The Supernaut Distortion is a distortion pedal from Center Street Electronics, a small builder, aimed squarely at heavy, crunchy Stoner, Doom and Drone metal sounds. It is hand-built, and its distinguishing feature is a Shape knob that selects between six different modes, each with its own EQ character, backed by a Treble and Bass EQ section.1
What it does to your sound
The Supernaut is built for heavy styles. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, put it plainly in his 2015 review1:
"If you want heavy, crunchy, Stoner/Doom/Drone metal sounds, this might just be the only pedal you'll need"
The six Shape modes are what give the pedal its range. As the reviewer described them, "Some are punchy, some are low-end focused, some are just straight rock, but each one has a different characteristic." That spread means the pedal is not locked to one flavor of heavy: a low-end focused mode suits doom and drone, while the punchier and straight rock settings reach toward more conventional overdrive and rock territory.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shape | Selects from six different modes, which help to shape the overall tone of the EQ1 |
| Treble | Part of the EQ section, for dialing in specific frequencies and cutting others out1 |
| Bass | Part of the EQ section, for dialing in specific frequencies and cutting others out1 |
| Volume | Sets output level; "about what you'd expect"1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion; "about what you'd expect"1 |
The Volume and Gain controls, in the reviewer's words, "do exactly what you think they do," so most of the tonal shaping happens with the Shape knob and the Treble and Bass knobs.1
Build and what reviewers said
The Supernaut is hand-built, and the reviewer described it as "tough as nails and a true workhorse for your pedalboard." His overall impression was favorable from the start: the pedal "turned my head around almost instantly, and the rest of the time testing out and reviewing this orange and white beast was an absolute pleasure."1
The Supernaut Distortion comes from a small builder, and the only published review on record dates from May 2015. Availability of small-batch hand-built pedals can change over time.
Videos
Center Street Electronics
MrExcane
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Shape knob do on the Center Street Supernaut?
The Shape knob lets you select from six different modes, which help to shape the overall tone of the EQ. According to Pedal of the Day's reviewer, some modes are punchy, some are low-end focused, and some are just straight rock, but each one has a different characteristic, so the knob is the main tool for steering the pedal's voice.
How many modes does the Supernaut Distortion have?
Six. The Shape knob selects between six different modes, each with its own character. The reviewer at Pedal of the Day described the range as spanning punchy settings, low-end focused settings and straight rock voices, giving the pedal more tonal spread than a simple gain-and-tone distortion.
Is the Center Street Electronics Supernaut hand-built?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's 2015 review describes the Supernaut Distortion as hand-built, and calls it tough as nails and a true workhorse for your pedalboard. Center Street Electronics is a small builder, and hand construction is part of how the pedal is presented.
What genres is the Supernaut Distortion suited to?
The Supernaut Distortion is aimed at heavy, crunchy Stoner, Doom and Drone metal sounds. Pedal of the Day's reviewer went as far as saying that if you want those sounds, this might just be the only pedal you'll need, though its straight rock modes give it some range beyond metal.
What color is the Supernaut Distortion?
The Supernaut Distortion has an orange and white enclosure. Pedal of the Day's reviewer referred to it as this orange and white beast in his 2015 review of the pedal.
Sources (1)
- Center Street Electronics Supernaut Distortion, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-05-11