Empress Effects Distortion

The Empress Effects Distortion is a fully analog distortion pedal with three operating modes and a two-band EQ, designed as a versatile and compact tool for guitarists and bassists covering the range from gentle breakup to high gain. The simplicity of the design is a deliberate feature, not a compromise – four controls (Gain, Bass, Treble, Output) and a mode selector are sufficient to cover a wide tonal range without configuration menus or hidden modes. The signal path is entirely analog with no digital components. Natural compression at higher gain settings gives the pedal behaviour similar to a saturated tube amplifier. True bypass removes the pedal's influence on the signal when disengaged. Enclosure: die-cast aluminium, dimensions approx. 114×63×38 mm. Power: 9 V DC.

Three modes – how the tonal range distributes across the switch positions

Mild mode is a light breakup with natural dynamics – it responds to guitar volume and picking attack the way an amplifier working near its saturation threshold does. Rolling back the instrument's volume control cleans up the sound to near-clean, giving effectively two different sounds from one pedal setting. Crunch delivers a tighter character with a defined attack and controlled low end – the right mode for rhythm playing where consistency and punch in the low frequencies matter more than gain depth. Lead provides high gain with substantial sustain – the clipping stage operates deeply, harmonic compression is prominent, and long note decay is maintained on single lines. The two-band EQ (Hi shelf and Low shelf) allows final tonal calibration of each mode without changing the switch position.

Applications – electric guitar, bass, stage simplicity

Empress Effects explicitly identifies electric bass compatibility as a product feature – maintaining tight low-end character under distortion is uncommon in pedals designed primarily for guitar. The active Hi shelf and Low shelf EQ provide precision not available in a single Tone pot: the brightness and presence of the upper frequencies and the weight of the low frequencies can be adjusted independently without mutual interaction. Four controls and a mode selector provide maximum operational simplicity in low-light stage conditions – no hidden modes, button sequences, or configuration menus. The price and construction simplicity position the Empress Distortion as a first-choice pedal for players seeking a reliable analog distortion without surplus features.

KEY FEATURES

• Fully analog distortion, three modes: Mild / Crunch / Lead
• Mild: light breakup that cleans up with instrument volume reduction
• Crunch: tight, with defined attack and controlled low end
• Lead: high gain with substantial sustain and harmonic compression
• Two-band EQ: Hi shelf + Low shelf
• Controls: Gain, Bass (Low shelf), Treble (Hi shelf), Output
• Compatible with electric guitar and electric bass
• True bypass
• Die-cast aluminium enclosure
• Power: 9 V DC

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: fully analog distortion, stompbox
• Modes: Mild / Crunch / Lead (3-position toggle switch)
• Controls: Gain, Bass (Low shelf), Treble (Hi shelf), Output
• EQ: two-band (Hi shelf, Low shelf) – active
• Bypass: true bypass
• Power: 9 V DC, centre-negative, 2.1 mm
• Enclosure material: die-cast aluminium
• Dimensions: approx. 114 × 63 × 38 mm (enclosure)
• Weight: approx. 230 g