Catalinbread Soft Focus Ghost

Catalinbread Soft Focus Ghost is a plate reverb based on a Yamaha FX500, the reverb that got immensely popular in the nineties.

The mythos surrounding the original Yamaha FX500 is now well-traveled, but it was our own FX500B, the bass unit, that inspired the entire Ghost product line, as it randomly switches patches, oftentimes to settings we had never heard before. That simple mechanical error gave way to the line, inserting new sounds within the architecture of forgotten gear.

The new Ghost control replaces the Symph control and adds in a non-traditional phase shifting algorithm that serves as an enhancement tool rather than the gooey modulation that completely overtakes an entire signal. The rate and depth of this phase shifter are tied to the same knob, such that quicker speeds are deeper than the slower settings. The Mod knob now acts as a master depth control for all modulation, and the Ghost still includes chorus, plate reverb, input gain and full wet-dry mix capabilities.

The Soft Focus runs from 9 to 18 volts for more output, a dry signal boost and increased headroom.

Catalinbread Soft Focus Ghost demo video