For more than five years now, numerous companies based in China have been creating solid clones of classic guitar pedals, including the Proco Rat, the Klon Centaur, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, The Keeley Blues Driver, and the BOSS DD2 Digital Delay. Now, Lekato has dipped a bit deeper into the weeds and crafted two attractive mini pedals for players with more specialized interests: the B-Breaker and the R Comp.
B-Breaker
A sturdy, affordable (about $36) take on the classic Blues Breaker amplifier tone used by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, the B-Breaker is an accurate clone of the subsequent Marshall Blues Breaker pedal favored by legends including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. The versatile and authentic blues tones of the original and the range of parameters it captured within that genre made it a coveted choice for blues, rock, and other genres.
The B-Breaker emulates the tone of the original with three primary controls: Drive, Level, and Tone, all of which work well together to provide players with a wide range of tones, from smooth bluesy cleans to mildly dirty overdrive.
The only qualm we have with the pedal is the Drive knob, itself, which only noticeably starts affecting the tone at 12-o-clock. From the off position to noon, the changes are so subtle they’re barely noticeable. From noon to three, however, there’s a marked increase in gain, and from three-o-clock to five-o-clock a more significant amount of dirt, but even dimed, the pedal won’t deliver enough crunch for most hard rock.
The Level knob controls the volume of the pedal and makes it easy for the guitarist to balance the desired amp tone with the tone from the pedal, or use the pedal to provide a boost. And the tone knob controls how dark or bright the sound of the pedal is. Turned fully counter-clockwise, the tone will be low and murky, while it will sound trebly and more pronounced when turned fully clockwise.
When the Drive and Tone knobs are used in unison, the B-Breaker accurately captures the core sounds of the original Blues Breaker pedal, delivering a rich, warm, and harmonically complex tone. Unlike some mini pedals, the B-Breaker is lightweight and tasteful, featuring a black casing and blue writing that blends in well with the black housing and knobs. The “B-Breaker” design font stands out without being gaudy. As with most compact pedals, the B-Breaker is equipped with true bypass switching, preventing annoying pops or clicks when depressed, and maintaining the integrity of the signal when the pedal is bypassed.
For more about the Lekato B-Breaker, check out the video below by our colleague Dave at Double D Guitar.
R Comp
Used by a wide range of players from rock and pop genres, the Ross R Comp was renowned for its transparent compression and ability to enhance sustain without altering tone. The pedal was most famously used by legends, including David Gilmour, Steve Lukather, and Andy Summers to achieve a clear, defined sound and provide extra sustain to leads.
The Lekato R Comp compressor pedal is an impressive replica of the Ross Compressor, and at about $36 it’s an affordable, versatile pedal that provides a high-quality compression tone that enables players to enhance their sound and control their dynamics.
The R Comp evens out the volume of the guitar signal, allowing every note to ring out with clarity without muddying the sound. This is especially effective for crystalline arpeggios and chiming chords.
Three knobs control the R Comp: Sustain, Level, and Attack. The Sustain knob controls the amount of compression in the sound. Turning it clockwise increases the sustain and reduces natural volume fluctuations while backing off on the knob produces a tone closer to the natural sound of the amp without the transparent compression.
The level knob adjusts the volume of the pedal, allowing players to compensate for any volume loss that occurs when the compressor is activated. And the attack knob controls the speed at which the compressor activates, which either reduces or increases the volume of peaks in a player’s signal. A faster attack time (knob to the right) provides more immediate compression, while a slower attack time (knob to the left) creates more gradual and transparent compression.
As with the B-Breaker mini pedal, the R Comp fits easily onto a pedalboard, features a sturdy metal casing, fluidly turning black knobs, and true bypass switching. The pedal is silver with attractive black lettering.
As more Chinese-based companies move further into the international marketplace, natural selection is bound to separate the wheat from the chaff. The manufacturers who offer more quality goods to consumers at a greater value will continue to thrive, while those who craft substandard clones will wither and fade away. Right now, things are looking pretty good for Lekato.
Watch Dave at Double D Guitar’s video about the R Comp pedal below:
