The LunaStone Deep Metal is a heavily scooped metal distortion pedal from the Danish effects maker LunaStone. LunaStone describes it as "a Hugely Scooped Metal Distortion", aimed specifically at heavy rock rhythm and lead playing, and says it "reacts super fast in the midrange response and has a low end like the 'Thunder from Downunder'". The pedal is all analog, true-bypass, and was introduced in March 2021 at a list price of $159 USD123.
What it does to your sound
A scooped distortion cuts the midrange and leaves the lows and highs fat, which is the classic voicing for metal rhythm tones through a cranked amp. LunaStone positions the Deep Metal squarely in that territory: the company says the pedal "dives deep into the heavy metal sphere" and is tailored for "powerful and classic metal" sounds2. It is designed for heavy rock rhythm and lead guitar, and LunaStone notes that size matters in that context, which is where the compact chassis comes in1.
The circuit is built around a TLO-74 based op-amp. JHS Pedals, who spoke with Grøntved for their write-up on the company, called it "a really cool pedal with a TLO-74 based op-amp with great mids", and on whether it lives up to its name, they concluded: "Long story short? Yup. It does."5
Controls
The Deep Metal keeps its control set small and stage-friendly. The Volume and Gain knobs sit angled so their edges are reachable, and LunaStone says you can tweak them on the fly with your foot while playing1. GuitarPlayer's coverage of the pedal also notes a diagonal three-knob layout4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level; positioned by the edge for foot tweaking on the fly1 |
| Gain | Sets distortion amount; positioned by the edge for foot tweaking on the fly1 |
Power, size and warranty
The Deep Metal runs on a standard 9V DC center negative adapter, which is not included with the pedal, and draws 50mA. LunaStone also lists a 9V battery as the battery type1.
At 50mA, the Deep Metal is best fed from a dedicated power supply output rather than shared with other pedals on a daisy chain1.
The chassis measures 2.9" x 4.5" x 2" (73 x 114 x 51 mm including knobs) and weighs 265 g (9.35 oz), so it sits comfortably on a crowded board1. LunaStone gives 2 years of warranty on the pedal from the day you buy it1.
Where it came from
LunaStone announced the Deep Metal in March 2021, with Premier Guitar reporting the launch and quoting Grøntved, the company's founder and Head Engineer3. The pedal was priced at $159 / €149 at that announcement3. GuitarPlayer covered the pedal again in September 2022, reporting it available for $1594. It sits alongside the company's earlier gain pedals, such as the LunaStone Distortion 1, in the broader field of distortion pedals.
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Questions
Is the LunaStone Deep Metal true bypass?
Yes. LunaStone lists the Deep Metal as true-bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the circuit loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where several effects sit between guitar and amp, since buffers and bypass schemes stack up and can dull the top end.
Does the LunaStone Deep Metal run on a battery?
LunaStone lists a 9V battery as the battery type for the Deep Metal. The pedal can also be powered from a standard 9V DC center negative adapter, which is not included with the pedal. Power consumption is listed at 50mA.
Is the Deep Metal analog?
Yes. LunaStone describes the Deep Metal as all analog. The circuit is built around a TLO-74 based op-amp, according to JHS Pedals, who spoke with LunaStone founder and head engineer Steen Grøntved about the design.
Who designed the LunaStone Deep Metal?
The Deep Metal was designed by Steen Grøntved, the founder and Head Engineer of the Danish pedal maker LunaStone. Premier Guitar's 2021 press release quotes Grøntved on the pedal's launch.
How long is the LunaStone warranty?
LunaStone gives 2 years of warranty on the Deep Metal from the day you buy it, according to the company's product page.
Sources (5)
- Deep Metal, LunaStone
- We’re Adding Infinite Power to the Table with ‘Deep Metal’ Distortion, LunaStone
- Lunastone Unveils New Deep Metal Distortion Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2021-03-24
- LunaStone Unveils New Deep Metal Distortion Pedal, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-03-18
- HAVE YOU HEARD OF LUNASTONE?, JHS Pedals
