The Catalinbread Soft Focus patch on the Yamaha FX500 was widely used in the ‘90s by early shoegaze bands, most notably Slowdive on Souvlaki.
The Catalinbread Soft Focus is an instant shoegaze button, while addressing the most glaring issues of the original unit: no mix control, a sub-par preamp, and a ghastly tone-sucking bypass signal.
The Soft Focus is a heavily modified plate reverb with adjustable time, which is then split into three paths. One path contains a multi-voiced chorus modulator, another features a well-appointed octave-up mixed in with the reverb, and the third path leaves the reverb untouched. The Mod knob controls the rate of the chorus on path one, and the Symphony knob controls the level of the octave on path two. All controls are "coupled" to the tone of the reverb to gives you an expansive playing field of sounds to discover and fine tune.
Video: https://youtu.be/EoPmBYEPo0s
Product Specs
- Item Number: 26587
- Make: Catalinbread
- Model: SOFT FOCUS Purple Gaze
- Condition: Brand New
- Finish: Purple
- Categories: effects-and-pedals ⇒ reverb ⇒ pedal
- Made In: United States
- MPN: CB-SFPG
- UPC: 853710004598