Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Klowra's Gnash Dual-Channel Analog Distortion is an incredible, vibrant, harmonic All-THT-components versatile Multi-Gain pedal - covering Boost, Overdrive, Fuzz, and Distortion - all the way up to super high-gain!
This is a fantastic departure from Klowra’s usual DSP roots. Here we have their first entirely analog all-THT components circuit - and it sounds absolutely killer! In one of the pictures below you can see the high quality internals of this pedal - which deliver the most richly harmonically textured Overdrive, Fuzz and Distoriton tones. This pedal is fun for weeks if not months - it has such a high potential. And is one of the most versatile multi-gain pedals of all time - alongside my long-term favourite Tavysh HARM.
I tend to prefer using both the Gnash channels together as that delivers a richer more harmonically loaded output - and I’m all about the texture!
The Wavefolder / Hard-Clipper switch is the gateway to Fuzz textures on the device. You can also Mid-Scoop / Black-Box Flatten the output, and when both channels are active you can set either Series or Parallel stacking of the 2 Channels.
For me this is a balancing exercise between Channel 1 Distortion and Channel 2 Gain, and Channel 1 Treble, and Channel 2 Tone - you are forever getting the balance of those correct - before then applying the Master control to set the appropriate output level.
Note that all controls are highly interactive, it reminds me a little of dialling in the Kernom Moho (another long-term favourite) - where every knob and control impacts the output texture. The same is the case for this Gnash - as even the Master control can impact the character and timbre to a degree.
Above you can see the high quality internal THT components
You are rewarded with a beautifully richly textured output - full of harmonic content, and exactly as I like it. Running the pedal with Mid-Scoop on delivers significantly more low end - so if you like things slightly 'bassy' then that's the switch for you.
Everything about this pedal is beautifully thought out - it's incredibly versatile and extended range - reaching very high gain and very high output volume if you need it!
This is now instantly my favourite Klowra pedal. It's not quite as expansive as the Tavysh HARM - but is a similarly ingenious killer multi-gain pedal. The Gnash and HARM are pretty much in a category of their own - and at just a $110 this is a fuzz / drive / distortion unit that everyone should own.
The Klowra engineers are on fire here - this is an all-round killer release. Wholly unprecedented for a $110 pedal - just every way amazing. Props to Klowra for this - already one of my pedals of the year. This, the DSM & Humboldt Dumblifier, and Drunk Beaver Olbia Super-Klone - are all likely to feature at the top of the Best of Categories at the end of the year - all 3 are supreme!
The Controls
The Controls - MAIN CHANNEL 1 } Distortion, Treble, Master, CHANNEL 2 } Gain, Tone, MODS / SNAP-MODS } Series / Parallel Stacking (when both Channels are Active), Mid-Scoop / Flat Black-Box EQ, Wavefolder / Hard Clipper.
Ports - 1/4" TS Mono In, 1/4" TRS CTRL, 9V DC [-] 90mA, 1/4" TS Mono Out
The controls can be quite sensitive - and a little movement often results in a lot of gain - so you are deftly balancing up all those values for the optimal textured output.
You can of course use Channel 1 on its own, and in fact mostly dial that down when using Channel 2 - so you have a way of isolating both channels - while for me the pedal sounds its best when you're mixing up both sides.
It can be a very delicate process to dial in - first finely adjusting the 2 gain levels, then the Treble & Tone controls, and finally the Master level at the end.
The Series / Parallel MOD only works when both channels are active obviously. You hit the right-hand LED button to activate Channel 2 (left Red LED comes on!), and various press-hold options set the SNAP-MOD status - and how that interacts with the footswtich - as detailed below.
The EQ switch is basically Mid-Scoop or Flat - Mid-Scoop delivers more low end! And finally the Wavefolder / Hard-Clipper switch sets Fuzzy Folded-Over Distortion vs more conventional Hard-Clipping Distortion. Both those options deliver Overdrive tones at relatively low gain, while at higher gain you get distinctly Fuzz or Distortion Outputs. For me The Fuzz sounds best as a parallel mix of the two channels!
SNAP-MOD
Snap-Mod lets you save a MOD selection as a snapshot and switch to it instantly for
tonal changes. When Snap-Mod is off, the sound returns to the current MOD selection.
- Save Snap-Mod : Press & hold the LED Button - Successful save is indicated by the LED blinking violet.
- How to Activate/Exit : Press & hold the footswitch - When the LED turns violet, you've entered Snap-Mod.
EXTERNAL CONTROL / CTRL
You can assign Single or Dual Footswitch Remote via CTRL TRS - where the Single switch will activate the 2nd Channel, and the Dual Switch will activate both the 2nd Channel, and Toggle the Snap-Mod On and Off.
The Gnash in Use
The Gnash is the easiest of the Klowra pedals to master - while it does require some diligence on dial-in - where those knobs are best served by tiny safe-cracker like movements - and just a millimetre of travel can change a lot.
So many pedals are about balancing different parameters and values - and that is so much the case here.
Achieving the right balance between the 2 Gain Controls, and the Right definition via the 2 Tone Controls - where the Master Level is then the final adjustment.
You can do a lot of things with just the 1st Channel - but I consistently preferred combining the two Channels - that delivers a much more harmonically textured and richer output - which is exactly to my preferences. If you're after something very subtle - then Channel 1 will work fine on its own. But for greater nuance, timbre and texture - you need to get used to mixing up both sides.
Diligent application delivers exceptional Overtive, Fuzz and Distortion tones. You can have a relatively clean boost by dialling the gains down and the Master up. While the real forte of the Gnash is in generating those glorious harmonic and vibrant textures.
Hopefully you will like my core Overdrive, Fuzz and Distortion presets below - I discarded a whole lot of presets on the way to those.
Generally I have no complains about this pedal - just praise! - it performs beautifully wherever you point the dials - and has so much range onboard - you are really well covered - all the way up to high-gain.
I will always lean into the more textured nature of these kinds of devices - and this Gnash is every-way superb for me. Everyone should own one. Albeit there is some skill / deft application needed on the dial-in on occasion.
A really beautifully engineered pedal - wholly exceptional!
Some Preferred Presets
The Gnash has so much potency - you can turn it to so many different tasks. It's possibly a couple of controls short for covering every conceivable style of overdrive and distortion - vs say the Tavysh Harm. But it really delivers with aplomb in every area!
I deliberately lean into the maximum harmonic texture in designed my presets. I'm very satisfied with each of these!
- OVERDRIVE : Just 8 o'c on both Gain dials, with Parallel, Mid-Scoop, and Wavefolder Mods selected on those 3 switches. The 2 Tone controls very subtly adjusted too! The Wavefolder is typically used for Fuzz tones - while at low-gain it delivers beautifully textured Overdrive / Fuzzy-Drive too!
- FUZZ - Wavefolder to the fore here - also Parallel Stacking sounds best, EQ still relatively flat!
- DISTORTION - Conventional Hard-Clipper applied, Series Stacking and Mid-Scoop for more punchy low end. And then the second Tone control adjusted all the way up - to perfectly combine with the heft of Channel 1. Quite a dense and chunky highly saturated Distortion. Again with some deft balancing of the the Channel Gain / Distortion controls.
Availability
This absolutely world-class Gnash Dual-Channel Analog Multi-Gain pedal is normally available on the Klowra Wesbtore, and select International Dealers, and on Amazon.com for a wholly incredible $110.
This is the one budget pedal that everyone should own. It's currently the best compact multi-gain pedal available since the Tavysh HARM was discontinued.
I love every single aspect of this pedal - this is more genius engineering from Klowra. This and the Rilum make for an absolute killer pairing - and the Klowra Verdict - can extend that gain range into various further octave and even more complex harmonic territory.
Just get one now - you won't be disappointed!
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