The Abasi Concepts Pathos is a high gain distortion pedal made by Wampler for Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders1. MusicRadar described its aim as putting US-style tube amp drive in one compact box2. Abasi describes it as designed to function as "several dirt boxes in one": a push to an overdriven amp, an all-out distortion pedal, or a boost in front of a digital modeler3.
The pedal was designed to function as several dirt boxes in one: a push to an overdriven amp, an all-out distortion pedal, or a boost in front of a digital modeler3. If you are weighing it against other drive circuits, it sits in the territory covered by our Overdrive Pedals and Distortion Pedals pages.
Availability and price
The Pathos launched in November 2018 at $199 in the US, with MusicRadar also listing it at £199 in the UK and €231 in the EU3. Guitar World reported the same $199 price when the pedal was unveiled8. Abasi Concepts' own product page later carried a list price of £141.00 GBP5.
The Pathos was made as a limited run of 1000 units worldwide6, and Guitar World reported in October 2024 that it is now sold out4. It is no longer in current production.
The controls
The Pathos carries six controls on its top panel: Volume, Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble and a Voicing switch, plus a soft-touch footswitch and top-mounted jacks7. Abasi Concepts describes the EQ section as musically-tuned EQ shelves and a mid control, alongside what the maker calls potent gain and level controls5. MusicRadar characterized the EQ as a three-band design3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Level control; with Gain, sets the pedal up as a boost or a full distortion7 |
| Gain | Drive amount, from a front-end tube boost to all-out distortion7 |
| Bass | Low shelf, part of the musically-tuned EQ5 |
| Mid | Mid control within the three-band EQ53 |
| Treble | High shelf, part of the musically-tuned EQ5 |
| Voicing switch | Selects Smooth or Edge voicing7 |
The voicing switch
The voicing switch is the pedal's character control, selecting between two voicings named Smooth and Edge7. Delicious Audio's product page explained the difference: "the voicing switch allows you to choose between Smooth and Edge. The former gives you dynamics and harmonic detail, whil[e]..." the Edge voicing, in their description, cuts through the mix with clarity7. MusicRadar pointed to the smooth and edge voicing as where the pedal's versatility comes from3.
Using the Pathos as a boost
The Pathos was conceived from the start as more than a single-purpose distortion. MusicRadar reported that it was designed to function as "several dirt boxes in one": a push to an overdriven amp, an all-out distortion pedal, or a boost in front of a digital modeler3. Delicious Audio framed the same flexibility through the pedal's two main level controls: "The volume and gain controls expand your palette; all-out distortion, front-end tube boost or saturating a modelling amp"7. For players running a modeler or amp-modeling rig, that places the Pathos in similar company to dedicated Boost Pedals, though with a full EQ and voicing stage on board.
Who built it
The Pathos was crafted in the USA by Tosin Abasi in conjunction with Brian Wampler, according to Abasi Concepts' product page5. MusicRadar, writing in 2022, described it as designed in collaboration with Brian Wampler2, and Guitar Pedal X noted in 2024 that the Pathos high gain distortion pedal was made by Wampler1. It was the first product under the Abasi Concepts brand37.
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Questions
Who built the Abasi Concepts Pathos?
The Pathos was crafted in the USA by Tosin Abasi in conjunction with Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals. It was one of the first pedals released under Abasi Concepts, the company founded by the Animals as Leaders guitarist, and Guitar World described it as the first stompbox offering from Abasi Guitars when it was unveiled in November 2018.
Is the Pathos still available?
No. Guitar World reported in October 2024 that the Pathos is now sold out. It was produced as a limited run of 1000 units worldwide when it launched in 2018, so it turns up secondhand rather than at dealers.
What does the voicing switch on the Pathos do?
The voicing switch selects between two voicings, Smooth and Edge. According to Delicious Audio, Smooth gives you dynamics and harmonic detail, while Edge cuts through the mix with clarity. MusicRadar pointed to the smooth and edge voicing as where the pedal's versatility comes from.
How much did the Pathos cost?
At its November 2018 launch, MusicRadar listed the Pathos at $199 in the United States, £199 in the UK and 231 euros in the EU. Guitar World also reported the $199 price. Abasi Concepts' own product page later listed it at £141.00 GBP.
Can the Pathos be used as a boost?
Yes. Delicious Audio described the volume and gain controls as expanding your palette across all-out distortion, front-end tube boost, or saturating a modelling amp tone. MusicRadar likewise said the pedal was designed to work as a boost in front of a digital modeller as well as a push into an overdriven amp.
Sources (8)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-11-04
- 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
- Tosin Abasi's Pathos overdrive pedal is “several dirt boxes in one”, MusicRadar, 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
- Pathos Distortion, Abasi Concepts LLC
- Tosin Abasi announces the Abasi Pathos distortion pedal, gearnews.com, 2018-11-15
- Abasi Pathos High Gain Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2019-02-14
- Animals as Leaders' Tosin Abasi Unveils New Pathos Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-11-14
