Lehle Little Lehle Switching Pedal
The Little Lehle is a genuine True-Bypass Looper/Switcher. It can be used to manage an effect-loop, or as a simple A/B box. Two instruments can be optionally routed to one amplifier input, or one instrument switched back and forth between two amplifiers. The gold-plated-contact switcher contained in the unit switches with maximum signal fidelity. The separate switching level for the ground contacts makes ground loops impossible. The Little Lehle offers full stereo functionality, with all jacks and internal switching contacts executed in stereo.
- Gold plated switches
- No ground loops for hum free sound
- Stereo operation
The buttons
What catches the eye when looking at all Lehle-Switchers are the large mushroom buttons. The musician presses this button with his foot – this activates a momentary switch located inside the switcher via a metal lever. Since button and momentary switch aren’t mechanically connected, only the button takes the strength of the foot’s pressure. There’s no pressure on the circuit board. With maximal construction robustness, the manipulation of the button is very low-friction with its setting in a special socket.
Switching with the highest level of signal loyalty
The signal sent from the jack of a guitar or bass is so weak that bad leads, cold soldered connection points or cheap contact materials audibly impair the sound. In order to switch these weak signals without any loss of sound or sound corruption it requires special materials, of which the contacts of these switchers are made.
With all Lehle-Switchers, the signal is routed via special gold-plated relays.
This guarantees absolute clear and reliable switching of sensitive signals.
Lehle-switchers switch in a passive mode
Basically, Lehle-Switchers route the signal passively without semiconductors in the signal path. The sound of a guitar or bass is mainly created by an interaction of the weak signal of the instrument and a very sensitive amp input.
If the signal was enhanced by an active buffer amp, the playing experience and sound would be changed considerably. However, at the same time, the signal becomes less sensitive. This means that, behind a buffer amp, cheapest components could be used, which would really influence the sound in a passive mode. Buffer amp and other active components can thus be useful, but if they can’t be switched off there is no place for them in the signal path of a switcher for purists!
What’s the meaning of “True Bypass”?
The musician doesn’t want to alter the unique sound developed by the interaction of instrument and amp for as long as effects remain unused.
Therefore, nearly all “better” effect units are equipped with a “True Bypass” footswitch.
However, normal footswitches contain contact materials originally developed for the routing of large currents (e.g. manufacturing machinery), as this is their main operational area. This becomes audible when after a certain time of use the resonating tone of a guitar suddenly cuts off. Compared to the direct path of lead to instrument to amp, the sound of an instrument routed via a chain of switched off “True Bypass” effects is quite dead.
Lehle-Switchers are, because of the use of gold-plated relays, specially developed for the switching from very weak signals, real “True Bypass” switchers.
Made in Germany
All Lehle products use only branded components. Cover, bottom and circuit board are firmly bolted with each other using rustproof threaded inserts. The double-sided printed circuit board, made of fibreglass reinforced epoxy resin has plated-through holes. This guarantees greatest mechanical durability and the best possible electrical connection of all components.
All individual components like the housing, circuit board or the buttons -including spring and socket – are manufactured, assembled and tested in Germany.
All Lehle products will provide a musician with many years of enjoyment and pleasure.
