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The Prunes & Custard (P&C) is a two-stage circuit with a preamp and a special waveshaping distortion circuit. The preamp's gain is adjusted using the Drive control, and there’s a treble roll-off between the preamp and distortion, which can be altered with the Guitar/Bass switch.
The distortion stage produces strong odd harmonics, with higher harmonics introduced by increasing the Drive setting. This allows decaying bass notes to sound like a sweeping filter. Playing double notes can create musical intermodulation effects similar to a ring modulator.
The Mix control balances output between the preamp (counterclockwise) and distortion stage (clockwise), usually set around 10 to 12 o'clock for bass. A high Mix setting with lower Drive works well for guitar overdrive. If both controls are set high, the sound may lack fundamental tones, especially with bass, but the Lo Freq. The contour switch helps mix in low frequencies.
In live situations, the P&C can be driven from an aux send to a spare input channel, with the Mix set to maximum, allowing for EQ on the distortion effect. This is useful for overdriven snare and tom sounds. To manage feedback, consider using a noise gate on the return.
Key Features
Unique Harmonic Generator & Distortion Pedal – Designed by Paul Crowther (of Split Enz fame), delivering rich, harmonically complex drive tones.
Dynamic Touch Response – Reacts to your playing intensity; cleans up with softer picking, growls when you dig in.
Harmonic Emphasis Control – Blends and shapes even-order harmonics for everything from smooth overdrive to wild synth-like textures.
Drive and Level Controls – Fine-tune gain structure and output for perfect amp or pedalboard integration.
Guitar & Bass Friendly – Equally effective for guitars, bass, or synths thanks to full-frequency response and organic tone shaping.
Interactive Gain Circuit – The input signal dynamically drives the harmonic generator for expressive, musical distortion.
Hand-Built in New Zealand–Boutique craftsmanship and premium analogue circuitry ensure superior sound and reliability.
True Bypass Switching – Preserves your tone when the pedal is off.
Favoured by Experimental Players – Known for producing unique, “fuzzy synth” sounds and harmonically rich textures not found in standard overdrives.
Legendary Pedigree – A cult classic since the 1990s, used by artists across genres from alternative rock to electronica.
