Radial Shotgun

The Radial Shotgun is a compact guitar-level signal buffer from Radial, built to drive up to four amplifiers simultaneously while staying small enough to sit on any pedalboard¹. Radial's spec sheet describes it as a multi-output unity-gain buffering amplifier designed to faithfully reproduce high-impedance electric guitar signals². In plain terms: it takes your guitar or pedalboard output, buffers it so long cable runs and multiple amp connections do not load down your tone, and hands that signal to as many as four amps at once.

The Radial Shotgun is a guitar-signal distribution amplifier built into a heavy 14-gauge steel case that provides shielding from power supplies and keeps the internal electronics safe from abuse³. Radial describes it as a distribution amplifier rather than a mixer, so it splits a signal to drive multiple destinations without combining them⁴.

Mono 1x4 and stereo 2x2 operation

The Shotgun's main trick is that it reconfigures itself depending on which inputs you use. Plug into input-1 alone and you get 1x4 mono: one signal feeding up to four amps simultaneously¹. Plug into input-2 as well and the circuit changes to 2x2 stereo, feeding input-1 to the first two amplifiers and input-2 to the second pair³¹. There is no mode switch to forget before a gig; the box senses the second connection and reroutes itself.

Guitar.com's launch coverage described the same behavior: "the Shotgun may be set up for mono use with one input driving four outputs or in stereo with two inputs driving two pair"⁵.

Outputs, isolation and ground loops

The four outputs are not all the same. Output-1 is direct, while the other three are transformer isolated to reduce ground noise contamination between amps². Radial sets output-1 as the default for a reason: it provides a solid ground connection from the guitar to the amplifier, which the company describes as important for both noise and safety⁴. Guitar.com's coverage made the same point, noting that "Output-1 is the default that provides a safety ground path to the guitar"⁵.

The isolation matters in practice. When you plug one guitar into several amps on separate power circuits, ground loops can introduce hum and buzz. The Shotgun gives you tools for that:

• Ground lift switches on outputs 2, 3 and 4, which lift the audio ground to help prevent hum and buzz caused by ground loops³
• 180-degree polarity switches to phase-match amps, so two amps whose speakers move in opposite directions do not cancel each other's low end¹

Guitar.com noted the ground lift switches at launch, calling them a supplement to the core distribution circuit⁵.

What it does to the signal

The Shotgun is a unity-gain buffer, so it does not boost or shape your tone. Gain is 0dB, or -0.2dB on the isolated outputs². Radial says it is intended for guitars with a working range of between -30dB and 0dB, and the spec sheet reports intermodulation distortion of about 0.02%². Other measured figures from the spec sheet²:

Radial chose a low-noise integrated circuit for the buffer because, as the company explains, the source will likely be a pedalboard with a number of pre-buffered signals already in the chain⁴. The measured performance backs up that choice: gain of 0dB/-0.2dB, intermodulation distortion of ~0.02%, and equivalent input noise of -90dBu².

Power and build

The Shotgun runs on a standard 9V connection that accepts a Boss-type power adaptor or a DC brick, and the power supply is not included³. Guitar.com's launch coverage noted the same arrangement, a standard 9V supply or a pedalboard brick connection⁵. Plan on a brick outlet.

The enclosure is a heavy 14-gauge steel case, which Radial says provides shielding from power supplies and keeps the internal electronics safe from abuse³. It is a small box: 4.5 by 3.5 by 1.37 inches (114 x 92 x 35mm), weighing 1.1lb (0.5kg)².

Cables, instruments and studio use

Radial recommends 15 meters, about 50 feet, as the maximum cable length from the Shotgun⁴. For longer runs the company suggests a Radial SGI to balance the signal⁴.

The Shotgun is not limited to electric guitar. Radial says it works perfectly fine with bass, works with acoustic guitar to drive a stage amp, direct box and tuner at the same time, and works with keyboards, with the caveat that some high-output digital pianos can overload it, in which case Radial's remedy is to turn down the piano's output level if distortion is heard⁴. In the studio, Radial suggests using it to split your guitar signal to various effects, amps and a direct box so you can Reamp the guitar later¹. For the direct box, Radial recommends a passive DI like its JDI, with the ProDI as a more affordable alternative⁴.

One thing the Shotgun will not do: mix. Radial states plainly that it is a distribution amplifier, not a mixer, so it cannot combine a stereo source down to mono⁴. If you need summing rather than splitting, this is the wrong box.

Questions