Description
The Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel is a preamp-style overdrive that captures the spirit of classic British amps from the '60s and '70s, without tying itself to just one. Think of it as a refined blend of Super Bass-inspired circuits and plexi-era flavor, delivering articulate low-gain chime, crunchy overdrive, and rich, focused lead tones. If you're chasing that vintage amp feel and want a drive pedal that plays like a real preamp, the Citadel is made for the job.
What makes this one stand out is its dual gain structure. You get separate Bright and Normal gain controls, letting you blend sparkling top-end bite with thick, wooly low mids, just like bridging channels on a vintage amp. A 3-band EQ (Bass, Midrange, Treble) lets you tailor the tone, whether you're using it for light breakup, stackable grit, or standalone overdrive in an amp-less setup. The EQ is subtle but musical, and really shines in clean to mid-gain ranges. The Master control has plenty of output on tap, so it can easily push the front end of an amp or sit at the heart of a direct rig.
It runs on standard 9V power and uses relay-based true bypass switching. The Citadel has enough headroom to work well with other pedals in front of it, including boosts and fuzzes. We've seen it used both as a high-quality drive pedal and as a primary tone-shaping preamp for fly rigs and recording boards. It's versatile, amp-like, and built with a deep respect for classic tone.
Specifications:
- Bypass: Relay switching, true bypass
- Input Impedance: 500k Ohm @ 1kHz
- Output Impedance: 1k Ohm @ 1kHz
- Power Requirements: 9V DC, center-negative, 2.1mm barrel
- Current Draw: 65mA (use 100mA minimum regulated/isolated supply)
- Controls: Bright Gain, Normal Gain, Bass, Midrange, Treble, Master
Sku: EA-CIT
