The Nuclear Audio Fission Drive is a drive pedal built around a split-band idea: it divides your signal into highs and lows at a frequency you select, then drives each band separately, from subtle breakup to thick distortion1. Premier Guitar describes it as two drives in one pedal, each acting on different parts of your guitar or bass signal, which is also why the company positions it for bass as well as guitar1.
The controls
The pedal's front panel reflects its split-band design. Premier Guitar's news item lists these controls1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Split frequency control | Sets the frequency where the high and low channels are divided |
| Notch switch | Enables an aggressive scoop at the selected split frequency |
| High/Low gain switch | A High/Low gain switch on each drive channel |
Because each band has its own drive channel, the two sides can be pushed differently: the lows can stay tighter while the highs take more gain, or both can be driven hard for a fuller distortion. Premier Guitar quotes Nuclear Audio describing the pedal as smoothly and dynamically transitioning between clean, soft clipping, and hard clipping, providing responsiveness and dynamics while maintaining clarity1.
Delicious Audio's coverage of the Fission Drive V2, by Paolo De Gregorio, describes a three-knob gain arrangement: a Pre knob controlling the first gain stage, reacting as the pre-amp stages would within a tube amp; a Post knob controlling the second gain stage and adding resonance and lower mid presence; and a Master knob controlling overall volume, which can be used in tandem with the Post knob for a "sag" sound when turned up together2. That coverage describes the V2 as ranging from clean boost to fuzz to high-gain "amp in a box" distortion via its three gain knobs2.
Delicious Audio's write-up covers the Fission Drive V2 under the Balaguer name, and its control descriptions differ from the split-frequency, Notch and High/Low layout in Premier Guitar's item on the Nuclear Audio original. The two accounts describe different versions of the Fission Drive.
Where the design comes from
Premier Guitar describes the Fission Drive as Nuclear Audio's unique approach to clipping, not based on any previous circuits1. For players used to drive pedals that trace back to a handful of familiar circuits, that puts the Fission Drive outside the usual family tree of overdrive pedals and distortion pedals. The split-band approach also relates it to how players often think about bass pedals, where keeping lows intact under drive is the central problem.
Videos
Nuclear Audio
Sardis
The Guitar Knobs Podcast
Questions
Is the Nuclear Audio Fission Drive true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's news item on the Fission Drive lists a true bypass on/off stomp switch, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal straight through when it is off, with no buffer in the way.
Can the Fission Drive be used with bass?
Yes. Premier Guitar describes the Fission Drive as working on a guitar or bass signal. The split-band design is the reason: because the low and high bands are driven separately, the lows can stay relatively clean while the highs take the drive, which is a common approach for bass players who want breakup without losing low-end definition.
What does the Notch switch do on the Fission Drive?
The Notch switch enables an aggressive scoop at the selected split frequency, according to Premier Guitar. In practice it cuts the point in the spectrum where the pedal divides the high and low channels, which changes how the two driven bands sit against each other.
Is the Fission Drive based on an existing circuit?
No. Premier Guitar describes the Fission Drive as Nuclear Audio's unique approach to clipping, not based on any previous circuits. That sets it apart from the many drive pedals that trace their lineage back to a familiar overdrive or distortion design.
How much does the Nuclear Audio Fission Drive cost?
Premier Guitar's January 2026 news item lists the Fission Drive at a $300 street price, available now.
Sources (2)
- Nuclear Audio Introduces Fission Drive, Premier Guitar, 2026-01-05
- Balaguer Fission Drive V2 Overdrive/Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2021-01-29