Tilt EQ: This new ingredient adds a tilt equalizer to the mix. This is a particular type of active, one-knob equalizer that establishes a centerpoint in the frequency spectrum and adjusts the surrounding frequencies. Picture a seesaw that is controlled by a knob, with one side being all frequencies below the center point, and the other being all frequencies above the center point. As one side is lowered, the other is raised. The center point of this circuit is 800Hz, and 12:00 noon on the knob is completely balanced; nothing boosted, nothing cut. Turning this knob up boosts >800 and cuts <800. The opposite is also true. We’ve used a knob with a handy center “click” so you can easily find the centerpoint if you’d like to disengage the EQ in a pinch.

Volume: It does the thing. And be careful, there’s a lot!

Contour: This knob is almost like a second gain control and a mids control all in one. Much like a variable version of a real tube amp’s feedback, the Contour control feeds a variable amount of signal from the output back into the middle of the circuit, which elevates the midrange and provides some gloss and gooey saturation. Pretty cool, huh?

Gain: Turn this knob up for more distortion, more harmonics, and more chug. This control is very interactive with the Contour control.