The Seymour Duncan PALLADIUM Gain Stage is a high gain preamp and distortion effects pedal, released in March 2016 and made in the USA12. It is built around three gain stages, which Seymour Duncan says allow a versatile range of tones, from classic rock at lower settings to modern metal at higher gain settings3. It also carries a dedicated gain stage control for the overall saturation, so the amount of drive can be shaped independently of the EQ3.
What it does to your sound
Seymour Duncan's own framing of the pedal, from the release announcement, came from Max Gutnik, SVP of products and CRO24:
"We wanted to create a pedal that brings the richness, depth and versatility of a superior high gain tube amp, without the tonal compromises that typically go with distortion pedals."
Guitar World's reviewer judged it one of the few rare exceptions among tube-sounding pedals, sounding and feeling like a tube amp overall, and awarded it the publication's Gold Award5. The pedal works as both a distortion pedal and a preamp, which is why it sits equally well in front of a power amp or on a board as a drive14.
The controls and the two footswitches
The Palladium carries a comprehensive EQ with bass, treble, presence and a sweepable midrange, alongside the core gain and level controls3. The midrange section is the most detailed part: a Frequency knob selects any midrange frequency between 255Hz and 1.1kHz, a separate midrange Level control sets the amount of that band, and the Mid knob itself provides +/-12dB of boost or cut5.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive5 |
| Level | Sets the output volume5 |
| Gain stage | Controls the overall saturation3 |
| Frequency | Selects any midrange frequency between 255Hz and 1.1kHz5 |
| Mid Level | Separate midrange Level control5 |
| Mid | +/-12dB of boost/cut for the mids5 |
| Bass, Treble, Presence | Comprehensive EQ shaping3 |
The two footswitches do different jobs:
- Left footswitch: a hardwired true bypass on/off switch, with a red LED that illuminates brightly when the effect is on5
- Right footswitch: engages the Boost function, with a corresponding green LED5
The mono input and output jacks are located out of the way at the back of the pedal5.
Power and placement on a board
The Palladium Gain Stage is built around three gain stages, which Seymour Duncan says allow for a versatile range of tones, from classic rock at lower settings to modern metal at higher gain settings3. Max Gutnik, SVP of products and CRO, described the aim behind the circuit: "We wanted to create a pedal that brings the richness, depth and versatility of a superior high gain tube amp, without the tonal compromises typical of distortion pedals"2. Where it sits on a board depends on how you use that range, from lower-gain classic rock settings to the higher-gain end3.
The Palladium's three gain stages run from classic rock at lower settings to modern metal at higher gain settings3. Seymour Duncan lists it at $299.00 USD1, and in the UK it carries a street price of £3496.
History and reception
Seymour Duncan announced the release of the Palladium Gain Stage effects pedal in March 2016, describing it as a high-gain pedal with three gain stages, a 3-band EQ with sweepable mids, true bypass and US manufacture2. In the UK, MusicRadar reported the pedal would be available from April for £349 street6. The pedal was still being covered as a current release in December 2019, when Seymour Duncan's own review video looked at the new PALLADIUM Gain Stage4.
Guitar World's August 2016 review gave it the Gold Award, with the reviewer finding it a rare tube-sounding pedal that works both as a distortion pedal and as a preamp5. Within Seymour Duncan's own range of drive pedals, it sits alongside later releases such as the Diamondhead distortion and boost pedal, and earlier designs like the 805 Overdrive. For a wider view of the category, see the site's pages on Distortion Pedals and Preamp Pedals.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Guitar World
Sweetwater
Questions
Is the Seymour Duncan Palladium true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's review describes the left footswitch as a hardwired true bypass on/off switch, with a red LED that lights brightly when the effect is on. The right footswitch is separate: it engages the Boost function and has its own green LED, so the boost can be used independently of the main circuit.
Can the Palladium run on a battery?
No. Guitar World's review notes that the Palladium has no battery operation, so it needs an external power supply. It runs on any 9- to 18-volt DC center negative supply, which covers most standard pedal power bricks, but a battery clip is not an option on this pedal.
What voltage does the Palladium take?
The Palladium operates with any 9- to 18-volt DC center negative power supply, according to Guitar World's review. That range means it works with a standard 9V pedal supply or a higher-voltage supply if you want more headroom, as long as the polarity is center negative.
What frequency range does the Palladium midrange knob cover?
The Frequency knob selects any midrange frequency between 255Hz and 1.1kHz, per Guitar World's review. A separate midrange Level control sets how much that selected band is affected, and the Mid knob itself provides plus or minus 12dB of boost or cut.
Where is the Seymour Duncan Palladium made?
The Palladium is made in the USA. Guitar Interactive Magazine's press coverage of the release in March 2016 states this directly, and Seymour Duncan has long built its higher-end pedals domestically.
Sources (6)
- Seymour Duncan Dark Sun Pedal, Seymour Duncan (www.seymourduncan.com), 2026-05-27
- Seymour Duncan Releases Innovative Palladium Gain Stage Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-03-16
- Seymour Duncan Palladium Gain Stage, Delicious Audio, 2017-08-03
- Seymour Duncan The Best Distortion Pedal?, Seymour Duncan (www.seymourduncan.com), 2016-08-12
- Review: Seymour Duncan Palladium Gain Stage Pedal, Guitar World, 2016-08-26
- Seymour Duncan releases Palladium Gain Stage guitar pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-03-17
