The Moskyaudio G IV RED is an amp-in-a-box distortion pedal: a pedal designed to sound like a particular amplifier's lead channel rather than a generic distortion. Moskyaudio describes it as "an amp in a box distortion pedal based on this tone used by premier touring and recording guitarists worldwide", and lists its effect type as distortion, overdrive and preamp. The circuit is based on the REVV G4, the pedal Revv Amplification built around the red channel of its Generator 120 MKII amplifier1.
What it does to your sound
Moskyaudio describes the tone this way: "The G4 voiced after the flagship Generator 120 Red Channel is a thick gain monster that still has the nuance to cover old-school tones"1. The original REVV G4 it draws from was described by Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio as offering "Big distorted amp tone, organic feel, & 3 voicing options"2, and Guitar.com called it "the stompbox-sized version of the red channel 4 featured on Revv's acclaimed Generator 120 MKII amplifier"3. In a Sweetwater demo, Taylor Roberts said "you can tap into thick, saturated, amp-like distortion with the Revv G4"4.
Controls and gain settings
The G IV RED gives you two ways to shape the gain and voice:
- Four "aggression" settings to adjust the gain levels, letting you move between lower and higher gain versions of the circuit1
- Three-band EQ with Bass, Middle and Treble controls for tone shaping1
The four aggression settings echo the voicing options of the original G4, which Revv still sells as the G4 V2 Canadian Edition, listed by Revv as a distortion5. Moskyaudio also makes a companion pedal, the Moskyaudio G III BLUE, in the same series.
Power, bypass and using it with bass
The pedal runs on a 9V DC supply with negative tips, and Moskyaudio recommends a regulated supply1.
The maker specifies negative-tip polarity and recommends a regulated supply. As with any center-negative pedal, do not power it from an AC adapter or a positive-tip supply.
For bypass, Moskyaudio lists true bypass switching, so the circuit is out of the signal path when the pedal is off1.
Moskyaudio lists the pedal as a "Preamp/Overdrive/Distortion Pedal Guitar Bass Effect Pedal", so it is presented as suitable for bass as well as guitar1. If you are building a bass board, it sits alongside the effect types covered on the bass pedals page.
Where it came from
The G IV RED is Moskyaudio's take on a circuit with a documented history: the pedal is based on the REVV G4, the distortion pedal from Revv1. Moskyaudio's version carries that circuit in a compact format of its own1.
Questions
Is the Moskyaudio G IV RED true bypass?
Yes. Moskyaudio lists the G IV RED with true bypass switching, which means that when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through it without going through the distortion circuit. That helps keep your clean tone untouched on a pedalboard where the pedal is not always engaged.
What power supply does the Moskyaudio G IV RED need?
Moskyaudio specifies a 9V DC power supply with negative tips, and recommends a regulated supply. Use a standard center-negative 9V DC pedal supply, and do not power it from an AC adapter or a positive-tip supply.
How many gain settings does the Moskyaudio G IV RED have?
The G IV RED offers four aggression settings that adjust the gain levels. These let you move between lower-gain and higher-gain versions of the same amp-voiced circuit, in the spirit of the voicing options on the REVV G4 it is based on.
Can the Moskyaudio G IV RED be used with bass?
Yes. Moskyaudio describes the pedal as a preamp, overdrive and distortion effect pedal for guitar and bass, so it is presented as suitable for both instruments.
How big and how heavy is the Moskyaudio G IV RED?
Moskyaudio lists the pedal at 320g, with dimensions of 11.5 by 6.5 by 5cm, length by width by height. That is a standard stompbox footprint, so it fits a typical pedalboard slot and adds a modest amount of weight.
Sources (5)
- G IV RED_M-SERIES_Products_mosky pedal, moskyaudio.com
- REVV G4 Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-21
- NAMM 2019: Revv unleashes G4 pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-01-17
- Revv G4 Preamp / Distortion Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2019-01-01
- Revv Amps G4 V2, Revv Amplification
