Palmer Pocket Series – Big Effects Package – Test report by Soundcheck magazine

Palmer delivers complete package of compact effect pedals in the Pocket Series. The individual pedals are also quite inexpensive. We have taken a closer look at them.

The small pedals are sturdily built and likely to survive a harsh, mobile musical experience even when transported without protection. This is made possible by their solid housing, recessed terminals and durable switches and knobs.

The pedals can be operated either by an optional AC adapter or a 9 volt battery. If you want to use the latter, you have to loosen four screws and open the case completely in order to change the battery. That naturally takes more time than simply opening the battery door, but this solution is safe due to the small dimensions of the pedals.

As for the build and design of the parts, there is no cause for complaint here. In fact, just the opposite: The development is well thought out. It’s time to put the little audio sets to the test…

Palmer Pocket Chorus

The Pocket Chorus can be controlled by speed, rate and depth of the effect, and these three options allow for a lot of variety. The results range from unique undulating thickening of the sound to the drastic “eggs”, ideal for wide clean sounds when picking and strumming. The small unit even accommodates the sounds of a rotating speaker, so that with the right settings, Jimi’s ghost can float through the room. It’s worth extensively testing the bandwidth and different settings. It is able to remove background noise.

Technical data
Effect types: Chorus
Controller: Speed, depth, phase
Power: 9 V battery / 9 V DC adapter (optional)
Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 5.5 cm

Palmer Pocket Analogue Delay

The Pocket Delay provides a maximum delay of 360 milliseconds, i.e. the normal range for an analogue echo. The user can adjust the delay time, the number of repetitions, and the effect level. During the practical test on the tube amp, when the pedal was pressed down, you could hear a slight “flutter” for as long as the pedal was pressed down. It was clearly audible at high volumes and in gaps in the music. However, the pedal supplies analogue delay sounds that thicken the sound and create more space, or it could be used as an accompaniment to cathedral-like passages and tricks such as by The Edge, Eddie or Yngwie.

Technical data
Effect types: Delay
Controller: Time, mix, rate
Power: 9 V battery / 9 V DC adapter (optional)
Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 5.5 cm

Palmer Pocket Distortion

Whoever needs additional gain from an amp, could benefit from the Pocket Distortion. Its design is more modern, with clear, powerful distortion and high gain reserves. Extra points are awarded for the extremely low background noise levels. The Pocket Distortion sounds range from a delicate, smoky crunch to high-gain, and never sounds shrill or sawing. The voicing verges towards a gentle, warm fuzz.

Technical data
Effect types: Distortion
Controller: Gain, tone, level
Power: 9 V battery / 9 V DC adapter (optional)
Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 5.5 cm

Palmer Pocket Flanger

The Pocket Flanger offers both gentle floating sounds and dramatic sounds reminiscent of jets or helicopter sounds. Saturated fat sounds in the style of Van Halen’s “Unchained” are not necessarily found here. Instead, it is ideally suited to spherical clean tones, as well as extreme distorted amp effects. Some noise is again noticeable here in gaps in the music.

Technical data
Effect types: Flanger
Controller: Rate, mix, depth
Power: 9 V battery / 9 V DC adapter (optional)
Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 5.5 cm

Palmer Pocket Overdrive

The Overdrive series is tasteful, yet powerful. The voicing consistently provides punchy and warm sounds, and the tone potentiometer means that the effect can be very well adjusted to the basic sound of its own rigs. The range extends from subtle crunches to violent dragging sounds. The already distorted amp works especially well as part of a gain booster, as the amplifier sends out sounds in higher gain fields, whilst always maintaining the sound true to the setup.

Technical data
Effect types: Overdrive
Controller: Gain, tone, level
Power: 9 V battery / 9 V DC adapter (optional)
Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 5.5 cm

Palmer Pocket Phaser

The purple Phaser is an active participant in the overall sound. The range encompasses subtle modulation to super thick funk sounds, and the small unit especially impresses in every aspect of the latter. Either with the clean or distorted amp: Rich phasing is certainly at play here. Jimi or Zakk would have fun with the extreme settings in spite of the audible background noise.

Technical data
Effect types: Phasing
Controller: Rate, depth, phase
Power: 9 V battery / 9 V DC adapter (optional)
Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 5.5 cm

The lowdown
The Pocket series offers plenty of sound and thoughtful design on a budget, especially in light of the Delay and Phaser. The entire series is much more than a great, risk-free introduction into the world of effects.

Rating
+ Very good price/performance ratio
+ robust build
___________________________________

Source: Soundcheck magazine, March 2015, Germany: http://www.soundcheck.de/
Author: Marc Rolf

Learn more about the Palmer Pocket series here:
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/Guitar-Effects/POCKET-CHORUS-Chorus-effect-for-guitar-PEPCHOR.htm
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/Guitar-Effects/POCKET-DELAY-Delay-effect-for-guitar-PEPDEL.htm
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/Guitar-Effects/POCKET-DISTORTION-Distortion-effect-for-guitar-PEPDIS.htm
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/Guitar-Effects/POCKET-FLANGER-Flanger-effect-for-guitar-PEPFLA.htm
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/Guitar-Effects/POCKET-OVERDRIVE-Distortion-effect-for-guitar-PEPOD.htm
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Products/Guitar-Effects/POCKET-PHASER-Phaser-effect-for-guitar-PEPPHAS.htm