A Boost for the Music Industry
The world has been going through some incredibly challenging times lately, with so many people in the live music industry losing their work and livelihoods due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At Hamstead, we’ve put together a plan so that we can play our part to help. Built by techs from bands including AC/DC, Biffy Clyro, and Iggy Pop, this is Ascent: more than just a high grade, pure clean boost, but a pedal that gives back to the core of the live music scene.
The idea
The concept came to us when trying to think of ways to directly help some of the people in the live music industry that have lost their work and livelihoods. All major festivals this summer and most, if not all, gigs for the rest of the year have been cancelled, leaving the future very uncertain.
Ascent has been designed to be made remotely by backline technicians who we can pay for their time and skills, creating a really special pedal, built by the pros, in the process. This amazing group of techs includes those from AC/DC, Iggy Pop, The 1975, Mumford & Sons, and Queen. Each and every Ascent will be hand soldered, signed and dated by the tech that built it.
What is ascent ?
Ascent is a pure clean boost pedal, offering a huge 20dB of gain with near-zero tonal colouration across the whole frequency range. This is of course coupled with Peter Hamstead’s usual design refinements including ±15v internally isolated power for super high 30v headroom and a VCA-based design for an incredibly linear and transparent boost.