Five years ago, heralded indie-rock pioneer Jack White collaborated with Gamechanger Audio to create a sizzling distortion pedal, the Plasma Coil. The guitarist and songwriter has used the pedal on the Raconteurs album Help Us Stranger and various solo albums, including his latest “No Name.”
To mark the fifth anniversary of the pedal, Gamechanger Audio and White have released a limited-edition white version of the Plasma Coil. “Gamechanger is one of the most innovative effects companies out there today,” White said. “They don’t shortchange a good idea; they take everything all the way. Collaborating with them has made Third Man Hardware all the better for what they bring to the table. It’s a fantastic-sounding and visually striking pedal, and this white edition is a great way to celebrate its anniversary.”
The Plasma Coil is a high-voltage distortion effect that transforms the audio signal into electrical discharges within a xenon tube. The process creates a sharp, sizzling overdrive sound with strong contrast between notes and minimal noise. The discharge tube also generates visible bolts of lightning that react to the music, adding a visual element to the playing experience. “The Plasma Coil pedal is incredible to look at, let alone play through,” White said.
Since its release, the Plasma Coil has been used by a wide range of guitarists, mainstream rockers including Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Bon Jovi’s Theofilos “Phil X” Xenidis, metal crunchers like Rammstein’s Richard Kruspe, and Slipknot’s Mick Thomson, and alternative rock players including Placebo’s Brian Molko and Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr.
The fifth anniversary edition of the pedal includes a white chassis and silver plates, which contrast with the original black finish. The guts of the unit remain the same as the original.
Only 400 units are being crafted, and each is each numbered for collectability. The Plasma Coil White Edition retails for $399 USD in the US and is available for purchase through Reverb.com, Third Man Records, and Gamechanger Audio.
White also recently collaborated with Donner Music to release the Triple Threat, a low-priced multi-effects pedal featuring distortion, phaser, and echo circuits. The pedal retails for $99 US and resembles Donner’s previously released Alpha Force pedal, which includes distortion, chorus, and delay for around $69. White’s collaboration with Donner was aimed to provide musicians with an affordable, analog-based pedal offering a wide range of tones.
