FX15 Swell
The DOD FX15 Swell Pedal is a rare and innovative analog guitar effect introduced in late 1984. Designed to emulate the sound of "backwards" guitar by controlling the signal's amplitude, it allows musicians to create violin-like swells and ambient textures in real time. Unlike the Boss SG-1 Slow Gear, which relies on automatic note-onset detection, the FX15 utilizes a momentary footswitch that the player holds to initiate the swell, offering more deliberate control over the effect's timing. Housed in a classic 1980s orange metal chassis, the pedal features three primary controls: Attack, which sets the time for the swell to occur; Decay, which determines how quickly the signal returns to normal after the switch is released; and a Cut/Boost knob that can either attenuate or increase the volume during the swell. Due to its unique and somewhat counterintuitive design, it was discontinued by 1986, making it a highly sought-after collector's item today.