Morley Pedals

Morley Pedals is the name of a guitar effects pedal company, famous for manufacturing wah-wah pedals and other treadle type effects for guitar. Morley pedals use electro-optical circuitry rather than a potentiometer to control the effect. The foot treadle controls a shutter inside the pedal that in turn controls the amount of light reaching a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR). The advantage to this system is that there are no potentiometers in the signal path to wear out or become "scratchy sounding" over time. Electro-optical circuitry is used throughout the classic Morley pedal line, which includes or has included volume pedals, delay pedals, chorus and phaser pedals, and many others.

History

'60s - Tel-Ray Electronics

The Morley company was started by two brothers, Raymond and Marvin Lubow in Los Angeles in the 1960s. Raymond designed an electro-mechanical echo unit that used a rotating disc inside a small metal drum filled with electrostatic fluid. This echo unit made it possible for musical performers to re-create echo effects in a live performance without using echo chambers or unreliable tape devices. The Lubow brothers went into business as Tel-Ray Electronics, manufacturing their new "Adineko" echo device for many companies including Fender. Raymond also designed another device that simulated the sound of a Leslie rotating speaker cabinet in use by organists and other musicians. This device also used the rotating-disc/oil-can method. The Lubow brothers jokingly referred to this new invention as a Morley (More-Lee as opposed to Less-Lee).