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Basic Audio Shore Bird
Illustration, not a photograph. Details may differ from the real product.
Basic Audio

Basic Audio Shore Bird

Distortion
List price
$200
Key facts
TypeDistortion effects pedal1
MakerBasic Audio (John Lyons)12
CircuitBased on the Pro Co Rat1
ControlsLevel, Fuzz, Tone, Fat2
Power9V DC, center negative, with battery snap1

The Basic Audio Shore Bird is a compact distortion pedal from Basic Audio, built on the Pro Co Rat circuit. It is John Lyons' take on the Rat, with an added Fat control as its distinguishing feature, and it carries the familiar Rat-style control set of Level, Fuzz, Tone and Fat.12

Controls

ControlWhat it does
LevelOutput volume2
FuzzDistortion/gain amount2
ToneTone shaping2
FatAdded low cut for a leaner, more cutting tone in higher gain settings1

The Fat knob is what sets the Shore Bird apart from a stock Rat-style pedal. Basic Audio describes it as an added low-cut control for "a leaner more cutting tone in higher gain settings," which lets a player thin out the low end when the gain is pushed.1

Power

The Shore Bird runs on 9V DC with a center negative jack, the standard for pedalboard power supplies. Basic Audio states that all of its pedals use this arrangement and also include a battery snap, so the pedal can run from a battery as well as a supply.1

Price and availability

Basic Audio ships the Shore Bird to the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.1 The pedal is John Lyons' take on the Rat, with an extra Fat control, and pedal colors are subject to change.12

Basic Audio notes that pedal colors are subject to change, so the enclosure finish may vary from unit to unit.1

Videos

Basic Audio Shore Bird
John Lyons
Basic Audio Shore Bird Demo
Jurfin
Basic Audio Tourbox 2014: Comparison of the Shore Bird, Alter Destiny, and Overtdrive
nerdbottin

Questions

What circuit is the Basic Audio Shore Bird based on?

Basic Audio states the Shore Bird is based on the Pro Co Rat, the classic Rat-style distortion circuit. Designer John Lyons added an extra Fat control to the familiar Level, Fuzz and Tone layout, making it his own take on the Rat with a low-cut knob for leaner, more cutting tones at higher gain settings.

What does the Fat knob do on the Shore Bird?

The Fat knob is a low-cut control. Basic Audio describes it as a way to get a leaner, more cutting tone in higher gain settings, so you can thin out the low end when the Fuzz control is pushed hard and keep the pedal from getting muddy.

Can the Basic Audio Shore Bird run on a battery?

Yes. Basic Audio says all of its pedals use a center negative 9V DC jack and have a battery snap, so the Shore Bird can run either from a standard 9V DC power supply or from a battery connected via the snap.

Who designed the Basic Audio Shore Bird?

The Shore Bird comes from Basic Audio, the pedal company run by John Lyons. Writing in a 2024 buying guide of Rat-style distortion pedals, Stefan Karlsson of Guitar Pedal X described it as John Lyons' take on the Rat, with the extra Fat control as its distinguishing feature.

How much does the Basic Audio Shore Bird cost?

Basic Audio's product page lists the Shore Bird from $200.00 USD as of October 2026. A 2024 Guitar Pedal X buying guide also listed the Shore Bird LM308N Distortion at $200, or £150 in the UK.

Sources (2)
  1. Shore Bird, Basic Audio
  2. Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-08-30