The Chase Bliss Condor HiFi is a limited-edition analog tone-shaping pedal that combines an overdrive circuit with a flexible EQ and filter section. It is a modern update of the original Condor, which Chase Bliss released in 2018 and later discontinued, and it arrived in early 2024 priced at $399123.
Where the original Condor was known for a distinctive clipping sound, the HiFi edition takes a different approach. It is built around OPA1662 op-amps on a new circuit board, which Chase Bliss says gives a cleaner signal path, a higher fidelity sound, minimized noise, more headroom and more dynamic range14. MusicRadar called the result "100 per cent analogue"1, while the drive section still runs from a sparkly boost to full-on soaring crunch3.
What the Condor HiFi does
The Condor HiFi is a tone-shaping overdrive pedal with EQ and gain-boosting functionality4. Its drive section lets you dial in a clean boost, grit or saturated crunch, and a gain section works with the EQ to change the drive character5. Pedal of the Day described the drive as "rich and responsive," covering everything from a sparkly boost to full-on soaring crunch3.
The EQ side is where much of the pedal's character lives. The Mids control can apply 18dB of boost or cut to a mid frequency you select with the Freq knob, and Chase Bliss suggests going heavy with the pre-gain bass control to really push the pedal, or using the post-gain mids and lowpass filter for what the maker calls "resonant punch"1.
"That Mids control can apply 18dB of boost or cut to your selected mid frequency via the Freq knob."
The pedal carries six dials: gain, frequency, volume, bass, mids and LPF2. Two footswitches handle the rest, one for drive and hold functions and one for bypassing2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets drive level; works with the EQ to change the drive character25 |
| Frequency | Selects the mid frequency targeted by the Mids control1 |
| Volume | Sets output level2 |
| Bass | Pre-gain bass control; Chase Bliss suggests running it heavy to push the pedal1 |
| Mids | Up to 18dB of boost or cut at the selected mid frequency1 |
| LPF | Lowpass filter; with post-gain mids gives "resonant punch"12 |
MIDI, expression and presets
Like other Chase Bliss pedals, the Condor HiFi carries the maker's advanced connectivity and customization options, including MIDI, CV and expression control, plus presets3. Guitar World confirmed that MIDI, CV and expression pedal controls are available, along with internal memory for banking presets2. That makes it a fit for players building a MIDI-controlled board or wanting to recall settings mid-song with an expression pedal.
A revised Condor in a limited run
The original Condor was part of the Chase Bliss lineup before its discontinuation1, and Guitar.com referred to it as "the now-discontinued Chase Bliss Condor" back in 20216. The HiFi edition brought the design back as a limited run in 2024, with a slightly arty, minimalist faceplate redesign compared with the original4.
The run itself was split between complete pedals and upgrade boards. Guitar World reported that 2,000 Condor HiFi pedals would be made, with the first 1,000 built and ready to ship at launch2. Gearnews reported 1,000 pedals available for shipping in the initial run, plus 1,000 HiFi circuit boards reserved for upgrade customers4. Guitar Pedal X added that any boards left over after the three month upgrade period would be built into HiFi pedal editions too7.
The Condor HiFi was a limited edition. Original Condor owners could upgrade to the HiFi circuit for $49 by sending their units to Chase Bliss, with 1,000 boards reserved for that purpose457.
How the HiFi differs from the original
The changes go beyond cosmetics. The power supply was swapped out for the one from the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MkII, which offers increased headroom4. The OPA1662 op-amps give the HiFi a cleaner and more dynamic character, with more headroom and dynamic range than the original, and the new circuit clips in a more traditional way, contrasting with the original Condor's characteristic clipping sound1.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson summed up the practical difference for players who lean on the pedal's shaping sections rather than its grit7:
"If you mainly use the EQ and Filter elements - then the newer lower noise, smoother breakup and higher headroom HiFi edition is actually a really decent upgrade."
Pedal of the Day also noted that addressing a distortion artifact in the original Condor was one of the reasons Chase Bliss made the Condor HiFi8.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Condor and the Condor HiFi?
The Condor HiFi is a modern update of the original Condor, a tone-shaping pedal released in 2018. It uses a new circuit board built around OPA1662 op-amps, which Chase Bliss says gives a higher fidelity sound with less noise, more headroom and more dynamic range. Its clipping character is entirely different from the original, described as more traditional, and the power supply was swapped for the one from the Preamp MKII.
Can I upgrade my original Chase Bliss Condor to the HiFi?
Yes. Original Condor owners could upgrade for $49 by sending their units to Chase Bliss. A thousand HiFi circuit boards were reserved for upgrades, and any boards left over after the three month upgrade period were set to be built into HiFi pedal editions instead.
How many Condor HiFi pedals were made?
Guitar World reported that 2,000 Condor HiFi pedals would be made, with the first 1,000 built and ready to ship at launch. Gearnews reported 1,000 pedals available for shipping in the initial run, plus 1,000 circuit boards reserved for upgrade customers, so the two accounts describe the same split from different angles.
Is the Chase Bliss Condor HiFi analog?
Yes. MusicRadar described it as 100 per cent analogue, and the HiFi part of the name comes from its OPA1662 op-amps, which Chase Bliss says deliver a higher fidelity, lower noise signal path than the original Condor. The pedal also adds digital control features, including MIDI, presets and expression control.
Sources (8)
- “Part EQ, part filter, and part overdrive, it's all there… a 100% analogue, all-in-one solution to crafting your core tone”: Chase Bliss's Condor HiFi takes flight, MusicRadar, 2024-02-23
- “An all-in-one solution to crafting your core tone”: The Chase Bliss Condor HiFi is the next generation of its “weird little EQ pedal” that it hopes you'll never want to turn off, Guitar World, 2024-02-26
- Chase Bliss Condor HiFi Analog Tone Bird, Pedal of the Day, 2024-03-03
- Meet the cleaner and more dynamic Chase Bliss Condor Hi-Fi, gearnews.com, 2024-02-22
- Bored of your 'board? Stomp this way for the must-have new guitar effects pedals of 2024, MusicRadar, 2024-03-28
- Review: Chase Bliss Audio Automatone CXM 1978, Guitar.com, 2021-01-27
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-02-22
- Chase Bliss Dirt Bird Limited Edition Overdrive Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2025-06-14
