Polytone built its reputation in the 1970s and ’80s by offering reliable solid-state amplifiers that became a staple among the jazz community. While their amps may be Polytone's best-known contribution, their effect pedals are worth checking out, too. The R.S. Modulator is a dedicated modulation console unit that covers a vibrato/chorus/rotary niche, housed in a substantial aluminum chassis that feels as robust and built to last. Many of the internal components in this R.S. Modulator date to 1984, but apparently this pedal wasn't released until later in the '80s. This RS Modulator shows some paint chips and signs of wear (see photos), but it functions 100% as it should and sounds fantastic. Tonally, this pedal leans toward a warm, musical modulation that pairs especially well with clean or lightly driven sounds. Similar to Leslie speaker cabinets, when you engage the "Fast" control, the speed ramps up to the faster setting, instead of an instantaneous switch. Essentially, you can hear the rate increase, which is a cool component to the effect. In addition to "Fast," the remaining controls are simple and straightforward—two knobs for intensity and speed, one switch is ON/OFF, and then "Normal" toggles between classic vibrato and the "R.S. Modulator" sound. With its own power supply on-board, the RS Modulator is a sweet console unit that is ready for the stage and the studio.
