A Boost for the Music Industry
The world has been going through some incredibly challenging times lately, with so many people in the live music industry losing their work and livelihoods due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At Hamstead, we’ve put together a plan so that we can play our part to help. Built by techs from bands including AC/DC, Biffy Clyro, and Iggy Pop, this is Ascent: more than just a high grade, pure clean boost, but a pedal that gives back to the core of the live music scene.
update - 2022
Ascent was originally designed to be assembled remotely by backline technicians to pay for their time and skills; creating a really special high-grade pure clean boost pedal, built by the pros, in the process. This amazing group of techs included those working with AC/DC, Iggy Pop, The 1975, Mumford & Sons, and Queen. Each and every Ascent was hand soldered, signed and dated by the tech that built it.
Thankfully, things are back to some form of normality and the techs involved in the project are now back at work, doing what they do best for some of the worlds finest artists and live acts all over the world. However, we still have a small stock of components and a limited quantity of 'B' stock cases remaining from the production run, so we have decided to assemble these in-house.
Ascent is a high-grade clean boost pedal that delivers an exceptionally transparent 20dB of boost with high headroom and silent switching.
There is a limited number of pedals in stock, shipping direct and worldwide. Available now - over 20% off!
the idea
The concept came to us when trying to think of ways to directly help some of the people in the live music industry that have lost their work and livelihoods. All major festivals this summer and most, if not all, gigs for the rest of the year have been cancelled, leaving the future very uncertain.
Ascent has been designed to be made remotely by backline technicians who we can pay for their time and skills, creating a really special pedal, built by the pros, in the process. This amazing group of techs includes those from AC/DC, Iggy Pop, The 1975, Mumford & Sons, and Queen. Each and every Ascent will be hand soldered, signed and dated by the tech that built it.
Ascent features our standard OptoKick footswitch from Daniel Steinhardt and the team at TheGigRig. They are also partnering with us to contribute 15% of the cost of every footswitch to the cause.
Another key part of the concept is to give techs who are suddenly out of work a project to be creative, providing a distraction from the sad state of the industry that we all know and love. The Ascent project is not just a quick fix, but designed to offer both financial and mental health support to people that make live music happen.
what is ascent ?
Ascent is a pure clean boost pedal, offering a huge 20dB of gain with near-zero tonal colouration across the whole frequency range. This is of course coupled with Peter Hamstead’s usual design refinements including ±15v internally isolated power for super high 30v headroom and a VCA-based design for an incredibly linear and transparent boost.
meet your makers
GERT MARCKX
IGGY POP,
NILE RODGERS & CHIC
DAVE WHITE
NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS,
BIFFY CLYRO, KASABIAN
RYAN WYATT
MUMFORD & SONS, THE NATIONAL,
FRIGHTENED RABBIT, MOGWAI
MATT TAG
THE 1975, LIAM GALLAGHER,
THURSTON MOORE
NEILL LAMBERT
COLDPLAY, THE WHITE STRIPES
THE FLAMING LIPS, PJ HARVEY
RUSTY
RIHANNA, GORILLAZ,
ELLIE GOULDING
SIMON MURTON
AC/DC,
GUNS N' ROSES
MATT RANDALL
QUEEN, MUMFORD & SONS, BEN HOWARD, ROYAL BLOOD, BLOC PARTY
WILL TAYLOR
FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES,
THE AMAZONS, YUNGBLUD
TOBY BURROW
CLEAN BANDIT, LABRINTH, DURAN DURAN
ANDY CORNS
IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST,
NICK MASON,
SPANDAU BALLET,
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
video gallery
order ascent
A limited number of B-Stock Ascents are now available to purchase. Over 20% off!
Ascent
- Light cosmetic damage
- Full 5 Year Warranty
Over 20% off! Was £159
UK: £129 (inc. 20% VAT)
US, EU & Worldwide: £107.50 (Local taxes apply)
Specification
- All-analogue design
- High Quality Buffered or True Bypass Operation
- Dimensions: 70w x 130d x 65h mm (inc. hardware)
- Weight: 490g / 1lbs
- Power Requirement: DC (centre negative)
9V - 165mA or 12V - 140mA or 18V - 115mA - Input Impedance: 600K Ohms
- Output Impedance: < 300 Ohms
- Warranty: 5 Year Limited Warranty
- Designed and built in Great Britain
Ascent has been extensively tested with a large range of familiar guitars and amplifiers to ensure that it will work superbly with any setup.
