A boost that does more than boost
At first glance, Mostard looks like a clean boost—and it is. But inside, it’s built very differently from most pedals in that category. Instead of relying on a standard gain circuit that just turns everything up (including the stuff you don’t want), Mostard was designed to be smart about how and where it boosts.
It doesn’t just make your sound louder.
It makes it clearer, snappier, and more balanced.
Beyond the feedback loop
In most boost circuits, the gain control sits inside the feedback loop of the op-amp. That means when you turn it up, you’re increasing gain across the board—including lows, which can quickly overwhelm your amp or other pedals. That’s where the boom, mud, and occasional flub come from.
Mostard takes a different path.
Its main gain is set inside the feedback loop—carefully tuned for clarity and headroom. But the actual gain control sits after that stage, in the tail end of the circuit. This means you get full control over your output level without dragging along unwanted low-end buildup.
And here’s the twist: the way that gain control interacts with the rest of the circuit actually brightens the sound as you turn it up. The more you push it, the more your tone gains presence and definition—without sounding brittle or harsh.
Tone shaping that matters
After the gain stage, the signal flows into a 3-band EQ voiced specifically for guitar.
- Low tightens boom or adds body
- Mid clears out boxiness or brings in presence
- High softens fizz or adds sparkle and air
The frequencies are tuned to work with real-world gear—dark amps, single-coils, humbuckers, fuzz pedals, whatever you throw at it. The controls are musical and easy to dial in. You won’t get lost twisting knobs—you’ll find your sound faster.
A final polish
Before reaching the output, one last shaping stage quietly smooths things out—trimming any remaining harshness or low-end clutter. It’s subtle, but it helps Mostard play well with others, whether it’s hitting the front of a vintage amp or stacking into a complex pedalboard.
Think of it like a mastering touch before the final mix. The result? A boost that sounds balanced at any setting.
From start to finish
Mostard’s architecture is simple on paper, but each stage is carefully tuned to serve the next. With the gain structure placed after the core voicing, an EQ designed for snap, and a final polish stage to keep everything balanced, Mostard does more than lift your signal. It lifts your tone.
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