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Circus Freak Lion Tamer
Photo: Guitar World
Circus Freak

Circus Freak Lion Tamer

Compressor
Key facts
TypeCompressor/sustainer pedal1
MakerCircus Freak12
ControlsThree knobs, with Volume acting as make-up gain1
EnclosureAluminum and stainless steel1
Power9-volt battery, or 9- or 18-volt adapter1
Street price$179.95 (as of the November 2013 review)1

The Circus Freak Lion Tamer is a compressor/sustainer pedal: a three-knob unit that evens out a signal's dynamics and adds sustain. Premier Guitar covered its announcement as part of Circus Freak's new pedal line in 2013, and Guitar World reviewed it later that year.12

What it does

As a compressor, the Lion Tamer reduces the difference between a player's quietest and loudest notes, which is how it produces its sustain. Guitar World described it as "a three-knob compressor/sustainer pedal," with the Volume knob acting as make-up gain, the control that brings the compressed signal back up to playing level.1

The reviewer's verdict on its tone was favorable on the point that matters most for a compressor: "Like any good compressor, The Lion Tamer didn't tamper with the EQ of my signal." In other words, he found it compressed the signal without coloring its frequency balance.1

Build and mounting

The pedal is surrounded by aluminum and stainless steel. Circus Freak also gave it what Guitar World called a unique rail-mount bottom, which makes it convenient to tuck cables under the pedal or mount it to a pedalboard.1

Power

The Lion Tamer can be powered by a 9-volt battery as well as a 9- or 18-volt adapter, so it fits most pedalboard power supplies.1

The 18-volt adapter option means the pedal can run at a higher supply voltage than many pedals; check what your power supply delivers before plugging in.

For where a compressor sits on a board and what it does alongside other dynamics and tone tools, see Compressor Pedals.

Videos

Circus Freak LION TAMER Compressor pedal demo with RS GUITARWORKS Tele
gearmanndude

Questions

How is the Lion Tamer powered?

The Lion Tamer can be powered by a 9-volt battery as well as a 9- or 18-volt adapter, according to Guitar World's review. That gives players flexibility on a pedalboard or when running it from a shared supply.

Does the Lion Tamer change your tone?

Guitar World's reviewer found that, like any good compressor, the Lion Tamer did not tamper with the EQ of the signal, describing it as EQ transparent. The Volume knob acts as make-up gain to bring the compressed signal back up to level.

Sources (2)
  1. Review: The Lion Tamer Compression and Sustain Pedal by Circus Freak, Guitar World, 2013-11-13
  2. Circus Freak Music Announces New Pedal Line, Premier Guitar, 2013-02-06