The Acorn Amplifiers Epstein Isn't Dead Op-Amp Boost/Distortion is a boost and distortion pedal built around a single op-amp drive circuit. Acorn describes it as "designed to offer a combination of clean boost and heavy distortion with just two simple controls", and it was announced as the next installment of the company's Conspiracy series of effects pedals1.
What it does
The circuit combines two jobs in one enclosure. On the boost side, the palm beach control provides what Acorn calls "warm, natural signal boost" that "adds touch sensitivity and heightened player response while retaining all of the organic tone from your instrument and amplifier"1. On the distortion side, the plastic surgery control delivers "sweet and resonating gain" that Acorn says produces "an ideal distortion tone for powerful guitar and bass sounds"1. Because the maker positions it for bass as well as guitar, it sits comfortably alongside other bass pedals as well as boost pedals and distortion pedals.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Plastic surgery | Gain control: sweet and resonating gain for distortion tones on guitar and bass1 |
| Palm beach | Boost control: warm, natural signal boost with touch sensitivity, retaining the instrument and amplifier's organic tone1 |
| Relocation services (toggle) | Lets the 'N'T' in 'ISN'T' be always on, or switchable with the bypass1 |
The relocation services toggle is the pedal's third control and the one that changes how it behaves in a rig. Set one way, the op-amp circuit is always in the signal path; set the other, it switches in and out with the bypass, so the footswitch turns the whole effect on and off1.
Power
The Epstein Isn't Dead runs on standard 9VDC pedal power and consumes less than 80mA of current1. A supply rated to deliver at least that current on the output used is what the specification calls for.
Elsewhere in the Conspiracy series
Acorn Amplifiers builds other pedals besides the Epstein Isn't Dead, and its Conspiracy series is covered on its own pages on this site. The Epstein Isn't Dead itself runs on a standard 9VDC pedal power supply and consumes less than 80mA of current, with a list price of $125.00 USD1.
Videos
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Questions
What does the Relocation Services toggle do on the Epstein Isn't Dead?
The relocation services toggle sets how the pedal's effect, the 'N'T' in 'ISN'T', behaves. It lets the effect run always on, or be switched in and out together with the bypass, according to Acorn Amplifiers' product page. In practice that means you can keep the op-amp circuit as a permanent part of your tone or treat it as a normal footswitchable boost and distortion.
What power does the Acorn Epstein Isn't Dead need?
Acorn Amplifiers specifies standard 9VDC pedal power, and the pedal consumes less than 80mA of current. A standard pedal power supply that delivers at least that much current on its output covers it.
Is the Epstein Isn't Dead an op-amp pedal?
Yes. Acorn Amplifiers describes it as a single op-amp drive circuit designed to offer a combination of clean boost and heavy distortion with just two simple controls. The op-amp is the core of the circuit rather than a clipping stage added to something else.
Can the Epstein Isn't Dead be used with bass?
Acorn Amplifiers says the plastic surgery control delivers resonating gain that suits powerful guitar and bass sounds, so the maker positions the pedal as working for both instruments.
What is the Acorn Amplifiers Conspiracy series?
The Conspiracy series is Acorn Amplifiers' line of effects pedals, and the Epstein Isn't Dead Op-Amp Boost/Distortion was announced as the next installment in that series.
Sources (1)
- Epstein Isn't Dead Op-Amp Boost/Distortion, Acorn Amplifiers