The Audiostorm Grand Classic is a high-gain distortion pedal from Audiostorm, voiced around three power amp styles: EL84, EL34 and 6L6. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as "a genuinely new take on the genre with so much added smarts", and noted that "the basic concept of the Grand Classic is the same - a High Gain Distortion"1. It sits in the wider field of distortion pedals as an amp-like design rather than a straight gain stage.
Controls
The pedal carries a long control set for a distortion, covering level, voicing and several bands of tone shaping2:
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Level | Output volume |
| Amp Voicing | Selects EL84 > EL34 > 6L6 |
| Drive | Gain amount |
| Mids | Midrange |
| High | Treble |
| Lomids | Lo-Mids |
| Growl | Bass Boost |
| Crunch | Mid Boost |
It is designed to clean up via the guitar volume and includes EXP/CV access, so an expression pedal or control voltage can reach into the pedal1.
There is an internal TP31 switch below the MDK board / slots which allows you to set the default standby status: Off to the Left, On to the Right2.
Background
Audiostorm sells the Grand Classic High Gain Distortion from £149 / $188, and Guitar Pedal X describes it as a passion project that grew beyond its original concept, arriving with a new control topology and accessories2. The pedal's controls cover Level, an Amp Voicing selector stepping through EL84, EL34 and 6L6, Drive, Mids, High, Lo-Mids, Growl (bass boost) and Crunch (mid boost), and an internal TP31 switch below the MDK board sets the default standby status, off to the left and on to the right12.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson was broadly positive, with one reservation about output level: "my only tiny niggle is that I feel it needs a little more output volume - which is why I mostly post clean boost it when"1. A boost pedal after it is one way he addressed that.
In the publication's 2024 roundup of new distortion pedals, the verdict was stronger: "Lydia Sean's Grand Classic is a fantastic execution of a great amp-like distortion - where the full experience comes in"2.
Videos
Audiostorm
Audiostorm
Audiostorm
Questions
What is the Audiostorm Grand Classic?
It is a high-gain distortion pedal from Audiostorm, voiced around three power amp styles: EL84, EL34 and 6L6. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it a genuinely new take on the high-gain distortion genre, and in the site's 2024 roundup described it as a fantastic execution of a great amp-like distortion. It is designed to clean up with the guitar volume knob and includes expression or CV access.
How much does the Audiostorm Grand Classic cost?
Guitar Pedal X listed the Grand Classic at from £149 / $188 as of December 2024. That figure comes from the publication's best new distortion pedals of the year roundup, which grouped the pedal with the Moogy Filter and MXP-1 at that starting price.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-17
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-17
