The Anasounds High Voltage Plexi Distortion is a distortion pedal from the French maker Anasounds, built around the sound of a Marshall Plexi pushed to its limit and aimed squarely at AC/DC territory. Anasounds pitches it as a way to "find back the tone from ac/dc with this plexi distortion pedal," and the pedal was developed by the Anasounds team, advised by fans of the band1.
The design story is unusual. Anasounds says the sound was originally supposed to be close to a Marshall Plexi pushed to 11, but the team ended up building it from a frequency analysis of "It's a Long Way to the Top (If U Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" from the album High Voltage1. Pedal of the Day's 2020 review put the intent more simply: the pedal "was designed to emulate Malcolm Young and his tone," the rhythm guitarist whose chord work anchored AC/DC's records2.
The controls
The external control set is four knobs and a switch: Bass Cut, Gain, Out and Tone, plus the Bass switch4. Inside the pedal there are two further adjustments, Treble Cut and Voicing1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Runs from a slight transparent overdrive to a very powerful distortion1 |
| Out | Sets the output volume; Anasounds says it offers close to 40V of dynamics1 |
| Tone | Tone pot, paired with the Bass switch1 |
| Bass Cut (switch) | Up kills the bass so you stand out in any mix; down keeps the low end chugging and massive2 |
| Treble Cut (internal) | Rolls off treble; activated by default1 |
| Voicing (internal) | Adjustable between modern and vintage-type flavors2 |
The Gain knob is the heart of the pedal's range. Anasounds describes it as starting from a slight transparent overdrive and finishing on a very powerful distortion, which means one knob spans boost, overdrive and full distortion sounds1. Pedal of the Day confirmed that range from the playing side: with the Gain rolled back a bit the pedal gives a fat, warm overdrive, and with the Gain down and the Output pumped up it works as a sweet-sounding boost2.
The Bass switch is the feature Anasounds leans on hardest. The maker calls it a "bass killer switch" and says that thanks to it, chords are powerful and easily stand out in the mix1. Pedal of the Day described the two positions in practical terms: up, it kills the bass and lets you stand out in any mix; down, it keeps your low end chugging and massive2. For a player chasing Malcolm Young-style rhythm work, the up position is the relevant one, since cutting bass keeps big chords from turning muddy at band volume.
The internal Treble Cut switch ships activated by default, and Anasounds explains why: when you listen to Malcolm's song, there is nothing over 4 kHz4. In other words, the stock voicing already rolls off the top end to match the rhythm tone the pedal is built around, and a player who wants more brightness can open the pedal and switch it off. The internal Voicing control adds a further choice between modern and vintage-type flavors2.
One more adjustment Pedal of the Day highlighted is cosmetic rather than tonal: the LED intensity is adjustable, so you can set how bright the indicator light glows2.
What Pedal of the Day said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the High Voltage Plexi Distortion on 17 August 2020 and was positive about it. The review described it as based around the Marshall Plexi, making chords stand out in any mix, and said it "conjures up tones reminiscent of the boys from down under, with a couple added twists and turns" that make it an extremely usable effect2.
"A true powerhouse of a pedal, the Anasounds High Voltage"
The reviewer also noted the three main controls, Output, Tone and Gain, as recognizable and easy to dial in, with the Treble Cut and Voicing adjustments offering further customization2.
Versions and related pedals
Anasounds has issued the High Voltage circuit in more than one form. A limited edition combined one Savage overdrive and one High Voltage in the same enclosure, with Anasounds describing the pairing in amp terms: the Savage overdrive as a dynamic amp, the High Voltage overdrive as a Plexi amp, and the two together as a JCM800-like amp5. The standard High Voltage is sold under Anasounds' Origins Pedals line3.
Anasounds lists the High Voltage on its site, so check the maker's site for current details1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Julien Bitoun - Guitare Obsession
Questions
Can the Anasounds High Voltage Plexi be used as a boost?
Yes. Pedal of the Day found that with the Gain turned down and the Output pumped up, the High Voltage works as a sweet-sounding boost. The Gain control itself starts from a slight transparent overdrive, so the pedal covers boost, low-gain overdrive and full distortion from the same set of knobs.
What does the Bass switch do on the High Voltage Plexi?
The Bass switch cuts the low end. In the up position it kills the bass so chords stand out in a mix, which Anasounds calls its bass killer switch. In the down position it keeps the low end chugging and massive, which suits heavier rhythm playing.
Where is the Anasounds High Voltage Plexi made?
France. Anasounds states that all of its pedals are handmade in France, and Pedal of the Day described the High Voltage as coming from the maker's team there. The pedal uses OPA integrated circuits from Texas Instruments.
What does the Treble Cut control do?
Treble Cut is an internal switch that rolls off high frequencies, and it ships activated by default. Anasounds says it is on because there is nothing over 4 kHz in Malcolm Young's playing, so leaving it engaged keeps the pedal closer to that rhythm-guitar tone.
Does the High Voltage Plexi work as a low-gain overdrive?
Yes. The Gain control starts from a slight transparent overdrive and finishes on a very powerful distortion, and Pedal of the Day found that with the Gain rolled back a bit the pedal gives a fat, warm overdrive.
Sources (5)
- ANASOUNDS, Anasounds, 2026-08-07
- Anasounds High Voltage Plexi Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2020-08-18
- ANASOUNDS, Anasounds, 2021-02-04
- ANASOUNDS, Anasounds, 2026-05-15
- SAVAGE & HIGH VOLTAGE, Anasounds, 2022-07-05
