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Photos provided by: Atomic Tone Pedals
Purchasing a pedal with an analog circuit should be cut and dry. After all there are so many to choose from with many brands offering the same set-up. Some pedals come down to the esthetics of the pedal. Which pedal grabbed your attention without considering whether it was analog or digital? Which pedal was a “must have” based upon it’s look alone? You could probably think of many. After all, there are some very creative minds, that know how to market their product. I have tested many different pedals from high pedals to the consumer-friendly kind. None of them grabbed my attention cosmetically, like the Atomic Triptych Twins analog pedal.
Yes, I like the Picaso design on the pedal. In fact, it was a “must have” for me when I was talking to Brian from Atomic Tone. At first, I thought I was going to receive another pedal but with a different look and feel. However, I was pleasantly surprised ad to what I discovered in my testing lab.
The foundation for this review
As mentioned in the introduction there are many analog and digital pedals to choose from. There are many that are known for the cute, clever, and funny labels that they slap on the pedals. However, this causes some confusion. If you do not know what you are looking for, it may appear that there is a variation of pedals with a unique sound and tech, that hasn’t been used before.
Honestly, there are only a handful of pedal types, with most pedals serving as variations of famous circuits designed from decades past. For instance, some dirt pedals are just a clone of the famous pedals. Such as the Ibanez Tube Screamer from 1979. Just designed differently. Marketing is key, and if you do not have a trained ear, you will get caught up in the hype of your NEW “Green Dirt Monster.
Our team at Guitar Thrills Magazine has been tasked with finding out if the Atomic Tone Triptych Pedal is any different than the pedals offering similar functionality.
About Atomic Tone
Atomic Tone is a boutique pedal manufacturer based in Fresno, California, renowned for their handcrafted, studio-grade guitar pedals that deliver rich harmonics, dynamic responsiveness, and tonal clarity. One of their standout products is the Saturation Triptych pedal, which offers three distinct modes of overdrive and distortion, selectable via a toggle switch. The pedal features controls for Volume, Saturation, Treble, and Bass, allowing for precise tonal shaping. Each mode provides a unique flavor of saturation, catering to a wide range of musical styles and preferences.
For those seeking additional versatility, the Saturation Triptych Twins combines two Saturation Triptych circuits in a single enclosure. This dual configuration enables players to stack different saturation modes or switch between them seamlessly, expanding their tonal palette. Atomic Tone pedals are meticulously hand-built in the USA, ensuring high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. The company offers both art series pedals, featuring hand-painted designs with a glossy clear coat, and screen-printed versions with powder-coated enclosures and spot ink. This commitment to both aesthetics and performance has garnered attention from notable guitarists, including Joey Landreth, who praised the Saturation Triptych for its exceptional sound quality.
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Disclaimer*
"Dirt" is an umbrella term that covers any pedal that adds gain or distortion to your signal. This includes:
Sometimes boost pedals (depending on how they're used). The main idea is anything that adds "grit," "crunch," or "dirt" to your tone.
Saturation Pedals
Saturation is a more specific type of "dirt." It usually refers to: The subtle clipping and compression that happens in analog gear (like tape machines or tube amps). A softer, warmer kind of distortion—not as aggressive as distortion or fuzz. Often used to thicken or enhance a tone without drastically changing it. Saturation pedals tend to focus on tone enhancement rather than just raw gain.
So, Are They the Same?
All saturation pedals are dirt pedals, not all dirt pedals are saturation pedals. You can think of saturation as a subtle, musical type of dirt, while something like a distortion pedal can be way more aggressive and "in-your-face."
*This is why you why we interchange the terminology through our review.
Discovery
The Atomic Tone Triptych Pedal is really unlike any other pedal on the market. I believe it offers a “one stop shop” for pedals. Unless there is something specific that the pedal cannot offer. For example (The Plasma Pedal from Gamechanger Audio. A pedal we have tested in our lab at length).
RELATED ARTICLE: PLASMA PEDAL FROM GAMECHANGER AUDIO
The Triptych Pedal Atomic Tone is one of the more intriguing multi-effects units to hit the boutique pedal market recently. This three-stage (hence "triptych") analog/digital hybrid processor offers a unique approach to tone shaping that sets it apart from conventional multi-effects pedals.
The Atomic Tone Saturation Triptych is a versatile analog pedal designed to deliver a wide range of tones, from clean boosts to overdrive, distortion, and fuzz. Handcrafted in the USA, it features high-quality components and offers musicians flexible sound-shaping capabilities.
Key Features:
Three Saturation Modes: A three-position toggle switch provides distinct tonal options:
Boost to Overdrive: Offers a range from modern to thick vintage tones, with adjustable compression.
Boost to Overdrive with Fuzz: With knobs maxed and volume at 11 o'clock, it can emulate tones close to the TB MKII Pro, covering various tonal options in between.
Boost to Distortion to Fuzz: Transitions from mild distortion to various fuzz textures, though it doesn't produce heavy fuzz.
Comprehensive Controls: The pedal includes Volume, Saturation, Treble, and Bass knobs. The Bass control acts as a pre-distortion high-pass filter, adding sag and saturation when turned clockwise, while the Treble functions as a post-distortion low-pass filter, tightening the sound and reducing sag.
Voltage Flexibility: Operates on 9V to 18V DC power. Running it at 18V provides more headroom and emphasizes distortion/overdrive saturation, while 9V offers a fuzzier character.
User Experience:
Guitar Thrills Magazine praises the Saturation Triptych for its tonal range and responsiveness. There is a smooth transition between saturation stages, noting the absence of harsh jumps. It can serve as a simple boost, medium gain overdrive, or higher gain fuzzy drive, emphasizing its fantastic sound, functionality, and feel.
In my 43 yrs of using tube amps, I have yet to play anything its equal that adapts to so many pedals, amps, pickups/from super-hot to 50's single coils. (have not tried it with active pickups) It is more amp-like than any pedal I've played and what it does in stacking drives is next level. I created the Twins, because I no longer wanted to use any other pedals.
I mostly stack drives and yet still use a low amount of dirt/saturation. I have played and owned the best pedals on the market. – Atomic Tone
CRISP AND CLEAN
The Atomic Tone Triptych pedal has an “organic” or natural sound. In many dirt pedals I've played the distortion almost sounds separate or layered on top of the tone. On the Atomic Tone Triptych pedal there's a completeness of the tone; it sounds "real" or amp-like. The second thing that stood out was the interactive and sensitivity each mode.
The Triptych is a 3-mode pedal with a Volume, Saturation, Treble, and Bass control knobs and a 3-way mini-toggle to select modes. The three positions on the switch are: 1(down) - Distortion, 2(middle) - Distortion + fuzz, and 3(up) - Fuzz.The Triptych is excellent for stacking with other pedals. Either another triptych or a fuzz or another distortion.
Look for more reviews of the Atomic Tone Triptych in future reviews in Guitar Thrills Magazine. We often have different applications for pedal use that may impact our impression of this pedal. I believe there is more upside to this pedal, that can bring a detailed experience or review of the Atomic Tone Triptych Pedal.
Application setting:
Stacking pedals with other brands
Amps
Guitar type or brand
Comparison with other or similar pedal brands Is there a more cost-effective solution that offers the same functionality of the Triptych Pedal? These are just some of the things we consider in our gear reviews. However, it is going to be difficult to outpace what Atomic Tone is accomplishing with their pedal – tone solution
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
