Hamstead launches the Ascent Boost, built by out-of-work tour techs

Hamstead Soundworks has announced a new boost pedal, entitled the Ascent. Its name is more than just a trendy-sounding word, but reflects the fact the pedal intends to give work to live music techs out of work due to the ongoing worldwide pandemic.

Each unit is hand-soldered, signed and dated by a team of pro music techs, and in addition to this 10 percent of the profits from the pedal will go towards Help Musicians UK, a relief fund providing support for music professionals who’ve been impacted by COVID-19.

The pedal itself is a single-knob clean boost, providing 20dB of transparent gain thanks to its high-headroom internal voltage.

Hamstead Soundworks said of the pedal and the surrounding initiative in a statement: “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.

“We have an amazing group of techs from bands including AC/DC, Iggy Pop, The 1975, Mumford & Sons and Queen on board to build the pedals. Each pedal will be hand soldered, signed and dated by the tech that built it.

“Another key part of the concept is to give techs who are suddenly out of work a project to be creative and 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.”

The pedal is available exclusively through Reverb.com, listing for £159 / $199. Order one here.