The Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp is an Airis Effects preamp pedal, currently around $185.24. Close alternatives include the Airis Effects 51-Filthy and the Diezel Herbert Overdrive/Distortion/Preamp. It pairs well with the Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft and the Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff.
Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp
Airis Effects · pedal
The Airis Effects Nemesis Preamp is a boutique high-gain guitar preamp and distortion pedal by Canadian builder Airis Effects featuring Gain, Volume, and a three-band amp-style tonestack with Bass, Middle, and Treble controls. Designed to deliver a full preamp channel in pedal format it runs into the front end of a clean amplifier or directly into an effects loop or PA system. At high Gain settings it maintains clarity and note articulation without muddiness. Now discontinued and replaced by the simplified Nemesis Boost.
What stands out
“The Nemesis Preamp three-band tonestack mirrors EQ section giving Bass, Mid, and Treble control that responds like an amp control — this gives it a more organic feel than simpler driv…”
— from the reviews
“the airis effects nemesis preamp is a boutique high-gain guitar preamp and distortion pedal by canadian builder airis effects featuring gain”
— from the listing
“Crystal-clear note articulation at maximum gain is its most distinctive quality making individual notes in fast high-gain passages stay separated”
— from the reviews
“At high Gain settings it maintains clarity and note articulation”
— from the listing
“Well-suited for metal and hard rock players who need a full gain channel from a pedal”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“Flexible in signal chain position running equally well into front end or into an effects loop as a full preamp replacement and stacking effectively with other overdrives for additional gain on demand”
— from the community notes
- high gain
- note articulation
- clarity
- bass
- treble
- effects loop
- full
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp is commonly used in
- Metal
- Hard Rock
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp
Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft
Boss
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft's modulated voice goes after Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp's own high gain character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
21% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
19% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
What Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio brings here leans toward tight — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Soldano SLO
Soldano
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Soldano SLO takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
J. Rockett Clockwork Echo
J Rockett
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Keep J. Rockett Clockwork Echo after Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Flashback 2
TC Electronic
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → shimmer)
Put TC Electronic Flashback 2 after Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser
Walrus Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Cheaper alternatives
Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just
Demon Fx
62% similarityShared character: high gain settings, distortion
Mad Professor Stone Grey Distortion
Mad Professor
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, hard rock, clarity
Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator
Vox
58% similarityShared character: high gain settings, clarity, distortion
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
56% similarityShared character: high gain settings, treble, middle
THE NEXT SOUND CH-01-2 Buffer
The Next Sound
51% similarityShared character: clarity
Fuzzrocious Baxstabber EQ/preamp/tone shaper
Fuzzrocious
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel
Electronic Audio Experiments
52% similarityShared character: hard rock, middle, distortion
Benson Amps BA-Pre
Benson Amps
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Diezel Zerrer 2-Channel Preamp
Diezel
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Airis Effects 51-Filthy
Airis Effects
69% similarityShared character: high gain settings, effects loop, hard rock
Diezel Herbert Overdrive/Distortion/Preamp
Diezel
64% similarityShared character: clarity, distortion, high gain settings
JHS PG-14 Paul Gilbert Signature Distortion
JHS Pedals
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, hard rock, clarity
Carl Martin Greg Howe Lick Box
Carl Martin
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, clarity, full
Vertex Dynamic Distortion
Vertex
57% similarityShared character: clarity, distortion
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
57% similarityShared character: treble, clarity, bass
See all alternatives to the Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp?+
The closest matches in character are the Airis Effects 51-Filthy, the Diezel Herbert Overdrive/Distortion/Preamp, the JHS PG-14 Paul Gilbert Signature Distortion. Budget picks: Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just, Mad Professor Stone Grey Distortion, Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator. Boutique upgrades: Electronic Audio Experiments Citadel, Benson Amps BA-Pre, Diezel Zerrer 2-Channel Preamp.
What pairs well with the Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff, Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio — Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft's modulated voice goes after Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp's own high gain character.
How much does the Airis Effects -Nemesis Preamp cost?+
Around $185.24 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).