The Hamstead Soundworks Zenith is an EQ, compressor and boost pedal in one compact box, designed by Peter Hamstead and built in Great Britain1. Hamstead describes it as "a powerful EQ, Boost, and Compressor delivered in one compact and incredibly flexible package"1. The idea is that instead of three separate pedals shaping your core tone, one unit covers the always-on foundation of your sound, from subtle tone shaping and compression through to what RockBoard's PedalPedia calls "extreme sound sculpting and sustain beyond the natural realm"2.
The signal path is all analog, but digital control handles the switching, which is what makes the pedal flexible: the EQ and compression circuits can be accessed independently, all from a single footswitch2. Delicious Audio called it "a studio-grade clean boost/EQ/Compressor kind of swiss army knife pedal"3.
An EQ, boost and compressor in one pedal
The Zenith was announced in November 2020, when Guitar World reported that the British boutique company's new stompbox boasted intuitive controls and what it called "Secret Switching, an all-new footswitch design", with preorders open at $3494. Delicious Audio had reported the pedal opening for preorder earlier that month, noting it had been missed at NAMM3.
The three circuits break down like this:
- EQ: an active three-band EQ with what the maker calls an amp-like and natural feel3. The Bass, Middle and Treble knobs each offer 15dB of cut or boost5.
- Compressor: Hamstead says its compression circuit has a very fast attack and medium/long release, and is designed to work with any setup and remain very transparent1.
- Boost: the Level control, with the pedal usable as a clean boost in its own right5.
Delicious Audio's buying guide framed the pedal as "An EQ/Compressor/Boost designed to be a functional building block of your core tone"6. Guitar World's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, found it "fully versatile as an always-on tonal building block, a switched-in variation, or a combination of both", concluding it "could be the perfect complement to your guitar and amp overall verdict"5.
The controls and switching modes
The full control set, as listed in Guitar World's review, is: Comp, Blend, Level, Bass, Middle, Treble, a Q switch, a Frequency switch, a Circuit Order switch, an internal trim pot for the Compressor Master Level, and the bypass footswitch5. The Treble knob adjusts what the reviewer called the natural airy top-end5.
The Middle control is where most of the EQ flexibility lives. It carries three-position Q and Frequency switches, which Hamstead says offer "a huge amount of flexibility"1.
Routing options
The signal path is all analog, but three selectable routing options and digital switching technology let you choose how the EQ and compressor relate to each other5:
| Routing | What it does |
|---|---|
| Serial (either order) | EQ and compression run one after the other, in whichever order you set5 |
| Parallel | The signal is split so both circuits get it equally, letting you mix a compressed and an EQ'd version layered together5 |
The five switching modes
Hold the footswitch down for a couple of seconds and the pedal enters its programming mode, where you scroll through five switching options15:
- Standard: both on, both off1
- Flip/Flop: the footswitch alternates between EQ and comp, which Guitar World noted is useful if you're running the pedal with a separate switcher for bypass15
- Comp always on1
- EQ always on1
- Cycle: subsequent presses go from bypass to comp on to EQ on to both on15
Independent switching of the EQ and comp circuits is also possible via an external footswitch, connected through the pedal's Control input5.
The OptoKick footswitch
The single footswitch is The GigRig's OptoKick, chosen for what Hamstead calls "excellent reliability"1. It is a silent optical switch, with no mechanical contacts to click or wear, and it is the one control that accesses the EQ and compression circuits independently2. The "secret switching" is the programming trick: hold the footswitch down for a couple of seconds and then use it to scroll through all the modes5.
Power and connections
The Zenith runs on DC power, center negative, at three possible settings: 9V drawing 280mA, 12V drawing 200mA, or 18V drawing 160mA1.
At 280mA on a 9V supply, the Zenith draws more current than a typical analog pedal, so a dedicated output on a power supply is a safer choice than a low-current daisy chain.
Connections are a standard input, a standard output and a standard Control input for the external footswitch5. Input impedance is 600K Ohms1.
Manual and support
Hamstead provides an online manual for the Zenith, which the maker says will include written guides and tutorials, example settings, and videos7.
Videos
R.J. Ronquillo
Shawn Tubbs
Eirik Stordrange
Questions
Who designs Hamstead Soundworks pedals?
The Zenith's circuit was designed by Peter Hamstead, who also gives the company its name. Hamstead Soundworks is a British boutique builder, and the Zenith is designed and built in Great Britain.
Is the Hamstead Zenith analog or digital?
The signal path is all analog. The EQ and compression circuits are 100 percent analogue, but digital control handles the switching, which is what lets one footswitch access the circuits independently and scroll through the pedal's five switching modes.
What does the OptoKick footswitch do?
The OptoKick, made by The GigRig, is a silent optical footswitch with no mechanical contacts to wear out. It switches the EQ and compressor circuits independently, and holding it down for a couple of seconds enters the programming mode where you choose between the five switching options.
Where is the Hamstead Zenith made?
The Zenith is designed and built in Great Britain. Guitar World's review of the pedal, which calls it the Zenith Amplitude Controller, likewise lists its origin as the UK.
Does the Zenith come with a warranty?
Yes. Hamstead Soundworks covers the Zenith with a 5 Year Limited Warranty, according to the maker's product page.
Sources (7)
- Zenith | Hamstead Soundworks, Hamstead Soundworks
- Zenith Amplitude Controller by Hamstead, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Preorder Now: Hamstead Zenith Boost/Compressor, Delicious Audio, 2020-11-05
- Hamstead Soundworks offers up an all-in-one tone-shaping solution with the Zenith EQ, compressor and boost pedal, Guitar World, 2020-11-25
- Hampstead Soundworks Zenith Amplitude Controller review, Guitar World, 2021-05-21
- 2023 UPDATE! Best EQ Pedals For Guitar: Graphic & Parametric, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-13
- Zenith Manual, Hamstead Soundworks
