Ashdown Lomenzo Mega Drive Bass Guitar Pedal

Full Description

Signature tone with focused distortion

This pedal captures James LoMenzo’s signature approach to distortion: tight, musical and never overpowering. Unlike standard overdrive pedals, the VU Load Variable Drive focuses the distortion on a tunable band within the midrange, leaving your low-end intact. You can dial in exactly where the drive effect is applied using the HP and LP filter controls, which sweep between 210Hz and 3kHz, and 100Hz to 330Hz, respectively. This means you can emphasise attack, growl or bite while keeping your clean bass punch fully present in the mix.

Dual mix controls for total balance

Many bass overdrives compromise low-end clarity. The VU Load Variable Drive avoids this by giving you separate mix controls for your dry and driven signals. The Bypass Mix control sets how much of the clean bass signal remains, preserving warmth and body. The Drive Mix control then blends in the level of the distorted signal layered over the top. This dual-mix setup allows you to craft drive tones that are textured but never overpowering, keeping your bass powerful in any mix.

Adaptable for all bass setups

The onboard Input control lets you match the pedal to different instrument output levels, so you can use it with passive or active basses without unwanted volume spikes or signal degradation. This control fine-tunes the way the pedal responds to your playing dynamics and ensures you maintain a consistent signal level through your chain.

True bypass switching keeps your tone clean when the pedal is off, and the compact format fits easily onto most pedalboards. With a current draw of 45mA and 9V operation, it integrates with most standard power supplies used by gigging musicians.

Built for live performance and creative tone shaping

The VU Load Variable Drive is not just about aggression. It’s a versatile tone-shaping tool designed for creative players who want detailed control. The rotary Drive control acts like a gain knob, letting you adjust the intensity of the distortion from light texture to high gain growl. Combined with the filter section and mix controls, this allows you to create sounds that cut through, sit back or shape your tone for different styles and line-ups.

Built in a road-ready housing and finished with a clear visual layout, this pedal is made for bassists who want flexibility and focus on stage and in the studio. Personally signed off by James LoMenzo, the VU Load Variable Drive stands as both a creative tool and a professional-grade piece of kit.

Specifications

• Power Requirement: 9 Volt. Power Supply Required
• Dimensions H x W x D (mm): 145.50 x 116.20 x 65
• Weight (kg): 0.9
• Product Code: JLO-MEGADRIVE