The Port City Amplification Gain of Thrones Distortion & Boost is a distortion and boost pedal that combines a distortion voice with the maker's Salem Boost circuit built in. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it as Port City's latest pedal release in June 2025, described its sound as "thick, rich, and articulate distortion, with a touch of fuzz," placing it in the territory where distortion pedals meet fuzz pedals1.
Controls
The pedal gives players tone shaping at two levels: a three-band EQ for the body of the sound and a Presence control for the top end on top of it1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treble, Middle, Bass | 3-band EQ to shape tone1 |
| Presence | Shapes the high-end1 |
| Internal trim pot | Adjusts the level of gain saturation1 |
The internal trim pot is worth knowing about before you buy secondhand: it sits inside the enclosure rather than on the top panel, so the amount of gain saturation is a set-and-forget adjustment made with a screwdriver, not a knob you reach for mid-song1.
The Salem Boost circuit, Port City's own, is built in. As Pedal of the Day put it, "with Port City's Salem Boost circuit built in, you'll have the power to cut through any mix"1.
What the reviewer said
Pedal of the Day's reviewer came away impressed, and framed the pedal's range in suitably thematic terms: "you'll command a wide kingdom of tones, from soaring leads to crushing rhythm walls"1. The reviewer also cautioned that a single demo barely covers it, writing, "I'm really scratching the surface, as the Gain of Thrones Distortion & Boost has so so much to offer"1.
For players comparing it with other Port City circuits, the maker's Sahana Drive sits in the overdrive camp, while the Gain of Thrones leans toward distortion with a fuzz edge and a boost on tap. It belongs to the same broader family as boost pedals, but with the drive voice and EQ built around it1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What is the Salem Boost circuit in the Gain of Thrones?
The Salem Boost is Port City Amplification's own boost circuit, built into the Gain of Thrones alongside the distortion section. Pedal of the Day notes that with the Salem Boost circuit built in, players have the power to cut through any mix, so it serves as a level push on top of the distortion voice rather than a separate pedal on the board.
Does the Gain of Thrones have a three-band EQ?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, the pedal carries a 3-band EQ with Treble, Middle and Bass knobs for shaping tone, working alongside a separate Presence control that shapes the high-end.
What does the internal trim pot do on the Gain of Thrones?
The internal trim pot adjusts the level of gain saturation, per Pedal of the Day. Because it sits inside the pedal rather than on the top panel, it is a set-and-forget adjustment: open the enclosure, set the saturation character you want, and leave it.
What does the Presence knob do?
The Presence control shapes the pedal's high-end. Together with the Treble, Middle and Bass knobs, it gives players a dedicated way to dial top-end sparkle or tame brightness on top of the three-band EQ.
Sources (1)
- Port City Amplification Gain of Thrones Distortion & Boost, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2025-06-19
