The Broughton Audio Scorpion is an overdrive pedal designed specifically with bassists in mind. Broughton Audio describes it as highly adaptive: it can be transparent, letting your inherent tone shine, or transformative, reshaping your signal into what the maker calls "a powerful, cutting bass tone"1.
What sets it apart from many bass overdrives is how it handles the clean signal. Instead of a clean blend, the Scorpion uses a resonant feedback circuit that lets the dynamics and punch of your clean signal come through while the drive does its work1.
The related Scorpion Deluxe is listed at US$215.002.
The controls: Depth and a three-band EQ
The Scorpion's control set centers on two things: how much of the low end gets clipped, and how the driven tone is shaped afterward1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth | Controls the low frequency clipping, from a lean, grindy tone to full on bass distortion. Increasing it clips more lows, making the signal thicker and heavier1 |
| Three-band EQ | Voiced to complement the bass guitar, giving what Broughton Audio calls a huge range of usable tones1 |
The Depth knob is the heart of the pedal for bass players. Where a typical overdrive clips the whole signal the same way, Depth lets you decide how much of the fundamental gets driven: back off for a lean grind that leaves the low end mostly intact, or push it for a thicker, heavier distortion1.
The three-band EQ then shapes the result. Broughton Audio voices it specifically for the bass guitar rather than as a generic guitar EQ adapted downward1.
How it differs from the Scorpion Deluxe
Broughton Audio also makes the Scorpion Deluxe, a preamp and overdrive pedal that shares the same Depth concept but adds features the standard Scorpion does not have2.
| Scorpion | Scorpion Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Overdrive pedal1 | Preamp and overdrive pedal2 |
| Depth knob | Low frequency clipping control1 | Same control, lean grind to full bass distortion2 |
| EQ | Three-band, voiced for bass1 | Bass +/-15 dB at 80 Hz (shelving), semi-parametric mid +/-15 dB over 200 Hz to 2 kHz, treble +/- 15 dB at 3 kHz (shelving)2 |
| Outputs | Not stated | Balanced Direct output and mono amp output, usable simultaneously2 |
| Cab sim | No | Based on modern bass cabs tuned in the low 50 Hz range, with highs rolling off just before 5 kHz and a subtle low end resonance leveling out into the low mids2 |
| Price | US$165.001 | US$215.002 |
The Deluxe's cab sim and balanced Direct output make it a recording and front-of-house tool as well as a pedalboard drive, since you can send a balanced signal to the mixer and the mono output to an amp at the same time2. The standard Scorpion is the simpler, cheaper option focused on the overdrive itself.
Power and practical details
The Scorpion runs on an external DC supply from 9 to 24 volts, using a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity. The supply is not included. Current draw is approximately 5 mA, low enough that it places little demand on a pedalboard power supply1.
Broughton Audio covers its products for one year to the original owner, with warranty repairs handled by emailing sales@broughtonaudio.com. Returns are accepted within 7 days of receiving the product: the buyer pays return shipping, and the refund is issued minus shipping cost once the product arrives back in new condition. Orders ship internationally via Canada Post, with shipping cost calculated at check-out1.
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Questions
Is the Broughton Audio Scorpion made for bass or guitar?
It is an overdrive pedal designed specifically with bassists in mind. Broughton Audio describes it as highly adaptive, able to stay transparent and let your inherent tone shine or reshape it into a powerful, cutting bass tone. Its three-band EQ is voiced to complement the bass guitar.
Is the Broughton Audio Scorpion true bypass?
Yes. Broughton Audio states that the Scorpion has a true bypass switch, so with the effect off your signal passes through without the pedal's circuitry in the path.
What voltage can the Broughton Audio Scorpion run on?
It accepts 9 to 24 volts from an external DC supply. The supply should use a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity, and it is not included with the pedal. Current draw is approximately 5 mA.
Does the Scorpion come with a power supply?
No. The DC power supply is not included, so you need to supply your own. It should be a standard Boss style connector with center negative polarity, and the pedal accepts 9 to 24 volts.
What is the warranty on the Broughton Audio Scorpion?
Broughton Audio covers its products for one year to the original owner. Warranty repairs are handled by emailing sales@broughtonaudio.com. Returns are also possible within 7 days of receiving the product, with the buyer paying return shipping and the refund issued minus shipping cost when the product arrives back in new condition.
Sources (2)
- Scorpion, Broughton Audio
- Scorpion Deluxe, Broughton Audio
