Crumar Burn

We take the Italian manufacturer’s first dedicated effects box out for a spin...

Although there are literally dozens — and in some cases hundreds — of pedal options out there for each of the more common types of effects, there’s a much shorter menu when it comes to rotary speaker emulators. Possibly the best‑known models are produced by Strymon, Neo, Roland and Leslie. Add in the Nux, Tech 21 and Fender models and you’d still be pushed to get the count of capable pedals up to 10. Crumar’s Burn pedal brings us another choice. Originally bundled with the Mojo Sorrento organ, it’s their take on the classic Leslie sound, and emulates a two‑rotor configuration, each rotor having its own ramping characteristics when changing speeds. Unlike some of the alternatives, it doesn’t model the Leslie’s amp distortion, but it does have a built‑in reverb, with a choice of spring or more generic digital algorithm, and the reverb remains active when the rotary effect is bypassed so the tails aren’t chopped off.

Connectivity & Operation

All the I/O are on the rear, and as well as supporting other instruments in the conventional way, there’s a dedicated port for use with Crumar’s...