One of the merits to be given to Pierangelo Mezzabarba, in addition to the already too recognized and appreciated technical competence in the guitar audio sector, both in the Italian boot and for some years also abroad, is to know how to create interest when he has some new idea in mind.
About summer 2016, through his social channels the good Pierangelo announces a new product (which would be queued together with the new amp series and the Sentinel) and announce the name only. . . Gravity.
Time passes, after some sip of information and an undefined number of appeals to otherworldly figures to get some more information, at Christmas Pierangelo gives us a gift to all of us.
Il Gravity is announced, with the attached technical sheet that I report here:
Technical Characteristics
- 6 mono + 2 stereo loops, 4 on / off pulses.
- 43,3 cm x 14,2 cm.
- One of the most powerful midi pedalboards on the market.
- Total programmability, usb interface, bluetooth.
- The audio quality you expect from true analog, and all the flexibility of digital control.
An audio looper without compromise in terms of programmability and audio quality, we finally know what we have in front of us.
On the occasion of the Namm after the success of the line of amplifiers, the Gravity is presented to the Americans with a clear consensus, from then on nature takes its course and production begins.
Currently the Gravity is present in the pedal board of Riccardo Honors and Sebastiano esposito (which I was able to see myself live at the presentation of his album “24”), but I would say that the last word must go to its creator.
- Finally after a long wait we have the Gravity, how is this little jewel born?
It arises from precise needs and from an infinite series of tests.
We wanted to design something that simultaneously contained a high quality looper for the pedals and a very powerful midi pedalboard.
To tell the truth, we have been revolving around this idea for many years and at the end of 2015 I decided to finally get my hands on this project definitively and we structured it as a 6 mono loop + 2 stereo loops, active or passive input, tuner output. with callable muting, 4 programmable pulse switches for channel switching of any amplifier, expression pedals and much more.
With a highly visible, high-contrast display for all situations. But, beyond its structure and its construction, what amazes and amazes many is its simplicity of use.
- Can we define it as the pedalboard child of the loop rail?
Nì, in the sense that it is the son of the Loop Rail and the TB6 as far as the quality of signal processing is concerned, all managed through relays with gold contacts and a proprietary muting system, to avoid unwanted bumps and in the highest quality of sound management. .
But both the interface and the midi and real-time use potential have been revised and revolutionized compared to what were excellent products, however much simpler.
Certainly the fact of having a lot of experience in the design and construction of looper made it easier for us, since we approached the new product with 15 years of experience behind us, which means having done many tours, many pedalboards, many setups and worked with the greatest artists you can imagine all this time.
Among the things that the Gravity inherits from its predecessors there is also the buffer section of the Black Box which, from the day of its presentation, remains the reference buffer on the market.
Gravity - Retro
- Why did you choose to enter two Stereo loops?
Initially I would have liked to foresee 8 + 2 mono loops (of course divisible or summable depending on whether they go in the send return or all in front of the amp), but after various discussions with the professionals we opted for the 6 mono + 2 stereo loop solution, simply because many modulation and delay effects provide a stereo image, which you often don't want to do without, especially on a pro level.
Also because I see more and more guitarists using stereo setups, and I didn't want to close doors in that sense.
- Very small dimensions compared to the competition, how did you manage to obtain a result that is comfortable for the backs of all of us?
We worked very hard on this, managing multiple prototypes, thinking about materials, filing centimeters and millimeters every time, together with Dario Pellegrini e Marco Berni, my two engineers who dedicated themselves to the project.
In reality, you can't really understand how small and light the Gravity, whose measures are 43,4 x 14,5 x 6h cm. for 1,8Kg., without understanding the potential it offers.
- USB and bluetooth connection, a choice aimed at comfort and practicality for the end user?
Absolutely yes, but in the sense of making programming and saving the entered data even easier. Currently interfacing with a PC (or Mac) and with mobile devices is an essential factor, above all because it further simplifies an already simple product.
- The most powerful midi pedal in circulation, what does it mean for those who don't chew the world of Midi a lot?
I have always worked with programmable midi pedalboards, even very very complex ones… you know the pedalboards you see at gilmour, Petrucci, The Edge?
Here, the idea was to insert in the Gravity such a midi power, but in a very compact format, so as to have no limits whatsoever.
In fact I organized the Gravity on 3 levels of use: Basic, Expert e Expert+, which allow you to have more and more possibilities, if only you want them.
In this way, those who need a simple looper + midi pedalboard have it and without the risk of getting lost in things they don't know; on the other hand, those who want total control at their feet can do it, working simultaneously on all midi channels with Program Change, Control Change, expression pedals, plus memorable and recallable SetLists.
- Selling price in line with direct international competitors, I would say that we have managed to create an accessible professional product without compromising quality, especially sound?
That is the main factor, sound, together with reliability, which has always been a priority for my brands. Obviously an object like the Gravity, with all its power and quality, it cannot be cheap, but we imagined we wanted to build what for us is the best audio looper for pedals on the market, giving it at the same time an out of the ordinary midi power, so as to find any customer is at ease, from the most direct and simple, to the most savvy and expert.
Useful Information
FB Group: Mezzabarba Masotti Guitar Devices Lovers
Official page: Mezzabarba \ Masotti Guitar Devices
Manufacturer's site: www.mezzabarba.com
Final price: 949 euros VAT included
