The Kleissonic Lucid is a fuzz pedal from Kleissonic Boutique Pedals, announced by Guitar Interactive Magazine in April 2016. The magazine described it as "a unique fuzz pedal," and its main departure from the usual fuzz layout is the control set: instead of a conventional Gain or Fuzz knob, the Lucid carries a single Harmonics knob that adjusts the harmonic consistency and range of the signal1. For a player, that puts the Lucid closer to a one-control fuzz voice than a multi-knob distortion, and it sits in the wider family of fuzz pedals rather than the smoother territory of overdrive pedals or distortion pedals.
Controls
The Lucid's front panel is deliberately simple. Guitar Interactive Magazine's report on the launch describes one knob doing the tonal work1:
"The Harmonics knob adjusts the harmonic consistency and range of the signal"
Where most fuzzes give you a gain or fuzz control plus a level and tone, the Lucid's Harmonics knob takes that role, shaping how the fuzz's harmonics are distributed across the signal. The magazine also highlights a second way to shape the gain that does not involve the pedal at all1:
"Gain can be adjusted by the volume control of the guitar, without changing the overall volume level."
That is a practical feature on stage: with the pedal set where you want it, rolling your guitar's volume back thins out the fuzz's gain for cleaner rhythm parts, and rolling it up brings the full fuzz back, all without the pedal's output level moving1.
Power and impedance
The Lucid runs from a battery or a center negative tip supply at 9 to 18 volts DC, so it works with standard pedalboard power and also accepts higher-voltage supplies within that range1.
The Lucid takes a battery or a center negative tip supply from 9 to 18 volts DC. A supply outside that polarity will not work, so check that your pedalboard power outputs are center negative before plugging in.
Videos
Kleissonic Audio
Questions
Is the Kleissonic Lucid true bypass?
Yes. Guitar Interactive Magazine's report on the pedal's release lists the Lucid as True Bypass, so the signal passes through untouched when the effect is switched off. That matters on a pedalboard where the fuzz sits alongside other pedals, since the bypassed signal is not loaded down by the pedal's circuitry.
Does the Kleissonic Lucid take a battery?
Yes. The pedal can be powered by a battery or by a center negative tip power supply from 9 to 18 volts DC. That means it works with a standard 9V pedalboard supply and also tolerates higher-voltage supplies within that range, which some players use for extra headroom.
What is the power polarity of the Kleissonic Lucid?
The Lucid uses a center negative tip connection, the same polarity as nearly all modern guitar pedals. It can run from a battery or from a DC adapter or pedalboard supply with a center negative tip, at anywhere from 9 to 18 volts DC.
Can you change the gain of the Lucid with the guitar's volume knob?
Yes. According to Guitar Interactive Magazine, gain can be adjusted by the volume control of the guitar without changing the overall volume level. Rolling the guitar's volume down cleans up the fuzz's gain while the pedal's output level stays put, a familiar trick for players who like to switch between full fuzz and a cleaner voice from the guitar itself.
Sources (1)
- Kleissonic Boutique Pedals Release New & Unique Fuzz Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-04-15