The NUX NDO-5 Ace of Tone is a dual overdrive pedal: two overdrive channels in one enclosure, each with its own footswitch and its own set of controls. It carries a BF/TB switch that toggles between Buffer-Bypass and True-Bypass, and a 9V/18V switch that switches to 18V internal double voltage for a wider dynamic range.1
What sets it apart from most dual overdrives is where its two channels come from. Rather than two versions of the same circuit, the Ace of Tone stacks NUX's Tubeman MKII and Morning Star circuits, two pedals with distinct characters, into one box.1
The two channels: Tubeman MKII and Morning Star
The two sides of the pedal are deliberately different, and knowing which is which tells you how to use it1:
| Channel | Based on | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Morning Star | Bluesbreaker circuit | "a very transparent, low gain drive"1 |
| Tubeman MKII | NUX Tubeman MKII | "way more clarity and gain than any classic [Tubescreamer]"1 |
Each side has Volume, Drive and Tone controls, so the two channels can be dialed independently.1
The Morning Star channel carries over a feature from the standalone Morning Star: holding the footswitch engages the SHINE mode, which Pedal of the Day describes as giving "way more treble sound for a crystal-clear tone."1
The Tubeman channel gets its own secondary function. Holding its footswitch engages FAT mode, which "cranks way more bass response and makes the tone warmer."1
Channel order, routing and bypass
The pedal offers more routing flexibility than most overdrives at this level:
- Adjustable channel order: you can set the signal path as MS->TM or TM->MS, choosing whether the Morning Star or Tubeman circuit comes first.1
- BF/TB switch: toggles between Buffer-Bypass and True-Bypass, so you can match the pedal to the rest of your board.1
- 9V/18V switch: switches to 18V internal double voltage for a wider dynamic range.1
The 9V/18V switch changes the internal voltage, not the supply: the pedal runs from a standard 9V input and doubles it internally when the switch is set to 18V.1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict was positive across the board:
The review framed the pedal as delivering "incredible tone and easy dialing, expected from a reliable brand tone."1
Where it sits in the NUX range
The Ace of Tone is one of several dual-circuit overdrives NUX has built by pairing two of its own designs. The NUX NDO6 Queen of Tone Dual Overdrive follows the same idea with the Horseman and Morning Star circuits, and the standalone NUX Horseman, NUX Tube Man and NUX Morning Star remain available as single pedals. For a broader look at the effect type, see Overdrive Pedals1.
Videos
NUX
Mike Hermans
The Pedal Guy
Questions
What is the difference between the Tubeman and Morning Star channels on the NUX Ace of Tone?
The Morning Star channel is based on the Bluesbreaker circuit and is described as a very transparent, low gain drive. The Tubeman channel offers more clarity and gain than a classic Tubescreamer, according to Pedal of the Day. Each side has its own Volume, Drive and Tone controls, so the two can be set independently and used alone or stacked.
What do the FAT and SHINE modes do?
FAT mode belongs to the Tubeman channel and is engaged by holding the footswitch. Pedal of the Day says it cranks way more bass response and makes the tone warmer. SHINE mode belongs to the Morning Star channel and is also engaged by holding the footswitch, giving way more treble for a crystal-clear tone.
Can you change the order of the two channels?
Yes. The pedal lets you adjust the order as MS->TM or TM->MS, so you can choose whether the Morning Star or the Tubeman circuit comes first in the signal path. Pedal of the Day also notes the pedal offers lots of routing and bypass options.
Which NUX series is the Ace of Tone part of?
The NDO-5 Ace of Tone is part of NUX's Verdugo Series. Pedal of the Day counted it as the eighth Verdugo Series pedal in its August 2024 review, and described the series as some of their favorites over the years.
Sources (1)
- NUX NDO-5 Ace of Tone Dual Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2024-08-22
