Fairfield Special KFM Shallow Water K-Field Modulator Effect Pedal Fairfield Circuitry

Note: due to the unique hand-burned nature of each enclosure, each unit will vary in appearance from the pictured pedal!

Dive deep into the aquatic allure of the Fairfield Special KFM Shallow Water pedal, a sound modulator that stands apart from the pack. Unlike your conventional analog chorus/vibrato, this k-field modulator has a unique charm, driven by its ingenious modulation and response mechanism. When activated, it paints the soundscape with an atmosphere that’s reminiscent of vintage sounds refined for the modern ear. And if distinctive sounds weren’t enough, each limited edition enclosure is unique! 

At the heart of its modulation lies a microcontroller emitting random voltage steps at diverse intervals. The RATE knob oversees this randomness, swinging from slow, methodic undulations to quick, spirited shifts. Then there’s the DAMP control, dictating the pace of these modulations. At its lowest, you experience swift pitch changes, but crank it up, and you’re introduced to a more measured, chorus-like sound. The DEPTH, meanwhile, determines the intensity of the modulation, with a preference for subtlety – hinting that sometimes less is indeed more.

Once the signal is through the delay, it’s greeted by a low pass filter that tracks the signal’s envelope. The LPG knob shapes this interaction, allowing for either a reactive lo-fi texture or a sharp gate-like response.

Venturing inside, the pedal houses BOOST and PAD jumpers. While they’re set for a guitar’s single-coils by default, adjustments can be made to accommodate different signal levels or input impedances. There’s also the LPG adjust – a nifty tool to finetune the recovery filter’s default frequency, ensuring it responds just the way you like.

Each casing is individually hand-burned, introducing unique patterns that are different from pedal to pedal—Limited to 500 units worldwide. The theme of fire and water hints at the unpredictable sonic footprint of the circuit contained therein. 

• Hand-Burned Enclosures—No 2 Units Look the Same
• Unique K-Field Modulator Design
• Microcontroller Driven Random Voltage Steps
• Variable Rate, Damp, and Depth Controls
• Envelope-Driven Low Pass Filter
• Internal Boost and Pad Jumpers for Signal Flexibility
• Adjustable LPG for Filter’s Default Frequency
• Limited to 500 Units