basics. But, don't take my word for, check uout Pete Thorn's demo on youtube. He uses it for fly dates where he never knows what amp he'll have available. I use to own an earlie model w/ tremolo instead of chorus and I miss it and will buty the new Quattro a.s.a.p.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

I have owned this unit for about six months now and am thoroughly satisfied. I am running stereo out of the Quattro into a Bogner Alchemist 2x12 (super-awesome) and a Marshall JVM 410H with THD extension cabinets (good, but should have gone with Marshall cab with Celestions...anyway...). This rig is outstanding, albeit a little bulky to move about, but well worth the setup time, the tone with the Carl Martin is incredible. I love the Tape Echo and Distortion stages on this gear, they are really great. The compressor is fat and provides real punch; and the chorusing is perfectly textured. Overall, happy that I bought it; would buy again in a heartbeat! If you don't have it, and you dig Analog gear, get it.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

This has been a great substitution, not addition. I was running a Tonebone Plexi dual, an EH chorus, an analog delay. I've replaced them and the pedalboard with this. If you're a "triple rectumfrier" full out shred head, this wont work. If you like a gritty OD, excellent chorus, crisp boost from the compressor to jump leads over the din and switch as you go delay, this is great. Instead of a pedal board, I just plug in this baby and I'm ready to go. Les Paul to pedal to Fender 63 reverb unit to my amp which is a 67 Bassman 50 with solid pine cabs with vintage 30's and greenbacks. Simple. Straightforward. Easy. Sweet. Can't say enough about it.

Comments about Carl Martin Quattro Analog Multi-Effect Pedal:

With all of the modeling pedalboards, Line 6 amps, pods, and stompboxes out there that are good for quick, cold approximations of tones, this unit combines an intelligent combination of four integral guitar effects that are analog, warm and expressive. The workmanship is excellent, made in Denmark, with great signal strength and no noticeable noise or degradation. The controls and layout are incredibly simple, sans the exhaustive menus and LCDs of today's modern equipment. Most importantly, the sound quality and tones are full, rich, layered and real. No digital harshness here. It Plays excellent jazz and blues through both solid and hollow body electrics. (I used a Les Paul, ES-347 semi-hollow body, and telecaster and all sound fantastic. This unit is a must have and will be the platform for your rig. Carl Martin hit a home run with this one.