I bet there aren't many of these around any more:
http://i.imgur.com/asDt5Gw.jpgIt's a Ken Multi MCP-7 Compressor. If I recall through the hazy university memories, I bought this in 1990, at Maplins in Manchester, for the princely sum of £29.95 (actually the amount is written on the box. Yes, it's still boxed!)
I can't remember the last time I used this, but about 20 years ago I bought a BOSS CS-3 and this got put back in its box and never used again, so it's at least that long ago.
Amazingly, it still works - and doesn't sound terrible either. My guess is that it's a CS-2 copy - certainly the enclosure is pretty much the same as the BOSS, albeit entirely made of grey plastic - and so although it's always in circuit, it's pretty transparent when it's not on (unlike the Ken Multi MPH-7 Phaser, which had a significant effect on the sound even when off). It goes pretty squashy and pretty loud and all-in-all is entirely usable.
If only "rare" (which I'm sure it is) was equal to valuable. As it is, I might as well keep it. (Unless there's any Ken Multi completists out there who care to offer me a vast sum for this unique opportunity to own an original, boxed in excellent condition ...)
Anyone else remember Ken Multi effects?
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Interesting thing though: £30 in 1990 is the equivalent of £60 today, according to the Bank of England. Now think what pedals you could get for £60 today that are better than this. Lots, right?
I gave mine to my then-girlfriend's little brother. He was heavily in to Nine Inch Nails, and managed to get a pretty decent approximation of their guitar tones by plugging the pedal in to a pair of laptop speakers
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.