The Airis Electric Dragon is a distortion pedal from Airis, a Canadian builder of hand-made stompboxes. It is actually two effects in one box: the right side is a Tube Screamer-based overdrive, and the left side is a circuit inspired by the TC Integrated Preamp. Each side has its own footswitch and its own volume control, and the two channels can be used independently or stacked, which the maker says gives three different tone combinations at your toe tips1.
What the two sides do
The left side, based on the TC Integrated Preamp, is described as providing clarity and headroom. The right side, the Tube Screamer-based overdrive, adds extra gain and a mid bump, pushing things into a sonic realm ranging from mid boost to ultra-overdriven territory1.
The overdrive side also carries a Klon-style power supply and buffers. The pedal's onboard bi-polar power supply provides what the maker calls a very Klon-like +18 volt / -9 volt setup, which it says adds the most clarity and headroom possible1.
The controls
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Both | Each half of the pedal features its own independent volume control1 |
| Gain | Right | At minimum, essentially a clean mid boost; turning it up adds dirt, saturation and crunchiness1 |
| Bite | Left | The bulk of the treble control; cranked up it adds a large amount of pick attack, crunch and bite, though too high gets noisy1 |
| Tight | Left | A reversed version of the original Low control; turn it up for a tighter tone that cuts mud out of low tunings1 |
| Tone | Right | An active high shelf control; at noon it has no effect on the tone, lower settings are darker and higher settings are brighter1 |
Power and build
The Electric Dragon is powered by a 2.1mm negative tip 9-volt DC adapter, which is sold separately. Because of the onboard bi-polar power supply, it requires 9 volts only, and the maker warns that higher voltage will damage it. Current draw is listed at 25 to 40 mA1.
The Electric Dragon needs 9 volts only. A higher voltage supply will damage the pedal, so keep it off higher-voltage outputs on multi-output supplies.
The pedal is built into a heavy duty yet lightweight diecast aluminum enclosure, using high quality, low tolerance components, Neutrik jacks and Alpha pots. Switching is true bypass with a heavy duty mechanical footswitch1.
Background
Airis hand builds the Electric Dragon in Canada, and the graphics are by Richard of Airis Effects and Airis Audio Technologies1. The pedal carries a 2 year warranty1.
Videos
Leon Todd
Metalhead Productions
Metalhead Productions
Questions
Is the Airis Electric Dragon true bypass?
Yes. The Electric Dragon uses true bypass switching with a heavy duty mechanical footswitch, according to the product page published by Delicious Audio. Each of the pedal's two sides has its own footswitch, so either circuit can be switched in and out on its own.
What power supply does the Airis Electric Dragon need?
The pedal runs on a 2.1mm negative tip 9-volt DC adapter, sold separately. Because it has an onboard bi-polar power supply, it requires 9 volts only, and the maker warns that higher voltage will damage it. Current draw is listed at 25 to 40 mA.
Can the two sides of the Electric Dragon be used together?
Yes. The two channels can be used independently or stacked, which the maker says gives three different tone combinations at your feet. Each half has its own footswitch and its own volume control, so you can run the preamp side alone, the overdrive side alone, or both together.
Does the Electric Dragon come with a power adapter?
No. The pedal is powered by a 2.1mm negative tip 9-volt DC adapter that is sold separately, so you will need to supply your own.
Where is the Airis Electric Dragon made?
The Electric Dragon is hand built in Canada. The graphics are by Richard of Airis Effects and Airis Audio Technologies.
How long is the warranty on the Electric Dragon?
The pedal carries a 2 year warranty, according to the product page published by Delicious Audio.
Sources (1)
- Airis Electric Dragon Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2022-08-17
