The mid-1990s featured the launch of one of the guitar world’s most sought-after pedals, celebrated for its dual-overdrive capability and unique character. The NUX Horseman captures the historic musical mythos and distills it into a pocket-sized powerhouse that invokes an updated and enhanced version of the dual-overdrive aural alchemy that defined its iconic pedal predecessor. Its Treble, Output, and Gain controls give you the full suite of clean boosts and natural distortions that the op-amp design of the original’s voltage-converter circuit evoked. NUX hand-selected the Schottky diodes of the Horseman pedal, to faithfully emulate the indelible waveform-clipping output that the original’s now-discontinued germanium diodes were responsible for producing. But Music Experience’s 6-string sorcerers agree that the NUX Horseman’s Gold and Silver modes are what really set this centaur apart from the pack. While the Gold mode harkens to the sounds of its namesake ancestor, so too does the Silver mode, conjuring the harmonic-rich and high-headroom sonics of the past-version’s 18-volt design, without the need for upping the voltage supplied to the Horseman. Plus, the dual bypass modes — alongside the robust mini-sized chassis — ensure your sonic steed seamlessly integrates with myriad stage and studio setups.

What NUX Says...

Two In One Overdrive Pedal. One of the most sought-after dual overdrive pedals produced in the mid ’90s is now in one unique pedal design-with a pocket size. NUX Horseman pays homage to the legendary Centaur pedal. There are 3 dials for primary settings and 2 modes: Gold and Silver, and it offers massive headway usually requiring an 18v input. Gold Mode mimics its classic predecessor; the transparent Gold Centaur overdrive pedal and the Silver Mode is a powered-up version with an extended gain range (Silver Centaur).

NUX Unique Design

The sound is based on the Centaur’s voltage converter circuit. But the Horseman’s characteristic design is crafted with a built-in OP-AMP voltage-converter driving the 18V to OP-AMP. Higher voltage-supply orders-up more harmonics, and convincingly reproduces the sound of this unique pedal.

Clean Boost

Another “classic” way to use the NUX Horseman. Very useful when used in combination with the amplifiers drive channel (or any other drive pedal). And, depending on the Gain – Output adjustment, it lets the Horseman be used as a clean boost. Dial-up a low-gain with a high output setting, and it adds mostly volume and minimal color to your sound.

Natural Distortion

Additionally, the controls can be set to distort the sound signal in the pedal, where two Schottky diodes can perform a waveform clipping. ( The germanium diodes are discontinued, we especially select the Schottky diodes to replicate the waveform clipping ) The “gain” knob is a double potentiometer (a “dual-ganged gain pot”), which controls bass and middle frequencies. Treble and volume are each controlled with separate knobs.

True/Buffer Bypass

NUX Horseman has an optional bypass mode. You can use the pedal in True Bypass mode to keep your signal untouched when the pedal is OFF in the chain. We highly recommend to select buffer bypass mode if you have more than 4 pedals connected together; switch to Buffer Bypass mode and there will be no signal loss in your pedal chain! Push and hold the footswitch and power-up the pedal; the LED indicator will show which bypass mode is activated; RED – True Bypass / GREEN – Buffer Bypass.