Cornerstone Gladio MK3

Two channels, one rule: dynamics first. The double we discontinued in 2022, rebuilt around the two changes you kept asking for.

The Gladio we retired at the end of 2022 is back. The core is the same: two independent D-style preamps voiced for what happens under your fingers, before the amp. Everything else was rebuilt around two changes owners asked us to make.

The Bass trimpot that lived inside is now outside, improved. Channel 2, the more polarizing voice on the original, now has a Ratio control: a clean blend that restores attack and dynamic range without touching the gain. Same feel where it counted. Everything else, upgraded.

FEATURES

Everything in the Gladio serves dynamics and touch sensitivity. That was true in 2019, and it’s still true now. What changed on the mk3 is exactly what owners asked us to change: Bass on the outside, a Ratio control on the harder channel, two proper preamps that split into two pedals when you want them to.

TWO INDEPENDENT CHANNELS

Two full preamps in one enclosure, each with dedicated Gain, Volume and Tone. Channel 1: transparent and dynamic, full clean to dirty on pick attack alone. Set it once, play the rest with your right hand. Channel 2: midrange-forward, harder clipping, reshaped by the new Ratio control. Each channel has its own Compression toggle for feel: tight and controlled, or open and touch-reactive.

RATIO CONTROL

On Channel 2 only. Takes the clean signal at the pedal’s input and blends it in parallel with the overdrive. Turn it down for the full drive voice. Bring it up to restore attack, string definition and dynamic range, without touching the gain. On a channel this saturated, it’s the difference between one voice and a continuum of them.

30V INTERNAL HEADROOM

An internal charge pump runs the circuit at 30 volts from a standard 9V supply. More headroom means cleaner transients and a wider dynamic range: the space a note needs to bloom instead of flattening under gain.

FOUR JACKS, REMOTE FOOTSWITCH

Run the mk3 as one dual-channel pedal, or split it into two fully independent pedals anywhere in your signal chain. A Remote mini-jack accepts a latching stereo footswitch for hands-free channel switching.

THE DOUBLE PREAMP RETURNS

We retired the original at the end of 2022. Used units keep selling at or above their original price. The mk3 brings it back, with the two things you kept asking us to change: Bass on the outside, and a Ratio control on Channel 2.

Ratio: attack and definition, without touching the gain. Channel 2 is where the mk3 pushes hardest. The Ratio knob takes your clean signal at the input and mixes it in parallel with the overdrive: down for the pure drive voice, up to restore attack, note separation and dynamics without lowering the gain. On a channel this saturated, it’s the difference between one voice and a continuum of them.

CONTROLS

• Volume (each channel): sets the channel's output level
• Gain (each channel): sets the amount of saturation
• Tone (each channel): shapes the channel's overall frequency response
• Comp switch (each channel): two compression levels, UP for more compression, DOWN for less
• Deep (Channel I): sets the point where low frequencies start being amplified; works together with Tone
• Ratio (Channel II): blends the clean input signal back into the overdrive for bottom end and pick dynamics
• Order switch: selects which channel comes first in the signal chain

FOOTSWITCHES

• Normal use: each footswitch turns its channel on or off
• Flip flop: with one channel active, press and hold either footswitch to swap to the other channel
• Direct stack: with both channels off, press and hold either footswitch to turn both on at once

CONNECTIONS

• Input I / Input II and Output I / Output II
• Standard (single unit) routing: input to Input II, output from Output I
• Independent routing: use each channel's own input and output to place them separately in your chain
• Remote: 3.5mm TRS jack for an external latching stereo footswitch

SPECIFICATIONS

• Two independent D-style preamp channels
• Power: 9VDC, centre negative (internally boosted to 30V)
• Current draw: 130mA
• Dimensions: 120 x 94 x 42.4mm (4.73 x 3.7 x 1.62")
• Weight: 0.5 kg
• Handmade in Italy, lifetime warranty