The NUX NDS-5 Fireman Distortion is a two-channel distortion pedal aimed at players who want rhythm and lead sounds on one board. Pedal of the Day describes it as "a very amp-like distortion pedal with Modern Brown Sound," and notes that it is "based on the legendary amplifier builder's famous distortion pedal."1 It sits in NUX's line of distortion pedals alongside models like the NUX Brownie and NUX HG-6.
Two channels, two footswitches and an 18V position
The NDS-5 carries two footswitches, one for each of its two channels, so you can move between rhythm and lead sounds without bending down or re-stomping a single switch. Each channel has its own pair of Volume and Gain knobs: Pedal of the Day notes it is "Designed with 2 independent Volume and Gain control knobs to fit rhythm and solo applications," meaning you can dial in a rhythm setting and a solo setting separately and switch between them.1
The pedal also has a voltage toggle with an 18V position. As the review puts it, "The 18V position doubles the working voltage inside to give you wider dynamic range."1 For a player, that means a choice between the standard operating voltage and a higher internal voltage when you want more headroom in the feel of the pedal.
External switch control
Beyond the two onboard footswitches, the NDS-5 has an external switch jack. Pedal of the Day: "There's even an external switch jack you can use to control the 2 footswitches from anywhere you need."1 That lets you place channel switching where it suits your rig, for example at a switching system or a looper on a larger board, instead of only at the pedal itself.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the NDS-5 on 27 July 2023 and summed it up this way:
"With 2 channels for rhythm and lead switching, plus a wide-ranging control section, this powerful little beast will bring the heat to any rig or pedalboard."
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Questions
What amp pedal is the NUX Fireman based on?
Pedal of the Day describes the Fireman Distortion as based on the legendary amplifier builder's famous distortion pedal. The review calls it a very amp-like distortion pedal with what NUX calls a Modern Brown Sound, and it is built as a two-channel design for switching between rhythm and lead tones.
What does the 18V position do on the NUX NDS-5?
The pedal has a voltage toggle with an 18V position. According to Pedal of the Day, the 18V position doubles the working voltage inside the pedal to give you wider dynamic range. It is a switch on the pedal itself, so you can choose the operating voltage that suits your playing.
Can I control the NUX Fireman's channels with an external switch?
Yes. The NDS-5 has an external switch jack that lets you control the pedal's two footswitches from anywhere you need in your rig, such as from a larger switching setup on your board, rather than only from the pedals on the pedal itself.
How many channels does the NUX NDS-5 have?
The NUX NDS-5 Fireman Distortion has two channels, arranged for rhythm and lead switching. Each channel has its own pair of Volume and Gain control knobs, so the rhythm and lead sounds can be set independently to fit different applications.
Sources (1)
- NUX NDS-5 Fireman Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2023-07-27
