The None More Black is a high gain distortion pedal from Menatone. It is not a copy of one amplifier: Guitar FX Layouts describes it as "a homage to all of their favorite high gain amplifiers," an amalgam of the best aspects of many amps rather than a take on any single one1. Menatone makes the same point about the current Deluxe version, saying it "takes concepts from all of my favorite amps from the 80s to the present"2. The gain range runs, in Guitar FX Layouts' words, "from hot rodded 800, to crazy, in your face, all out insanity"1.
The controls: SUCK and PRES
The pedal's most talked about controls are the two tone knobs, SUCK and PRES. SUCK shapes the mid range, and it swings widely: Guitar FX Layouts says it "can take the mid range from all the way gone, to crazy gobs of fat, vocal, goodness," while PRES "gives total control of the high end"1. In a later build report, the same builder found "Gobs of drive and the suck control has a fair bit of swing," though noted the presence control on their unit did less and called it "the least importa[nt]"1.
The Deluxe version carries a fuller panel of amp style controls2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the preamp gain |
| Reso | Bass boost at 100 Hz |
| Taut | Tightens the low end when turned up |
| Mid | Mid cut at 550 Hz |
| Power | Like the master volume on an amp; turn up for more power tube like saturation |
| Level | Overall volume of the pedal |
Circuit and versions
Menatone describes the Deluxe as a "purely discrete circuit" with "No clipping diodes and no op amps," saying it "oozes an organic character that eludes other pedals in t[his class]"2. The Deluxe also adds an internal trim for extra amp matching control, a way to fine tune the pedal to a specific amplifier from inside the box2.
There have been more than one version of the pedal. Guitar FX Layouts traced the circuit from "the rare 18v mxr size version, its not the normal 9v version," and that 18V version carries an extra J202 transistor, a charge pump, and an increased voltage rating on the capacitors compared with the standard version1. The traced layout was published with an added charge pump to supply the 18V the circuit requires1.
The traced 18V MXR size version is not the normal 9V version, and it needs 18V to run, which the published layout supplies with an added charge pump1.
What reviewers and builders found
The main published account of the pedal comes from Guitar FX Layouts, which traced the circuit and built it. On noise, the builder reported it is "blissfully quiet even at full gain" after adding power inlet filtering, SMD J202s, a half wave rectifier and two 150uF caps1. On drive, the verdict was "Gobs of drive and the suck control has a fair bit of swing"1.
Menatone's own demo notes for the Deluxe describe the test setup as "a princeton style 5w running into a Ox Amp Top Box" with "very clean" amp settings, so as "not to hide the sound of the peda[l]"2.
The current None More Black Deluxe is listed on Menatone's site, and the maker's range also includes pedals such as The King and the Thundering Revival Mini2.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Menatone None More Black based on a specific amp?
No. Guitar FX Layouts describes it as a homage to all of Menatone's favorite high gain amplifiers, an amalgam of the best aspects of many amps rather than a copy of one. Menatone says the Deluxe version takes concepts from all of their favorite amps from the 80s to the present.
What does the SUCK knob do on the None More Black?
SUCK shapes the mid range. Guitar FX Layouts says it can take the mids from all the way gone to crazy gobs of fat, vocal goodness, and in a build report found it has a fair bit of swing. It works alongside the PRES control, which gives total control of the high end.
What does the internal trim on the Deluxe do?
On the None More Black Deluxe, Menatone includes an internal trim for extra amp matching control, letting the player fine tune the pedal to sit with a particular amplifier beyond what the front panel knobs offer.
Is the None More Black noisy at high gain?
The builder at Guitar FX Layouts, who traced the circuit and built it with power inlet filtering, SMD J202s, a half wave rectifier and two 150uF caps, reported it is blissfully quiet even at full gain.
Sources (2)
- Guitar FX Layouts: Menatone None More Black, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2025-04-29
- None More Black Deluxe, menatone.com
