The Suhr Riot Reloaded Legacy Edition is a distortion pedal from Suhr, built around the company's original Riot distortion circuit after what Suhr describes as "countless hours of listening, testing, and tweaking." Suhr positions it as a versatile pedal that delivers a broad spectrum of hi-gain tones with an amp-like feel, aimed at players seeking hi-gain rock, metal, and drop tuning style tones1.
The pedal is a distortion pedal from Suhr, built on the original Riot distortion circuit, which Suhr describes as the result of countless hours of listening, testing, and tweaking1. Suhr positions the Riot Reloaded as a versatile distortion pedal that delivers a broad spectrum of hi-gain tones with an amp-like feel1. It weighs 4 lbs and measures 5 × 5 × 5 in1.
An amp-like distortion with 30% more gain
Suhr describes the Riot Reloaded's character as "amp-like, aggressive, in your face," with 30% more gain than the original Riot3. The original Riot, by comparison, was described by Suhr as a versatile high-gain distortion pedal with "the sonic characteristics and touch sensitivity of a high quality 100 watt tube amplifier," and the Reloaded keeps that amp-like feel while pushing into higher-gain territory4.
The gain increase is the core difference between the two circuits. Where the original Riot covers classic crunch through high gain, the Reloaded is voiced specifically for hi-gain rock, metal, and drop-tuned playing13. The Legacy Edition also carries a modified tone control, which Suhr says was changed to emphasize upper mid frequencies for a sweeter, more cutting tone without sounding harsh or fatiguing1.
The Riot family's reach extended beyond the full-size pedals. Suhr introduced a mini version, the Suhr Riot Mini, at NAMM 2018, and in 2025 GuitarPCB published a build document for a bonus PCB based on the Suhr Riot circuit, describing it as delivering high-gain distortion with the touch sensitivity and character of a cranked 100-watt tube amp.
Where the Riot Reloaded came from
- Circuit origin: Suhr describes the Riot Reloaded as the result of countless hours of listening, testing, and tweaking its original distortion circuit1.
- Effect type: distortion, delivering a broad spectrum of hi-gain tones with an amp-like feel1.
- Enclosure: 5 × 5 × 5 in, 4 lbs1.
When the Riot Reloaded was announced in 2013, Guitar Interactive Magazine reported the news from Suhr's press release, noting the pedal was based on the award-winning Riot and Shiba Drive pedals and carried an MSRP of $2005.
The controls: tone and three-position voicing
The Riot Reloaded keeps its control set compact: a Dist knob, a Tone control, a Level control, and a three-position voicing switch13.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Dist | Adjusts the amount of distortion added to your tone, from classic crunch to blistering high gain3 |
| Tone | Modified on the Legacy Edition to emphasize upper mid frequencies for a sweeter, more cutting tone, without sounding harsh or fatiguing1 |
| Voicing switch | Three positions providing Classic, Modern (full bodied), and Scooped EQ settings1 |
The three voicing positions, as described in the Riot Reloaded manual3:
- Left (Classic): Produces a natural, organic tone that responds dynamically to your instrument's volume control.
- Middle (Modern): Puts you into high gain territory with a solid midrange and a fat bottom end.
- Right (Scooped): Produces a classic mid-scooped response with excellent definition.
The manual adds one practical note: the Voice switch may have less effect at lower gain and tone settings3.
Bypass, switching, and power behavior
The Riot Reloaded is true bypass via a relay. Suhr explains that this function allows for remote switching and the battery monitor feature, and that the relay produces less popping when switching the pedal on and off13.
The pedal also carries a second three-position switch governing the FX Link jack, which controls how the pedal powers up3:
- Left: The pedal powers up in the OFF state.
- Center: The pedal can be switched remotely via the FX Link jack; it powers up in the OFF state if the jack is not used.
- Right: The pedal powers up in the ON state.
How it relates to other Suhr pedals
The Riot Reloaded sits in the middle of Suhr's distortion lineup. The original Suhr Riot offers the same amp-like character with less gain, and the Suhr Riot Mini packs the circuit into a smaller enclosure with Level, Tone, and Distortion controls plus a voice toggle. Players comparing Suhr pedals might also look at the Suhr Eclipse, a dual overdrive/distortion pedal, or Suhr's overdrive offerings such as the Shiba Drive, which received its own Reloaded edition alongside the Riot in 20135.
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Questions
Is the Suhr Riot Reloaded Legacy Edition true bypass?
Yes. Suhr describes it as true bypass via a relay, which allows remote switching and the battery monitor feature. The relay also produces less popping when the pedal is switched on and off than a mechanical true bypass switch.
How much more gain does the Riot Reloaded have than the original Riot?
Suhr states the Riot Reloaded has 30% more gain than the original Riot. The company positions it as ideal for players seeking hi-gain rock, metal, and drop tuning style tones.
What are the three voicing switch settings on the Suhr Riot Reloaded?
The three-position voicing switch provides Classic, Modern (full bodied), and Scooped EQ settings. In the manual these are described as a natural, organic tone that responds to your volume control (Classic), high gain with a solid midrange and fat bottom end (Modern), and a classic mid-scooped response with excellent definition (Scooped).
Is the Suhr Riot Reloaded still made?
No. Suhr's product page lists the Riot Reloaded Legacy Edition as out of stock, and the company's Riot distortion page states that the Riot Reloaded circuit is discontinued.
How much did the Suhr Riot Reloaded Legacy Edition cost?
The Legacy Edition carried a list price of $199.00 USD on Suhr's product page as of October 2026. When the Riot Reloaded was first announced in August 2013, its MSRP was $200.
Sources (5)
- Riot Reloaded Legacy Edition, Suhr
- Riot | Suhr.com, Suhr (www.suhr.com)
- Riot Reloaded User Guide, Suhr (media.suhr.com), 2022
- Suhr Riot Distortion User Guide v1 07-09-2024, Suhr (media.suhr.com), 2024-07-09
- Suhr Announce 'Reloaded' Editions of Riot and Shiba Drive Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-08-19
