Germanium Aspen

When I first started building pedals, I kept hearing about the “magic” of germanium diodes, so I tracked down a small stash from a seller online. I had just enough to build five pedals. For fun, I tried them in the Aspen circuit, and immediately fell in love with the tone. The clipping was softer, the highs smoothed out, and the whole thing just felt more alive.

I built the other four and gave them to close friends; swearing them to secrecy, because I thought I could never make more.

About a year later, I stumbled onto another batch on eBay and bought every last one. I don’t have an endless supply, but I have enough now to share.

This first Custom Shop release is just 10 pedals, all hand-built with through-hole parts, no surface-mount. I may eventually build more, but I'm not sure when I'll have the chance again.

That’s part of what makes the Germanium Aspen special. It’s the Aspen you know, but with those rare diodes shaping the sound in a way silicon just can’t.

Available exclusively in Midnight Black with Mocha knobs.