Metasonix to discontinue Penile Amputator from September 2026

September 1, 2026 · 1 sources

Metasonix will discontinue the Penile Amputator, the maker said, with a limited number of units to be made effective September 2026. The company cited supply problems and spiraling costs, and said the pedal will only be available in plain black ABS enclosures.

The Amputator is a tube distortion pedal built around two 5702 subminiature pentodes, which Metasonix describes as Raytheon military surplus from the 1980s. It has one knob controlling feedback and gain, off at fully counterclockwise, and a switch that applies feedback to the suppressor grid of the second tube. A CV input on the front lets it work as a voltage-controlled amplifier; Metasonix recommends at least 0 to 10 volts into that input. The maker says the output cannot drive any load and should only feed a high impedance unbalanced input. There is no bypass switch.

Power is 12 volts DC through a 2.1mm barrel plug, center positive, drawing 700 milliamps at startup and 250 milliamps in normal operation. The standard version includes an AC adapter for 100v-120v countries only; a universal adapter is $30 more. Metasonix lists the pedal as shirt pocket size, with weight of a few ounces and dimensions that depend on the enclosure found. Each unit carries different offensive stickers.

The maker also attributed the decision to buyers using the wrong power supply, some connecting it backwards, and then complaining it did not work. Metasonix said the price is going up but did not state a figure.