Damnation Audio releases Retro Bass Distortion on Black Friday

November 29, 2024 · 1 sources

Damnation Audio released the Retro Bass Distortion, a limited-run bass distortion pedal, on Black Friday, November 29, 2024, at 12 noon EST¹. The maker listed the pedal at $399.00 and showed it as sold out on its product page¹.

The pedal is a reissue of what the maker describes as the first bass guitar distortion pedal, built with period-accurate parts¹. Damnation Audio says it "distorts the low end vintagely for lack of a better word" and calls it "the foundational device that lead to the MBD," adding that it is "inferior in every way except one"¹. The maker attributes the original design to founder Jeffrey Davis¹.

Controls are listed as IN, OUT, GAIN, TONE and LEVEL, described on the page as they were in 1979¹. The enclosure measures roughly 5.75 by 3.75 by 2.75 inches and runs on a 9VDC 2.1mm center-negative adapter; the maker warns that going above 9VDC may damage the pedal and void warranties¹. It also has a battery option, and the maker advises unplugging the IN jack when not in use to preserve battery life¹.

Damnation Audio said it would keep pre-orders open for a week, with pre-orders estimated to ship in late January 2025¹. The Retro Bass Distortion joins the site's bass pedals coverage¹.