The Audio Cultivation Project Fourth Solid-State Distortion is a distortion pedal aimed at the brasher, trashier character of solid-state amplifiers. It is the maker's fourth solid-state distortion design, built on a hybrid transistor plus op-amp topology, and Guitar Pedal X categorizes it under Distortion, PreAmp, Overdrive and Drive1. For players chasing a garage-punk and rock sound, Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson places it adjacent to the Music Man 112 RD, Epiphone Studio 10s and Silvertone 1464 solid-state amps1.
What the Fourth does
The Fourth sits in the distortion and overdrive territory, but its stated aim is specific: a take on those trashier-sounding solid-state amps rather than a conventional tube-amp style drive. The hybrid transistor plus op-amp circuit is the means to that end, per the Guitar Pedal X review1.
"Audio Cultivation Projects' Fourth Solid-State Distortion is a great take on those trashier sounding solid state amps."
The controls: Gain, Output, Shape and three toggles
The pedal starts from a fairly conventional control layout of Output / Level, Gain and Shape, with Shape acting as a bass EQ1. Three toggle switches then shape the low end, the treble and the decay character.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output / Level | Sets the output level1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive1 |
| Shape | Bass EQ1 |
| DEEP toggle | Adjusts which bass frequencies are amplified in the first gain stage: middle for the least, flipped down for the most, up in between1 |
| DARK toggle | Adjusts the treble response: middle for the brightest, flipped down for the darkest, up in between1 |
| CHOKE toggle | Creates a short in the circuit which accentuates the trashy decay: middle is wide open, up gives the most choked, low-biased gated sounds, down is slightly gated with a buzzy decay1 |
The toggles are the pedal's distinguishing feature. Where most drive pedals confine voicing to knobs, the Fourth puts bass and treble response on three-way switches and adds a Choke control that changes how notes fall apart, from wide open to gated1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's review, published 11 March 2025, was favorable on both appearance and sound1.
"This is a really cool looking / sounding pedal which deserves some support."
The reviewer cites the elegant design, and the pedal's Drive / Distortion output profile, overall design and sound as its appeal1.
Availability
The Fourth was available for orders on the Audio Cultivation Project's webstore at the time of the March 2025 review, priced at $2291.
Videos
The Audio Cultivation Project
Boring Gear Reviews
Strazburg
Questions
What do the Choke, Deep and Dark toggles do on the Audio Cultivation Project Fourth?
The Deep toggle adjusts which bass frequencies are amplified in the first gain stage: middle for the least, flipped down for the most, up in between. The Dark toggle adjusts the treble response, with the middle position brightest, flipped down darkest and up in between. The Choke toggle creates a short in the circuit that accentuates the trashy decay: middle is wide open, up gives the most choked, low-biased gated sounds, and down is slightly gated with a buzzy decay.
How much does the Audio Cultivation Project Fourth cost?
Guitar Pedal X's March 2025 review lists the Fourth at $229, available for orders on the Audio Cultivation Project's webstore.
Is the Audio Cultivation Project Fourth a fuzz or a distortion?
It is a distortion pedal, not a fuzz. Guitar Pedal X categorizes it under Distortion, PreAmp, Overdrive and Drive, and describes it as a take on trashier-sounding solid-state amps using a hybrid transistor plus op-amp topology.
Where can I buy the Audio Cultivation Project Fourth?
As of the March 2025 review, the Fourth was available for orders on the Audio Cultivation Project's webstore.
Sources (1)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-03-11
