The Kasleder FX Mean Bone Distortion is a distortion pedal built to bring what Pedal of the Day described as "a pushed-amp, tube preamp kind-of sound to the table"1. Rather than a flat slab of fuzz or a scooped metal drive, it aims at the sound of an amp already working hard, and its controls are arranged around that idea: a wide-ranging Gain, a Mode switch that changes the clipping character, a Bass switch, and a Tone that shapes treble around whichever mode you are in.
Controls and switches
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Ranges from fine, just-breaking-up amp tones to thick, dense, high-gain distortion1 |
| Tone | Either boosts or cuts your treble1 |
| Volume | Changes according to the mode you are currently in1 |
| Mode switch | Three clipping options1 |
| Bass switch | Choice between Minimum, Medium and Maximum bass presence1 |
The Mode switch is the heart of the pedal, and Pedal of the Day laid out its three positions like this1:
- Position 1 (middle): more open, least compressed, tight mids, hot-rodded Plexi tones
- Position 2 (down): asymmetrical, tube distortion, JCM800-ish
- Position 3 (up): dense, compressed, 90's grunge feel
Because the Volume control changes according to the current mode, switching modes also changes the pedal's output level, so it is worth rebalancing when you move between positions1.
Headroom and response
Inside the circuit, an internal charge pump sets the headroom to maximum, which Pedal of the Day said makes for "an incredibly fast and clear response"1. The same review called the Mean Bone a transparent-sounding circuit, meaning the character of your guitar and amp comes through the gain rather than being masked by it1.
How it sits with other pedals
Pedal of the Day's verdict on how it works in a rig:
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that the Mean Bone stacks up with other pedals wonderfully and cleans up gorgeously with the guitar's volume knob1.
That volume-knob cleanup, together with the Gain's low end of just-breaking-up tones, puts the Mean Bone in territory that overlaps with overdrive pedals at its lower settings, while the denser Mode 3 positions carry it into fuller distortion sounds1.
A special Limited Edition Mean Bone was made for the Klangfarbe Shop in Vienna, Austria1.
Videos
Kasleder Fx
Kasleder Fx
Kasleder Fx
Questions
What does the Mode switch do on the Kasleder FX Mean Bone?
The Mode switch gives you three clipping options. Position 1 (middle) is described as more open and the least compressed, with tight mids and hot-rodded Plexi tones. Position 2 (down) is asymmetrical tube distortion with a JCM800-ish character. Position 3 (up) is dense and compressed, with a 90's grunge feel. The Volume control changes according to the mode you are currently in.
What does the Bass switch do on the Mean Bone Distortion?
The Bass switch lets you choose between Minimum, Medium and Maximum bass presence, so you can tailor how much low end the pedal keeps as you move between the three clipping modes and different guitars or amps.
Does the Mean Bone Distortion clean up with the guitar's volume knob?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review found that the Mean Bone stacks up with other pedals wonderfully and cleans up gorgeously with the guitar's volume knob, which is a large part of its pushed-amp character.
What is the charge pump in the Mean Bone Distortion for?
The pedal has an internal charge pump that sets the headroom to maximum. According to Pedal of the Day, this makes for an incredibly fast and clear response, keeping the circuit articulate even at higher gain settings.
Sources (1)
- Kasleder FX Mean Bone Distortion, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2020-11-09