The Broughton Audio Locust Star is a distortion pedal built as an homage to the classic LM308 Rat distortion, combining a set of upgrades on top of that circuit. Broughton Audio describes it as a high-gain take on the design, with an active shelving EQ, a three-way Clip switch, and an internal charge pump that doubles the incoming supply voltage for more headroom1.
Broughton Audio says the Locust Star is a small batch pedal that will be limited in production1.
The controls
The Locust Star departs from the original Rat layout with an active shelving EQ using Bass and Treble knobs. Broughton Audio says this creates far more possible tonal profiles, and that the EQ is flat with both knobs at noon1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bass | Active shelving bass control; the maker says it provides more than enough low end for bass players, no clean blend needed1 |
| Treble | Ranges from bright and raspy all the way to a dark and warm tone1 |
| Range | Reduces the upper mid bump and lowers the amount of gain inherent to the original unit; maximum gain and upper mid bump when fully clockwise1 |
| Clip | Three-position switch: silicon diodes (down), LEDs (up), or no diodes (middle)1 |
The Clip switch is the pedal's main voicing control. In the no diodes position, the distortion is generated in the LM308 chip itself, which changes where the clipping comes from1.
Power and headroom
The pedal accepts 9 to 18 volts DC through a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity, and draws approximately 20 mA1. An internal charge pump doubles the incoming power supply voltage for even more headroom, so feeding it a higher voltage within that range gives the circuit additional room1.
Enclosure
The Locust Star uses an aluminum diecast enclosure with a transparent finish that shows all of the imperfections of the casting. Broughton Audio notes this gives it a rugged look and that units are not sorted for B-stock1. The pedal measures 4.77" long by 2.6" wide1.
Videos
jdjk7
Questions
What circuit is the Broughton Audio Locust Star based on?
Broughton Audio describes the Locust Star as an homage to the classic LM308 Rat distortion. It takes that circuit and adds a set of upgrades, including an active shelving EQ in place of the original tone section, a Range knob that reduces the original's upper mid bump and inherent gain, and a three-position Clip switch that changes the clipping diodes.
Is the Locust Star true bypass?
Yes. According to Broughton Audio's product page, the Locust Star has a true bypass switch, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is switched off.
What does the Clip switch do on the Locust Star?
The three-position Clip switch varies the clipping between standard silicon diodes in the down position, LEDs in the up position, and no diodes in the middle position. In the no diodes position, the distortion is generated in the LM308 chip itself, which changes the character of the overdrive.
Does the Locust Star work for bass?
Broughton Audio says it does. The maker states that the Bass control provides more than enough low end for bass players, with no clean blend needed. The pedal's active shelving EQ and the charge pump's extra headroom are part of what makes that possible.
What power supply does the Locust Star need?
The pedal accepts 9 to 18 volts DC through a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity. It draws approximately 20 mA. An internal charge pump doubles the incoming supply voltage for more headroom, so a higher voltage input gives the circuit even more room to work.
How much does the Locust Star cost?
Broughton Audio lists the Locust Star at US$190.00 on its product page.
Sources (1)
- Locust Star, Broughton Audio
