Jackson Audio | EL GUAPO | Mateus Asato Signature Distortion Overdrive
The Mateus Asato Signature El Guapo Overdrive/Distortion was developed over a 10+ prototype revision process. During this two year process every detail was painstakingly refined to ensure that both the distortion and overdrive channels would work together to recreate the soulful overdriven tones, as well as the liquid high gain tones that legendary guitarist Mateus Asato is known for!
Designed as a complete 'Marshall-in-a-box' pedal, the distortion channel of the El Guapo features a high-gain distortion circuit that perfectly recreates the detail and harmonic complexity of the legendary JCM800 amplifier, while the overdrive channel delivers the smooth overdrive and touch sensitivity of a vintage Marshall Plexi.
Keep reading to learn more about the El Guapo and why it is easily the most powerful and comprehensive 'Marshall-in-a-box' ever created!
DISTORTION OVERVIEW
The distortion channel of the EL GUAPO is a high-gain, hard-clipping circuit that is based on the Marshall JCM800. Because of this, the resulting tone is very open, crisp and addictingly fun to play! Everything from 80's hard rock to more modern high gain tones can easily be found in the EL GUAPO!
GAIN CYCLE
GAIN CYCLE takes the GAIN knob setting, which selects your maximum gain, and divides that level of gain into 4 equal parts. Say for instance you have your GAIN knob set at the maximum setting or in other words, 100% gain. Every time you press both footswitches simultaneously, the gain of the pedal will jump up 25% until you get to 100%. The following press after 100% will cause the gain cycle to start again at 25%.
3-BAND ACTIVE EQ
To top it off, the distortion circuit of the EL GUAPO has a 3 band parametric EQ. The EQ circuit features a studio grade EQ that gives tremendous tonal flexibility to the EL GUAPO. Based on the legendary Baxandall EQ that is featured in countless studio EQ’s, the EL GUAPO EQ takes this circuit and tailors it for guitarists!
Another feature of the EQ that is unique to the EL GUAPO is there are 6 internal trimmers that allow the player to adjust the Q (how narrow or wide the selected frequency is) and frequency select of each EQ band. This is an advanced feature of the EL GUAPO and care should be taken as extreme settings can make the EQ sound unmusical.
DRIVE OVERVIEW
The drive circuit in the EL GUAPO is a soft clipping circuit that was designed to capture the smooth overdrive and touch responsiveness of a vintage Marshall Plexi.
This circuit, which is in its own true bypass loop, can be used independently of the DIST circuit and is very useful for boosting the front end of the distortion circuit for even higher gain.
Just like the distortion circuit, the overdrive circuit on the EL GUAPO features 4 clipping presets so you can adjust the tone and feel of the overdrive.
MIDI FEATURES
It's 2020 and it's time to expect more from an analog pedals! Since the BROKEN ARROW came out in 2019, our more advanced overdrive pedals have featured MIDI control over clipping presets, gain cycle options, drive eq options as well as ON/OFF of the overdrive and drive circuits and the EL GUAPO is no exception.
TECHNICAL SPECS
- True Bypass for each channel
- Input Impedance: 1M
- Output Impedance: 100k
- Power Supply: DC
- Voltage Input: 9V MAX
- Polarity: Center Negative
- Min Current Required: 160mA
- Dimensions: 2.7” x 4.875″