 | Locobox The Choker
Recently my neighbours were treated to the sight of a scantily clad crazy man running up the road in obvious ecstatic delight. So how can the successful late night online acquisition of a little yellow box that almost no one else has heard of bring such heights of elation? |
| Jelly for my Tele
In the early 90's the band 'Jellyfish' were creating some of the finest guitar based pop music you're ever likely to hear - incredible songs with a rich organic production featuring some of the coolest guitar tone ever put to tape. (Listen to "The King Is Half Undressed") This sound led me on a quest which has finally ended with this old 70's compressor, The Choker by Loco Box. In an interview, Jellyfish's original guitarist Jason Falkner mentioned that nearly every guitar track on the first record went through one of these, so overnight a previously unknown compressor became hot property for guitarists and producers in the know.
The Choker uses the same chip as the original Ross compressor which is also used in the MXR Dyna Comp and more recently the Keeley Compressor but the Choker is voiced differently than these examples. It sounds more Hi-Fi. The dynamics of the note are compressed while the frequencies are not only all there, but it may well be adding some of its own. It's the only vintage compressor pedal that I know of that sounds great as an outboard studio compressor as well. You can use it on vocals, drums, pretty much anything. The Loco Box Choker may well be the perfect compressor pedal, so why is it such a secret? Details of the Loco Box Company are sketchy, but I do know that sometime after this hand made example from the 70's was produced, the company changed tack, mass produced a line of arguably lesser quality effects, and soon after ceased to exist.
Choker? I hardly know her.
The Choker couldn't be easier to use. You have 2 controls to set the level and the compression sensitivity. With the sensitivity set to 9 o'clock the effect is subtle, but really nice as it gently smoothes out your tone without affecting your top end frequencies. With it wound up to 3 o'clock notes just bloom effortlessly. The output level does increase with the sensitivity so you'll need to balance this with the level control.
How much should I pay?
If you're able to locate one, you can expect to pay no less than £100. If it's in its original box in good condition, you can double that. That puts the Choker up there with an original script logo Dynacomp, but it more than sits comfortably in this prestigious company. The Choker is rare and expensive but the word is out so should you find one, you'll need to be uber quick to save certain heartbreak.
Perhaps Tom York said it best on OK Computer whilst sending love and joy to tone hungry guitarists the world over hunting for that perfect compressor… "We hope…that you choke…that you choke." What a lovely fella.
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