Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword

Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword – Op-amp overdrive/distortion with active EQ, Mid Shift & Boost

Cascaded gain stages · Clean boost to massive distortion · Baxandall Low/High shelves · Active Mid with Shift · 3-mode clipping (MOSFET / no diodes / silicon) · Boost up to +20 dB

The Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword is an op-amp based drive that starts in familiar territory, then adds genuinely useful twists. Cascaded gain stages deliver the full range from clean boost and light grit to heavy drive and big distortion, while keeping tonal flexibility front and center.

Its EQ is a standout: Low/High use a James/Baxandall shelving stack for smooth, musical shaping, while the Mid control is active (boost/cut) and paired with a Shift selector to choose the mid frequency being shaped. That combination makes it easy to carve space in dense mixes, push forward for leads, or dial in tighter, more focused rhythm tones.

A 3-position Diode switch changes clipping feel, dynamics, and headroom:

• Up (MOSFET): medium compression, rounded response

• Center (no diodes): minimal compression, more headroom

• Down (silicon): maximum compression, firmer attack

For extra punch, the Longsword includes a Boost footswitch that engages a front-end mid boost, while the Boost knob adds up to +20 dB of gain when Boost is active.

With its broad frequency response, the Longsword works equally well on guitar, baritone, and bass, whether as a main gain stage or stacked with other drives.

Key features

• Op-amp drive with cascaded gain stages: clean boost to massive distortion

• Powerful EQ: Baxandall Low/High shelves + active Mid with Shift frequency selection

• 3-way clipping switch (MOSFET / no diodes / silicon)

• Boost footswitch with front-end mid boost

• Boost knob adds up to +20 dB when engaged

• Broad frequency response for guitar, baritone, and bass

• Relay switching with true bypass

Technical specifications

• Bypass: relay switching with true bypass

• Input impedance @ 1 kHz: 500 kΩ

• Output impedance @ 1 kHz: 1 kΩ

• Power: 9V DC, 2.1 mm center negative

• Current draw: 75 mA

• Recommended PSU: regulated, isolated, 100 mA minimum

• Protection: reverse polarity + over-voltage up to 24V

• Battery: not supported

Controls

• Level: output volume

• Drive: light grit to heavy overdrive

• Low/High: James/Baxandall shelving stack

• Mid: active mid boost/cut

• Shift: selects the mid frequency

• Diode: MOSFET / no diodes / silicon clipping

• Boost (footswitch): front-end mid boost

• Boost (knob): up to +20 dB when engaged

Finish variants (availability dependent)
Standard, Acid Etch, Rose Gold, Camouflage, Purple, Teal, 2025 10 Year Edition (and other special runs).

Find the EAE Longsword and a carefully curated selection of boutique pedals at onemorepedal.com, your specialist store for high-end guitar effects.

A familiar drive idea, executed with surgical tone-shaping tools.