Sunnaudio goes big with the Nucleus NU-1 dual boost preamp
Two-channel pedal sports high-gain boost, deep tone shaping features and, if you desire, oversized red footswitches
Last year Sunnaudio introduced the Rabbithead RH-1, an all-analog integrative preamp and overdrive. Now the California-based company is back with the Nucleus NU-1, a dual boost, clean-to-high-gain analog preamp that promises “harmonically rich saturated sounds” for electric guitars and bass, and can also be used with most passive or active acoustic guitar pickups.
The preamp boasts two channels – Hi, which spans from “rich clean tones to full saturated grind,” and Lo, which starts clear and increases to overdriven breakup. A Hi gain boost puts out up to 60db of gain, while both Hi and Lo channel volume outputs can be set independently and are switchable via a HI/LO footswitch. Both channels also share gain and EQ for streamlined operation.
Additionally, a Focus button adjusts sub-harmonic frequencies to add to a bass signal or contour an overdriven guitar sound, while a Tone knob allows for additional mid shaping.
The Nucleus boasts true bypass, features an external DC jack and runs on 9V battery power.
It’s available at an introductory price of $265 (though those awesome oversized footswitch covers, which come in red, blue and green, will run you an extra $10).
For more information or to purchase, head to Sunnaudio.
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Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.
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