Source Audio has been garnering a lot of buzz as of late, and not without reason; their powerful Nemesis Delay, for instance, was released in March in conjunction with their Neuro mobile app, downloadable for iOS and Android, to much acclaim across the pedal world. Now, Source Audio is at it again with the release of three new pedals: the Aftershock bass distortion, Kingmaker fuzz, and L.A. Lady overdrive. Each pedal has three unique effect engines but can do so much more with the endlessly entertaining Neuro app.
Aftershock Bass Distortion
If you want to add thundering distortion to your bass rig, the Aftershock is one of the most versatile options out there. Not only does it come with three distinct distortion engines right out of the box, but the Neuro app gives you access to an overwhelming library of fuzz, drive, and distortion tones that can be tweaked and then downloaded directly to the pedal.
The three modes native to the pedal itself run the gamut from creamy, tube-driven crunch to heavier, aggressive distortion and full-blown fuzz. The Tube engine offers up a far subtler sound, hearkening back to the punchy-yet-smooth vintage tube tones of old. With the Heavy engine, your bass gets a bold kick with scooped mids, plenty of roaring lows and singing highs. And finally, Fuzz mode gives you warm, germanium-like fuzz tones loaded with grit.
Simple onboard controls let you change up your sound on the fly. Up your volume or the amount of dirt in your tone using the Level and Drive controls. The Clean knob gives you the chance to mix in the perfect amount of unaffected signal that allows you to keep a foundational low end, and the Tone control makes it easy to find the sweet spot for virtually any bass and amp pairing.
Kingmaker Fuzz
The Kingmaker fuzz is aptly named, as it will give your tone a royal makeover using 50 years of fuzz and overdrive technology in one sturdy little box. Just like the Aftershock, the Kingmaker has three fuzz engines of its own, but if you hook it up to the Neuro app, you’ve got access to over 40 other overdrive, fuzz, and distortion algorithms.
With a trio of diverse modes, the Kingmaker can produce anything from the simplest responsive fuzz to a screaming octave fuzz. The Heavy engine saturates your sound for roaring — but still articulate — lead tones akin to that of a violin, or fat, aggressive sounds perfect for playing rhythm. Normal mode is a straightforward but dynamic fuzz that cleans up beautifully with a reduced input signal but blows up exponentially as you dial up the signal. Last, but certainly not least, is the Octave engine, which does exactly what you think: it releases howling Octavio-like octave fuzz tones in vintage colors.
Carving out frequencies is easy with the Kingmaker’s two-band EQ via Bass and Treble controls, and you can up your gain and dirt using the Level and Drive knobs.
L.A. Lady Overdrive
Giving you tone as golden as its chassis, the L.A. Lady overdrive squeezes decades of classic overdrive tone into a simple and sleek pedal. As with the Aftershock and Kingmaker, the L.A. Lady has access to dozens of extra fuzz, distortion, and drive tones via the Neuro mobile app, giving it an even further tonal reach.
The three engines on the L.A. Lady range from traditional vintage tone to sounds Source Audio dreamed up on its own. The Classic engine delivers the highly-sought “Marshall in a box” tone that can be tailored to thick rhythm tones or wailing leads, depending on what floats your boat. Smooth mode borrows from the modern Texas blues sound, lending your tone a subtle thump while boosting up your midrange. The final engine, Crunch, is a creation of Source Audio’s own, the company’s take on the breakup of an overdriven tube amp, giving you warmth and a variety of drive levels.
Boasting a similar layout to the Kingmaker, the L.A. Lady has a two-band EQ in the form of Bass and Treble knobs for dialing in the perfect amount of highs and lows, as well as Drive and Level knobs to play with volume and grit levels.
Source Audio Pedals