The Daring Audio Laser Cannon is a pure analog effect pedal for bass guitar, covering distortion and fuzz with blending and texture controls1. Daring Audio describes it as a versatile distortion and fuzz, and the pedal's controls are built around that idea: a Wave knob that controls the distortion and fuzz2, a blend knob that the company explains gives you the ability to emulate a studio mix by adding clean and heavy distortion together at once21, and an Energy switch to choose the diode type, giving either a tight precise overdrive or a classic compressed fuzz21.
What it does
The Laser Cannon is a bass distortion and fuzz controlled by the Wave knob, which handles the distortion and fuzz itself2. An Attack control adjusts the high end between sharp, round, and everything in between2. An Energy switch chooses the diode type, giving either a tight precise overdrive or a classic compressed fuzz2.
The control that sets the pedal apart for bass players is the blend knob. Daring explains that it gives you the ability to emulate a studio mix by adding clean and heavy distortion together at once2, so the low end of the clean signal stays intact under the driven tone.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Wave | Controls the distortion and fuzz2 |
| Attack | Adjusts the high end between sharp, round, and everything in between2 |
| Energy switch | Chooses the diode type, for a tight precise overdrive or a classic compressed fuzz2 |
| Blend | Adds clean and heavy distortion together at once, emulating a studio mix2 |
The Laser Cannon HD
A later version, the Laser Cannon HD, is built around a tweaked version of the original Laser Cannon distortion circuit. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as a Warm Heavy Distortion pedal and found that "the drive control provides everything from mild overdrive to raging fuzz via a tweaked version of the original Laser Can"3.
The HD adds a three-way diode selector that offers germanium, silicon, and FET distortion colors, and a pre-EQ control that works in tandem with a filter switch to set the hi-pass, low-pass, or band-pass frequency3. Of the silicon mode with the boost switch set to add even more distortion, the reviewer wrote: "With the boost switch set add even more distortion, I achieved vicious industrial fuzz reminiscent of Paul Barker, Paul Raven, and Thrones-era Joe Preston"3.
Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up the HD's strengths as "Solid and attractive build. Useful filters. Huge tonal range," and added that "The pre- and post-EQ controls are indispensible for fine-tuning highs and lows"3.
The Laser Cannon HD is a separate pedal from the original Laser Cannon covered here. Reviewers found it shared the family's strengths, calling out a "Solid and attractive build. Useful filters. Huge tonal range."3.
For players comparing options, the Laser Cannon sits among bass distortion and fuzz pedals, with the blend control doing the work that a separate clean blend unit otherwise would21.
Videos
DaringAudio
DaringAudio
DaringAudio
Questions
Is the Daring Audio Laser Cannon analog or digital?
The Laser Cannon is pure analog. Daring Audio described it as one of four unique high-design pure analog sound processing effect pedals for bass guitar players when the company launched the line in January 2011. That matters for bass players who want the character of analog clipping circuits rather than digital modeling.
What is the difference between the Laser Cannon and the Laser Cannon HD?
The Laser Cannon HD is a later version built around a tweaked version of the original Laser Cannon distortion circuit. It adds a three-way diode selector offering germanium, silicon, and FET distortion colors, plus pre- and post-EQ filtering, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found it supplied an excellent range of overdrive, distortion, and fuzz tones.
Sources (3)
- Daring Audio Launches With Line of Bass Effect Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2011-01-06
- Daring Audio Debuts with Bass Effects Pedal Line, No Treble, 2011-02-17
- Daring Audio Laser Cannon HD Review, Premier Guitar, 2014-04-20
