Vs Audio Aftermath

A Modern "Tube Amp" Distortion, by VS Audio

The Aftermath was designed to recreate the gain structure and feel of a saturating tube preamp, while remaining practical on a modern pedalboard. Its CMOS technology delivers a dense and lively grain, with a response that recalls the "punch" of an amp when played harder, and also knows how to calm down when playing softer.

Within the VS Audio range, the Aftermath positions itself as a versatile "big sound" solution: a drive section capable of covering a wide range, complemented by a transparent boost that can be activated on demand to gain level, sustain, or push an already driven amp.

Who Is the Aftermath For, and Which Styles Does It Excel In?

This pedal is aimed at guitarists who want expressive distortion without sacrificing clarity: from muscular rock to hard rock, up to modern metal when increasing gain and tightening the EQ. With more moderate settings, it becomes an excellent base overdrive for punchy rhythms or singing leads.

In the studio, the Aftermath is useful when seeking dense yet precise saturation, easy to fit into a mix thanks to the Bass/Treble controls. Live, its separate boost is formidable for cutting through the band without changing your entire tone: you keep your grain and gain impact.

Settings, Architecture, and Features

The Aftermath combines a complete saturation section and a switchable boost. The Gain and Volume knobs set the amount of saturation and output level, while Bass and Treble allow fine sculpting of the spectrum: more lows for a massive riff, more highs for a snappy pick attack, or the opposite to soften a bright amp.

The Boost has its own dedicated control and independent footswitch: you can use it as a solo boost, a clean boost to push the amp's input, or even to thicken another pedal placed before/after in the chain. The parallel relay switching enhances the feeling of precision and reliability in use, and the true bypass preserves your signal when the effect is off.

Sound Character

The Aftermath's character is clearly "amp"-oriented: a massive drive with a crisp attack, natural compression, and a great sense of note sustain under the fingers. The low end can stay solid without becoming muddy, while the high end retains presence without turning harsh if the Treble is carefully adjusted.

One of its strengths is its responsiveness : lowering the guitar volume opens and brightens the sound, allowing you to switch from a saturated lead to a milder crunch without changing settings. The result is a very enjoyable pedal for guitarists who play "with volume" and want distortion that respects picking dynamics.

Technical specifications

Effects	Boost, Distortion, Overdrive	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Yellow
EQ	2 channels

Effect type	distortion, overdrive, transparent clean boost	Output impedance	10 kohm
Circuit	analog, CMOS technology (tube preamp-type gain structure)	Noise floor	-87 dBV
Bypass	true bypass	Enclosure	metal
Switching	parallel relay switching	Dimensions	120 x 64 x 40 mm
Knobs	Volume, Gain, Bass, Treble, Boost	Weight	320 g
Footswitches	bypass, boost	Power supply	not included
Input	6.35mm TS jack (unbalanced)	Required power supply	9V DC, center negative
Output	6.35mm TS jack (unbalanced)	Current draw	44 mA
Input impedance	1 megaohm	Battery operation	no