The CARMA2 is a 2-knob compressor with the added benefit of a toggle switch which puts the CARMA2 into boost mode. The switch reduces the compression levels to a NEAR ZERO compression state and provides about 20db of wonderfully clean gain.

CARMA2 uses the same PC Board as the CARMA and CARMA 4. Named the LittleJoe pcb it's the same compression subcircuit that is in our JOE boostercomps but it has two of the JOE's gain stages removed to make the pcb a bit smaller. The LittleJoe pcb has been powering our basic compressors since 2008 and was found in the Burgs and Burgs2 compressors.

CARMA Compressor Video - short version - done by Brett Kingman.

This is a video that was done of our CARMA compressor. A while ago we had a special run of the CARMA going on known as the "BURGS" compressor. Functionally and tonally the Burgs is identical in every way to the CARMA, so they sound completely identical and operate exactly the same way. So this video is totally relevant even though it is of a comp with the name "Burgs" on it. The CARMA2 sounds exactly like this Farndurk Burgs compressor in this video. The only exception being the addition of the Near Zero State ability of the CARMA2 that is accessed with the large MilSpec toggle.

The video embedded below is of our venerable and hugely popular MODEL 9.

The Model 9 uses a CARMA compressor circuit as the input stage and as one of the five gain stages of the MODEL 9 (precisely the same circuit that is found in every CARMA and CARMA2 compressor). So, at time indexes 3:40 to 5:35 the compression stage (a CARMA) is demonstrated very well.

BOOSTERCOMP:

NOTE: If you like how the compression stage and the "boost" stage of the MODEL 9 sound together - time index 5:35 to 6:36 - then check out our JOE Boostercomp. The JOE was where all of this compression stuff here at Farndurk got started in the first place!

OVERDRIVE:

NOTE: If you like how the OVERDRIVE stage of the Model 9 sounds in this video, take a look at any of our X-Series modules. There are even variations within the X-series that have booth the boost stage and the OD stage of the Model 9, so check them out as needed.

All of the tone, the wonderful compression, the *just righty* attack time (which gives the LittleJoe circuit it's trademark snappiness) of the MODEL 9, and of course the standard Farndurk Outlife contruction methods. But with an addition ....

Advanced Compressor Use Information:

COMPRESSOR OPERATION PAGE: This link takes you to very comprehensive information regarding the operation and use of this compressor. It's pretty much the "Owner's Manual" for our compression modules. It would be a good idea to go over it to get a better understanding of what to expect from the compression circuits we design and build.

Here's a summary of the controls that the CARMA2 offers...

We've added an overengineered MilSpec toggle switch that will allow you to change modes, just like the MODEL 9 has. The Carma2 can either be the killer comp it always was, or it can be put in Near-Zero Compression Mode and used with the exact same tone the CARMA is known for, but with nearly zero compression making it into one heck of a great sounding clean boost/overdrive pedal.

The CARMA2 has two control knobs:

• COMPRESSION - "C": sets the amount of "squish" applied to the signal.
• VOLUME - "V": sets the output level of the compressor.

Btw .... we know that Carma isn't spelled with a "C" ... the "c" thing is a personal reference to a long, boring, and rather comedic story that involves this circular universe and my lifelong struggle to prove it's imbalance (man oh man .. the futility of such a thing! ... a very unproductive struggle mind you ... the very thought of it is pointless! Jimminy Christmas I think of the oddest things!).

Burr Brown main IC chip.

Since it sounds so good in our JOE compression series and MODEL 9 preamps, we've outfitted the CARMA2 with a Burr Brown main IC chip. This insightful application gives us a bit more headroom and more fidelity as well. With a very non-Ross type compressor tone, the LittleJoe compressor circuit used in the CARMA2 is outfitted with Tantalum and Germanium goodness within to achieve it's trademark Farndurk sound. It sounds like nothing else out there. Snappy, clean, and very toneful. Check out the sound clips of the CARMA2 comp on the Demos page! Also see the reviews on the Reviews page.

Near Zero Mode toggle:

Near Zero Mode = Killa Boost mode!! Why the heck would anyone want to use a compressor that won't compress? Well, the CARMA/CARMA2 compressor has an EXCELLENT sounding preamp. So much so that some folks use the CARMA2 as just a clean booster, which is something that it absolutely excels at. Brett "Burgerman" Kingman once told me "I don't use your compressors just because you're my buddy you genius nut, I use them because they make my guitars SHINE." I've totally modified the entire circuit so that this boost mode aka "Near Zero Mode" is attainable by simply flipping the military toggle switch "UP". Easy peasy, right?

Questions on How To Order? Here's your answers!.

We can make it with either RED, BLACK, or BLUE nuke switches. BlueNuke package includes a clear blue LED to compliment the blue nuke switch.

The Carma2 is also available in "NoNuke" (without the Nuke Switch safety cover at all), if you prefer. It still uses the exact same over-engineered mega-toggle that the Nuke Switch equiped pedals have, so you give up nothing in the way of durability, endurance, and peformance. It's all about that Outlife stuff I keep yammerin' on about, y'know?

Audio and Video Demos:

Here's a You Tube video of the Burgs comp in use (predecessor to the CARMA .. precisely the same exact sound as the CARMA and CARMA2). This is Brett Kingman doing his thing on a stock Y2K Standard Tele through standard Burgs compressor and into a Bassman clone amp ....

Brett Kingman on a Farndurk CARMA

FINISH OPTIONS and FINISH PRICING: Click here for info on finishes and knobs.

BUYING, WARRANTY, etc... Click here for info on HOW TO ORDER - Our LIFETIME WARRANTY - and RETURN POLICY

And what the heck is OUTLIFE anyway?

Price

List price: $195.00.