The Broughton Audio Ascalon is an original distortion pedal designed for bass guitar, with the maker stating that the lows and mids stay fully present and that it works great on guitar too. Broughton describes its character as "rugged and grindy saturation with a full low end and cutting top end"1. It sits among the maker's dirt pedals alongside the Broughton Audio Sentinel, Broughton Audio Locust Star and Broughton Audio Chimera, and belongs to the wider family of distortion pedals.
The Ascalon sold out on March 20th, and Broughton Audio says another batch is possible if there are enough requests, asking anyone who wanted one to click "Notify When Available" on the product page1.
The circuit: six cascaded transistors from 1970s amps
The Ascalon's circuitry cascades the signal across 6 transistors, each uniquely boosting and distorting the signal on the way through1. Rather than modeling a single amp, Broughton says the design channels the iconic transistor amplifiers of the 1970s, including the Peavey F800B and the Traynor TS-50B1. For a player, that lineage points at the solid-state bass amps of that era, and the maker's claim that the lows and mids are fully present is aimed at keeping a bass signal intact under distortion1.
Controls and power
The pedal keeps its control set simple: a tone knob and the distortion circuit itself, with a true bypass switch on top1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tone | Tilt style EQ. At noon the response is neutral. Turning clockwise boosts the highs and cuts lows; counter-clockwise cuts highs and boosts lows1 |
| Footswitch | True bypass switching1 |
Power is flexible. The pedal accepts 9 to 24 volts DC with center negative polarity, and the DC supply should be a standard Boss style connector. Current draw is approximately 5 mA1.
With a 9 to 24 volt DC range and a draw of approximately 5 mA, the Ascalon is light on any standard pedalboard supply1.
Buying, returns and warranty
The Ascalon is listed at US$180.001. Broughton Audio ships internationally via Canada Post, with the shipping cost appearing at check-out1.
The maker's policies, as stated on the product page:
- Returns: email sales@broughtonaudio.com within 7 days of receiving the product. The buyer pays return shipping, and the refund is issued minus shipping when the product is received in new condition1
- Warranty: products are covered for one year to the original owner. For warranty repairs, email sales@broughtonaudio.com1
Questions
Is the Broughton Audio Ascalon made for bass or guitar?
Broughton Audio designed the Ascalon for bass guitar, and says the lows and mids stay fully present. The maker also states that it works great on guitar, so players of either instrument can use it as a distortion stage.
What amps is the Ascalon circuit based on?
According to Broughton Audio, the Ascalon channels the iconic transistor amplifiers of the 1970s, including the Peavey F800B and the Traynor TS-50B. The circuit cascades the signal across six transistors, each boosting and distorting it in turn.
How does the Ascalon's tilt EQ work?
The tone control is a tilt style EQ. At noon the response is neutral. Turning it clockwise boosts the highs and cuts the lows, while turning it counter-clockwise cuts the highs and boosts the lows.
Is the Ascalon true bypass?
Yes. Broughton Audio states that the Ascalon has a true bypass switch, so the pedal does not affect your signal when it is switched off.
What voltage does the Ascalon run on?
The pedal accepts 9 to 24 volts DC with center negative polarity, using a standard Boss style connector. Current draw is approximately 5 mA.
What is Broughton Audio's return policy?
To initiate a return, email sales@broughtonaudio.com within 7 days of receiving the product. The buyer pays return shipping, and the refund is issued minus shipping once the pedal is received in new condition.
Sources (1)
- Ascalon | Broughton Audio, Broughton Audio
