Cornerstone and Paul Davids launch Nucleo signature reverb pedal

October 7, 2024 · 2 sources

Cornerstone has collaborated with guitarist and YouTuber Paul Davids on a new signature ambient reverb pedal called the Nucleo, the Italian boutique builder announced. Pre-orders opened with a launch price of $429, and orders will begin shipping in early December¹².

The pedal is inspired by Davids' visit to the Zwentendorf nuclear plant in Austria, which was never brought online after a change in public sentiment in 1978¹. According to Guitar World, microphone manufacturer Lewitt Audio, which organized the trip, created an impulse response from Davids' playing in the reactor, and that reverb has now been built into a stompbox¹. Cornerstone says the Nucleo adds granular synthesis, modulation, pitch shifting and freeze effects¹².

Its two largest dials control Reactor, the reverb size, which runs from a lo-fi room reverb upward, and Blend, the balance between dry signal and wet reverb¹². Smaller controls cover Modulation, Pitch and Speed, along with Decay, Tone and Freeze volume¹². Two footswitches handle Bypass and Freeze¹². Cornerstone says the pedal can save presets and has MIDI functionality for live use¹².

Guitar World describes the Nucleo as a departure for Cornerstone, whose previous releases, including the Colosseum, centered on emulating the tones of classic players¹. Guitar.com reports the official launch is slated for December, with the $429 price described as a special launch price "for now"².