Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel JFET Preamp Overdrive Pedal | No Limit Guitar Co, Idaho Falls
The Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel preamp-style overdrive pedal captures the legendary British amplifier tones of the 1960s and '70s through sophisticated JFET circuitry. This versatile drive pedal delivers everything from warm, piano-like cleans to bright, clear overdrive and sizzling lead tones without emulating a single specific amplifier model. Professional guitarists and recording artists seeking authentic tube amp response in a compact pedal format will find the Citadel's dual-channel architecture and comprehensive tone controls indispensable.
Product Overview
The Citadel features a unique dual-channel gain structure with independent Bright and Normal channels that can be blended to taste. The Bright channel delivers chimey sparkle and articulation, while the Normal channel provides dark, full-bodied warmth. This parallel gain architecture allows players to dial in everything from glassy edge-of-breakup tones to thick, saturated lead sounds with exceptional harmonic complexity.
The pedal's FMV-style three-band tone stack faithfully recreates the moderately mid-scooped character of classic Fender, Marshall, and Vox amplifiers. These authentic tone controls interact naturally with the gain stages, providing subtle but musical tonal shaping that responds like a real tube amp. The robust enclosure houses relay-based true bypass switching and precision controls that maintain their settings through countless gigs.
Electronic Audio Experiments designed the Citadel to emulate both preamp and power amp sections of vintage British tube amplifiers, creating full-bodied overdrive that responds dynamically to your playing. The pedal excels as a standalone drive or as the foundation of an ampless rig, accepting boosts, drives, and fuzzes in front with the same interactive response as a high-quality amplifier. A powerful Master volume control ensures the Citadel can deliver clean headroom when needed or push your amp into natural breakup.
Ideal For
- Classic rock and blues players seeking authentic British amplifier tones without hauling vintage gear
- Studio musicians building ampless recording rigs that require realistic tube amp response
- Touring guitarists who need reliable, consistent overdrive tones across different backline amplifiers
- Pedalboard architects looking for a responsive foundation that stacks well with other gain pedals
- Session players requiring versatile overdrive from pristine cleans to saturated leads in one pedal
Key Features
Dual-Channel Parallel Gain Architecture
The Citadel's innovative dual-channel design features independent Bright and Normal gain controls that operate in parallel. Blend the chimey, articulate Bright channel with the dark, full-bodied Normal channel to create your signature overdrive voice, from single-channel purity to complex two-channel saturation that captures the depth of boutique amplifiers.
Authentic FMV Tone Stack
The three-band equalizer replicates the legendary Fender/Marshall/Vox tone circuit topology found in classic British amplifiers. This moderately mid-scooped, interactive EQ delivers subtle yet musical tonal shaping that works naturally with your guitar's pickups and responds authentically across clean to medium-gain settings.
Complete Preamp and Power Amp Emulation
Unlike simple overdrive circuits, the Citadel emulates both preamp and power amp sections of tube amplifiers through sophisticated JFET cascading. This comprehensive approach delivers full-bodied, three-dimensional overdrive with natural compression and harmonic richness that responds to volume knob adjustments and pedal stacking just like a real tube amp.
Exceptional Gain Stacking Response
The Citadel's high input impedance and amp-like circuit design make it incredibly responsive to pedals placed before it. Boost pedals add punch and sustain, overdrive pedals push the circuit into higher gain territories, and fuzz pedals interact musically—all maintaining clarity and definition like running pedals into a quality amplifier's front end.
Professional Relay Bypass System
Soft-touch relay switching eliminates mechanical wear and switching noise while maintaining true bypass signal integrity. The relay system provides silent, reliable operation through thousands of performances, and the pedal's over-voltage protection ensures your investment stays protected against power supply mishaps.
What's Included
- Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel JFET Preamp Overdrive Pedal
- Manufacturer's warranty
- Power adapter not included (requires regulated 9V DC, center negative, 100mA minimum)
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Bypass | Relay switching with true bypass |
| Input Impedance | 500kΩ @ 1kHz |
| Output Impedance | 1kΩ @ 1kHz |
| Power Requirements | 9V DC, 2.1mm center negative barrel |
| Current Draw | 65mA (100mA minimum PSU recommended) |
| Controls | Bright Gain, Normal Gain, Bass, Midrange, Treble, Master |
| Tone Stack | FMV (Fender/Marshall/Vox) style 3-band EQ |
| Circuit Type | JFET-based preamp and power amp emulation |
| Channel Architecture | Dual parallel gain channels (Bright and Normal) |
Get Your Hands on This Overdrive Pedal Today
Discover why the Citadel has become a favorite among professional guitarists at No Limit Guitar Co in Idaho Falls, where you can experience its authentic British amplifier tones through our selection of amps. Our experienced staff can demonstrate the pedal's dual-channel capabilities and help you find your ideal overdrive sound. Visit our Idaho Falls guitar store today or contact us to add legendary British tube amp tones to your pedalboard.
