VFE Blueprint

What’s so great about a guitar pedal that is built with quality and value in mind?

Absolutely everything.

In the case of VFE pedals, tone is important too. And that’s a good thing.

Hand-built in Puyallup, WA, VFE pedals are literally made with the highest quality parts available. From the true bypass relay switching to the uber high-end solder used – yes, even the solder is under extreme scrutiny – VFE literally attempts to build the best guitar pedals around.

So how does VFE do?

Taking a close look at the Blueprint delay, the attempt for perfection is obvious.

The potentiometers feel good to the twist. The jacks have a nice tactile response. The pedal hasn’t even been plugged in yet, but it’s little things like this that make a good pedal great.

It only takes a few minutes after firing up the pedal to find a huge array of sonic textures.

Disregarding the modulation feature – we’ll get to that later – studio standard delay tones are all within reach. From a quick slap back to spacey delays, the Blueprint does a solid job of covering all the bases.

Peter from VFE said he wasn’t striving for a sterile, digital tone.

“My goal, at first, was to create a delay pedal that sounded good, that didn’t compete with dry signals, so it could be more ambient rather than being digital. Even though it’s a digital chip, I didn’t want it to be digital in the sense that it sounds exactly the same.”

Built around the PT2399 delay chip, the VFE does a great job creating smooth delays that have an organic feel.

Tapping into the modulation feature is where the pedal really shines. There is something about modulated delay. It really allows a guitarist to create some heavily ambient and textured soundscapes with very little effort.

At the subtle end of the modulation spectrum, the gentle motion creates lively, haunting delays. As the speed and depth knobs are increased, the tones move from a subtle chorus to a lively vibrato.

Those seeking to experiment with delay oscillations will find a plethora of noisy, drone goodness.

The Blueprint is geared toward the furthest levels of tweakability. Deep inside the pedal, on the neatly populated circuit board, tone tweekers will find a trim pot that controls the audible character of the delay. Analog delay fans can darken up the sound, while seekers of crystalline repeats will also find their niche.

It should be noted that the true bypass relay switching is silent and very easy to engage.

With so much going for it, some may be concerned about price.

Don’t be.

Not only does VFE strive for the best quality, it provides it at an affordable cost.

The Blueprint can be had for about $150, new.

Considering how much time, effort and care goes into the Blueprint and the rest of the VFE line, the prices are more than fair.

Because Peter is obsessed with enhancing his pedals, you may run into a Blueprint delay that has handwritten graphics. No, it isn’t a clever clone. Prior to making the switch to screen printed graphics, VFE pedals were mostly labeled by hand.

Regardless of when they were made, these pedals are an exceptional value and a prime example of what quality and affordability can really mean.

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