Kernom's Ridge Augmented Analog Overdrive / Multi-drive is a genuine and ingenious new and unique Gain Pedal Innovation
I remember reading about this Kernom Ridge Augmented Overdrive nearly one year ago now - back in October of 2021. Where this was announced to the world as a new type of overdrive pedal with unlimited clipping options in a single analog circuit device.
I noted then as I do now how much this pedal’s enclosure is inspired by the Klon Centaur - as this is somewhat an all-white modern de-constructed version of the Klon enclosure - with similar skirting bumps and very similar dimensions. While compared to the Centaur this for sure has some significant and distinct modern detailing - including the style of knobs, and all those cut-outs along the perimeter.
The team behind this pedal has an exceptional pedigree as they’re in the main the same guys that put out that amazing 108dB Sci-Fi Next-level Speaker - the excellent futuristic looking and superb sounding €3000 Devialet Phantom. So the Kernom Ridge is not quite in that pricing category with its €300 tag - but it’s for sure a similarly premium product.
Much about this pedal is pretty innovative - but especially the Variable Clipping MOOD Control / Circuit and specific EQ section.
There are a couple of petty annoyances right off the bat for me. In that this is yet another device requiring a Midi Controller to get full utility as you can get 127 Presets via MIDI - but only a Single one onboard - kind of out of the Strymon / Universal Audio playbook - and severely limiting in my opinion. I’m also not convinced it need be quite this large or expansive footprint-wise - as its dimensions of 112 mm deep x 164 mm wide x 52 mm tall (4.4" deep x 6.5" wide x 2" tall) mark it out as a fully large workstation-size box - meaning it’s relatively poor on pedalboard-friendliness / Tetris abilities!
Hopefully there will be a future BB-Vertical format edition to make up for it. I certainly think it’s pretty fairly priced, suitably innovative and up to its promise - but I also have some reservations about it - as just mentioned!
Controls - Mid, Mood (Clipping Style), Volume (up to +30V @ Max), Post-Clipping Tone, Pre-Clipping Tone, Drive, Preset Footswitch, On/Off Footswitch.
Operation of the device could not be simpler really - where it all centres around that smart ’Mood’ control - which allows you to vary the clipping style from clean, open, soft, and smooth sine-wave - through progressive levels of harder clipping - right up to a sharp-angled shallow square-wave - which most of you will be aware is proper Fuzz territory in nature.
This means you can gradually increase the clipping - taking in circuit types like Blues Breaker, Klon and Tube Screamer - through mid-crunchy Plexi-like distortion and onto proper square-wave style Fuzz - depending on obviously how the Drive and EQ is setup too.
What’s really clever about the MOOD is that as you rotate the dial - not only does it get progressively harder clipping - is also ranges through Symmetrical and Asymmetrical clipping - shortening one side of the curve then the other - before balancing them out again and moving on through the range. It’s that complex combination which makes it particularly smart!
Animated GIF courtesy of Kernom.com
EQ and Tone Stack considerations are a major consideration for Gain pedals - and I feel that the PRE / POST EQ with adjustable MIDS control is a really clever and distinct take on that. You should be aware though that this is still what I determine a ’ballpark’ device. Meaning you can certainly get into all those different overdrive pedal territories - but since each of those has unique and distinct clipping components including many rare and discrete parts (Caps, Resistors, Diodes and Transistors) - you get fairly subtle and yet significant differences among leading examples - for connoisseurs of this craft.
I’ve spent many a year exploring some very capable Multi-Drive pedals - including of course my well-loved BYOC Crown Jewel and Chase Bliss Automatone pedals, Boss OD-200, DSM & Humboldt Silver Linings, Empress Multidrive and Origin Effects Custom RevivalDRIVE - which do a similar thing to the Kernom Ridge but via fairly different means.
There is no Q-Bandwidth control for the Kernom Ridge - which I feel is essential for getting down some of those circuit nuances. Which is why I determine all these as ’ballpark’ devices - as many of my stand-alone pedals have unique and distinct signature voicings which cannot really be fully replicated in a generic manner.
What the Kernom Ridge does though is really clever and quite revolutionary for these Multi-Drive type pedals. I do feel though it’s just the first step in this new direction - the tip of the spear as such - and there will be even more impressive and capable devices on the horizon deploying similar technology.
My main sticking points here are the single onboard preset and the size of the pedal - which makes it not particularly practical in my setup. The Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp MKII is a better proposition for me overall - despite its size disadvantage.
I feel Kernom will sell plenty of Ridge Augmented Overdrives as the concept is such a solid one - but its extended dimensions and elements of limiting format / onboard features certainly count against it. Down as a ’nice-to-have’ for me.
I may still get one - depending on pricing / availability etc. etc. will be interesting in any case to see who follows where the Kernom Ridge has taken the lead - exciting times ahead indeed!
Key Features & Specs
- MOOD continuous control for an infinite number of different clipping flavours
- From ultra clean boost to full overdriven high gain DRIVE (not quite metal though!)
- PRE TONE acting before the clipping stage - the way the pedal reacts to your guitar
- POST TONE acting after the clipping stage to precisely tailor your output sound, from Fat and Heavy to a Bright Beautiful Chime
- Highly responsive MID EQ to shape the way your sound sits in the mix
- Expression Pedal input
- MIDI IN and MIDI OUT with full control over ALL the parameters
- 30V Output Voltage from standard 9V DC [-] Input - for ultimate dynamics through to punishing your amp using the VOLUME knob
- 5mm thick tour-ready aluminium casing
- True Bypass with relay
- 1 Single onboard Preset, 127 Presets accessible via MIDI
- Dimensions : 164 mm wide x 52 mm tall (4.4" deep x 6.5" wide x 2" tall)
- Weight : 850g (1.8 lbs)
- RRP : €299
Demos
12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Compact Edition
