Yerasov Black Formica BF-1 review

Bafflingly blue compression pedal

  • £78
  • $119
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The tone knob is effective for replacing top end lost through compression

MusicRadar Verdict

Workmanlike compression for a variety of tasks.

Pros

  • +

    Useful compression. Tone knob useful for adding top end. Nice build.

Cons

  • -

    Not a huge amount.

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Something may have been lost in translation when naming Russian-makers Yerasov's Black Formica, as it's actually blue, and we wonder if the designers are aware that Formica is more commonly known here as a decorative laminate rather than a species of ant.

"Based around a high-quality VCA it is capable of some pretty strong compression"

We digress. The Black Formica is a four-knob compressor based around a high-quality VCA made by that corporation, and it is capable of some pretty strong compression.

Juxtaposition of the attack and sustain knobs is the key: between the two, it's possible to vary the amount of squash, from getting the dynamics a little tighter and evening out chords to a squishy effect, and settings that will eke out sustain.

The tone knob is effective for replacing top end lost through compression, or just offering a brighter sound when the pedal is engaged.

Its name might suggest something you'd find in a goth's kitchen, but this is a useful compressor for keeping your signal consistent and adding sustain.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.