I’ve always loved this effect. So subtle yet effective…I actually reached out to several pedal makers with the email below seeing if they could make it. Generally got the “interesting and we’ll look into it” response, but nothing concrete yet. Hopefully someone will recreate it!
PS - I realize that the effect Jerry is doing in the WRS is actually his wah-wah, but included it for simplicity purposes as it’s a clear example of the same type of effect.
“So I’ve been hunting around for a specific sound that I can’t seem to find anywhere on the market. It is essentially the sound found on the guitars in the two songs below:
https://archive.org/details/gd1973-02-1 ... shine.flac – here you can hear the effect on Bob Weir’s rhythm guitar at the beginning
https://archive.org/details/gd1974-06-2 ... Suite.flac - here you can hear the effect starting at timestamp 20:30 with Jerry Garcia’s lead guitar
I believe they are using the famous Eventide PS101 Phaser rack mounted unit which came out in the early 70’s. I know Bob was using it in 1973 and imagine Jerry used it here as well.
Essentially, the effect sounds like just the puddle / ripple effect of a phaser, but without any of the actual swooshing / uni-vibe character to it. Have you come across anything like that before? Things like an original EH Small Stone seem to come close, but have yet to hear something with that warmth combined with a true ripple / puddle effect.”
