The Abasi Pathos is a high gain overdrive pedal, the first stompbox from Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, released in 2018 under his Abasi Concepts brand1. Abasi designed it in conjunction with Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals, and it was built in the USA in a limited run of 1000 units worldwide23. It is now sold out4.
The pedal is voiced after the classic sound of American tube amps, described as ranging from silky smooth to red hot while keeping the warmth and responsive feel of an American-style tube amp5. MusicRadar called it "several dirt boxes in one," noting that its Volume and Gain controls make it usable for all-out distortion, a front-end tube boost, or saturating a modeling amp's tone65.
The controls
The control set is straightforward for a high gain pedal: Volume, Gain, a three-band EQ of Bass, Mid and Treble, and a Voicing switch56. Abasi Concepts describes the EQ as musically-tuned shelves with a mid control, alongside potent gain and level controls2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive, from boost to full distortion5 |
| Bass | Low-end shelf |
| Mid | Midrange control |
| Treble | Top-end shelf |
| Voicing switch | Selects Smooth or Edge5 |
Delicious Audio described the EQ's range as a glassy top-end, commanding midrange and a hefty bass response, voiced with Wampler's help5. The Volume and Gain controls expand what the pedal can do: all-out distortion, a front-end boost into a tube amp, or saturation on top of a modeling amp's tone5.
Smooth and Edge voicings
The Voicing switch, a lever in the middle of the enclosure, selects between two characters for the distortion sound3. Delicious Audio's description of the difference:
"The voicing switch allows you to choose between Smooth and Edge. The former gives you dynamics and harmonic detail, while the latter cuts straight through the mix with glorious clarity."
In practice, Smooth is the setting for harmonic content and playing dynamics, while Edge is voiced to sit forward in a band mix. Both voicings can then be sculpted with the same EQ and gain controls25.
Power and switching
The Pathos runs on a 9V power jack or an internal battery connection2. Current draw is 30mA at 9VDC5, low enough that it shares easily with other 9V pedals on a typical power supply. Switching is relay true-bypass with a soft-touch footswitch5, so the bypassed signal path is kept clean.
The Pathos is a limited edition of 1000 units worldwide and is now sold out34. It launched at $199 in the US, with UK and EU pricing of £199 and €231 at the time63.
Who built it, and where it came from
Tosin Abasi engineered the Pathos with the help of Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals, and it was crafted in the USA25. Gearnews noted that the enclosure layout is identical to many of Wampler's own pedals, which reflects the collaboration3. The Pathos was one of the first pedals under the Abasi Concepts brand5, and Guitar World reported it as the first stompbox offering from Abasi Guitars when it launched in November 2018 at $1991.
Abasi later continued the Abasi Concepts line with further pedals, including the Micro Aggressor compressor, again noting the Pathos as the earlier Wampler-built collaboration4.
Where it sits among gain pedals
As a high gain overdrive, the Pathos sits between a classic overdrive and a full distortion pedal: its gain range covers both roles, from a tube-amp front-end boost to all-out distortion5. Compared with a fuzz pedal it keeps the midrange and EQ flexibility of an amp-style circuit, with the three-band EQ and two voicings doing the shaping work56.
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Questions
Does the Abasi Pathos have true bypass?
Yes. The Pathos uses relay true-bypass switching, so with the pedal off the signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. It also has a soft-touch footswitch for engaging and bypassing the effect.
Can the Abasi Pathos run on a battery?
Yes. The Pathos has a battery connection as well as a 9V power jack, so it can run either way. Current draw is 30mA at 9VDC, which is modest enough for most pedalboard power supplies.
What is the difference between the Smooth and Edge voicings on the Pathos?
The voicing switch selects between the two. Smooth is described as giving dynamics and harmonic detail, while Edge is described as cutting through the mix with clarity. Both voicings can then be shaped with the Bass, Mid and Treble controls.
Who built the Abasi Pathos?
The Pathos was designed by Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders in conjunction with Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals, and made in the USA. It was one of the first pedals released under Abasi's own Abasi Concepts brand.
Is the Abasi Pathos still available?
No. The Pathos was a limited edition of 1000 units worldwide when it launched in 2018 at $199, and Guitar World has since described it as sold out. Finding one now means the secondhand market.
How much current does the Abasi Pathos draw?
The Pathos draws 30mA at 9VDC. That is a low draw by high gain standards, so it can share a modest power supply output or a daisy chain with other 9V pedals without issue.
Sources (7)
- Animals as Leaders' Tosin Abasi Unveils New Pathos Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-11-14
- Pathos Distortion, Abasi Concepts LLC
- Tosin Abasi announces the Abasi Pathos distortion pedal, gearnews.com, 2018-11-15
- “A new level of sonic excellence, several years in the making”: Tosin Abasi has released his own compressor pedal that promises to fix common compression complaints, Guitar World, 2024-10-28
- Abasi Pathos High Gain Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2019-02-14
- Tosin Abasi's Pathos overdrive pedal is “several dirt boxes in one”, MusicRadar, 2018-11-15
- Watch Tosin Abasi's jaw-dropping demo of a prototype Abasi Concepts compressor pedal that makes notes “feel like they're popping”, MusicRadar, 2022-11-15
