The Nordvang Custom Altitude is an overdrive pedal with a separate clean boost, built on the circuit of the Marshall Bluesbreaker. Nordvang Custom describes it as building on the classic "black-box" Bluesbreaker topology while adding a layer of tweakability the original never had: a Clarity control, a three-position clipping toggle, internal dip switches for lows and gain, and a switchable buffer1.
The maker says the pedal can move from a low-gain, transparent, non-compressed and open tone to a classic saturated rock sound1. It shares its compact design platform with the Nordvang Custom MID AIR, and sits in the same 1590B3 trio as the Skyline V212.
The Bluesbreaker circuit and where the Altitude takes it
The original Bluesbreaker was a Marshall overdrive pedal named after the Blues Breaker amp, the combo version of the JTM454. Its core is a simple three-knob layout of Output, Gain and Tone, and the circuit is known for inherent brightness and a soft, compressed clipping character5. It is also known among players for low output, which is one of the things the Altitude sets out to fix. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson wrote that the Altitude "addresses low output and adds Clarity, EQ Boost, and clipping choices"2.
Nordvang Custom also gave the circuit more headroom. The pedal uses a charge pump, a voltage doubler circuit that raises the internal voltages supplied to the op amps, which extends the clean headroom beyond what the original topology offered1. The buffer design is borrowed from another Nordvang pedal, the Gravity, where a TS-style transistor buffer is followed by a K-circuit op-amp buffer1.
Controls and the clean boost
The Altitude has two footswitches, one for the drive and one for the boost, so the overdrive and the clean boost can be used independently2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the gain of the overdrive section2 |
| Tone | Main tone control for the overdrive2 |
| Clarity | Secondary, more subtle tone control for fine-tuning the high frequency response1 |
| Level | Sets the output level of the overdrive section2 |
| Boost | Controls the boost level; at minimum the level is unity3 |
| EQ Boost toggle | Selects the boost EQ: full-frequency, low-mids or high-mids2 |
| CLIP toggle | 3-way switch changing the clipping-diode structure1 |
The CLIP toggle is where much of the pedal's range lives. It changes the clipping-diode structure between three levels of compression: 4 diodes, 6 diodes, or no diodes at all (open), with the open position giving maximum clean headroom1. The EQ Boost toggle shapes the boost stage, so the boost can be flat, pushed toward the low-mids, or toward the high-mids2.
Inside the lid: dip switches and the buffer
Unscrewing the back gives access to a two-way dip switch for tone shaping1.
- LOWS: boosts the low frequency response of the overdrive1
- HIGH GAIN: increases the minimum gain level and extends the gain range by 50 percent1
A second internal switch turns the buffer on or off, so the pedal can run either buffered or true bypass12. When engaged, the buffer is an NPN transistor input stage with a 510K ohm input impedance, like a Tube Screamer, followed by an op-amp output buffer stage with a 100 ohm output impedance1.
There is no battery operation, and the pedal draws 125 mA1. That is a substantial draw for a compact overdrive, so plan on a proper power supply output rather than a small shared daisy chain.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's coverage describes the Altitude as a pedal that can move from a low gain, transparent, non-compressed and open tone to a classic saturated rock sound, with a three-way CLIP toggle that changes the clipping-diode structure between four diodes, six diodes or no diodes (open) for maximum clean headroom1. The same coverage notes the buffer circuit, an NPN transistor input buffer with a 510K Ohm input impedance followed by an op-amp output buffer stage with a 100 Ohm output impedance, switchable via an internal dip switch1.
"the Altitude tackles all those issues with aplomb and extends the usefulness and versatility of this well-loved circuit"2
B-Stock units
Nordvang Custom sells B-Stock Altitudes alongside the regular version. These are blemished units with minor cosmetic defects such as scratches, dings and silkscreen imperfections; the maker says they are fully functional and carry the same warranty, at a 20 percent discount1. At the time of writing the B-Stock sale price was 219.38 GBP against a regular price of 274.22 GBP13.
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Questions
Is the Nordvang Custom Altitude based on the Marshall Bluesbreaker?
Yes. Nordvang Custom says the Altitude builds on the classic black-box Bluesbreaker topology, and Guitar Pedal X likewise lists it as a BluesBreaker-based circuit. The original Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal was itself named after the Blues Breaker combo amp, the combo version of the JTM45.
Can the Altitude run on a battery?
No. The maker states there is no battery operation, so the pedal needs an external power supply. It draws 125 mA, which is more than a typical compact overdrive, so a dedicated 9V-style supply output rather than a small shared daisy chain is the safer bet.
Is the Altitude true bypass or buffered?
Either, at your choice. The pedal can run buffered or true bypass, switchable from inside. The buffer is an NPN transistor input stage with 510K ohm input impedance followed by an op-amp output stage with 100 ohm output impedance, a design Nordvang says was inspired by its Gravity pedal.
What do the internal dip switches on the Altitude do?
There are two. LOWS boosts the low frequency response of the overdrive, and HIGH GAIN raises the minimum gain level and extends the gain range by 50 percent. A second internal switch turns the buffer on or off, so you can set the bypass character and the gain floor to suit your setup.
What does the Clarity knob do?
Clarity is a secondary, more subtle tone control for fine-tuning the high frequency response of the overdrive circuit. It sits alongside the main Tone knob, so you can set the overall brightness with Tone and then trim the top end with Clarity, which Guitar Pedal X describes as a highs refinement control.
What is a B-Stock Altitude?
A B-Stock unit is a blemished pedal with minor cosmetic defects such as scratches, dings or silkscreen imperfections. Nordvang Custom says B-Stock units are fully functional and carry the same warranty as new ones, sold at a 20 percent discount. At the time of writing the sale price was 219.38 GBP against a regular 274.22 GBP.
Sources (5)
- ALTITUDE B-STOCK, Nordvang Custom
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-06-11
- ALTITUDE, Nordvang Custom
- Green, Gold & Blue, Origin Effects, 2026-09-08
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-11-29
