The Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive is an Ashdown distortion pedal, currently around $117.01. Close alternatives include the Ashdown James LoMenzo KegaDrive Bass Distortion and the Aguilar - OBP-1TK On-Board Bass Preamp. It pairs well with the Swart Star-Base 1 and the Blackstar Series One 200.

Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive

Ashdown · pedal

The Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive is the original signature bass distortion pedal developed with James LoMenzo, whose 30-year career spans Megadeth, Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, and David Lee Roth. Its distinctive approach applies distortion only to a selected mid-frequency band, leaving bass and treble fundamentally clean. A tunable frequency selector adjusts which midrange frequencies are driven, while a mix control blends the dry and distorted signals. This architecture preserves bottom-end punch and high-end clarity while adding aggressive mid distortion that cuts in a band mix.

What stands out

  • “The mid-frequency selector should be tuned carefully to match the fundamental range of the specific bass and pickup”

    — from the community notes

  • “This architecture preserves bottom-end punch and high-end clarity while adding aggressive mid distortion that cuts in a band mix”

    — from the listing

  • “Frequency-selective distortion is genuinely distinct from full-spectrum bass drives, allowing overdrive in the upper-midrange”

    — from the reviews

  • “Unique frequency-selective bass distortion that preserves fundamentals while driving the midrange to cut through loud band contexts”

    — from the community notes

  • “while a mix control blends the dry and distorted signals”

    — from the listing

Trade-offs

  • “the redesigned mega drive adds sweepable high and low pass filters and improved blend control”

    — from the reviews

  • bass
  • distortion
  • frequency
  • mid
  • midrange
  • aggressive
  • mix
  • drive
$117.01View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 24, 2026

Genres the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive is commonly used in

  • Metal
  • Rock
  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Punk
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Hard Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Electronic
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive

Swart Star-Base 1

Swart

14% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)

Swart Star-Base 1 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Comes later in the signal chain

Blackstar Series One 200

Blackstar

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run Blackstar Series One 200 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm

Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W

Hiwatt

tonal match
$4300via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp

Orange

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Run Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm

Orange Terror Bass

Orange

tonal match
$752.75via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Orange Terror Bass's warm balances out the bright tone

Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin

Blackstar

tonal match
$874.21via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Run mid-forward into Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin for more high gain on top

Soldano Astro-20 Combo

Soldano

tonal match
$2239.84via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Soldano Astro-20 Combo's smooth balances out the bright tone

Orange Little Bass Thing

Orange

tonal match
$681.58via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Orange Little Bass Thing leans warm right where the bright tone needs it

Pedals that stack with the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive

Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator

pedal

23% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Put Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere MKII The Analog Leslie Simulator after Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive in the signal chain, clear of Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

ZVEX Fuzz Factory

Zvex

19% match
$199via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)

ZVEX Fuzz Factory leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it

Comes later in the signal chain

Suhr Woodshed

Suhr

19% match
$200via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)

Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive's own mid-forward character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

EarthQuaker Devices Hoof

EarthQuaker Devices

19% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)

Where this leans bright, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof answers back warm

T-Rex Junior Roomate

T Rex

15% match
$108.15via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Run T-Rex Junior Roomate after Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive in the signal chain, clear of Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler

pedal

14% match
$369.34via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive's mid-forward voice out front: Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler goes after Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black)

Caline

tonal match
$52.99via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Caline CP-31 Hot Spice (Black) belongs in front of Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive, since a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal

SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive

Solidgoldfx

tonal match
$152.15via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Run SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth

Cheaper alternatives

Ashdown Double Shot

Ashdown

59% similarity
$87.76via Reverb

Shared character: high end, middle, clarity

Ashdown Pro-FX Two-Band Boost

Ashdown

49% similarity
$34.99via Reverb

Shared character: high end, treble, mix

Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord

Electro-Harmonix

45% similarity
$101.40via Reverb

Shared character: treble, mix, middle

Demon FX Microtube D7K "Bass" Preamp

Demon Fx

44% similarity
$78.80via Reverb

Shared character: filter, bass, aggressive playing

Boutique & premium upgrades

Ashdown Triple Shot

Ashdown

61% similarity
$154.97via Reverb

Shared character: treble, mix, middle

Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion

Dunlop

57% similarity
$157.32via Reverb

Shared character: mix, middle, clarity

JAM Lucy Dreamer Bass

Jam Pedals

49% similarity
$279via Reverb

Shared character: bass

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Ashdown James LoMenzo KegaDrive Bass Distortion

Ashdown

55% similarity
$117.01via Reverb

Shared character: high end, treble, mix

Aguilar - OBP-1TK On-Board Bass Preamp

Aguilar

48% similarity
$145.43via Reverb

Shared character: high end, treble, middle

Shadow SH Stompin Bass Perkussives Bassdrum-Instrument

Shadow

47% similarity

Shared character: pickups, bass, full

Master Effects Manta Ray 3-band Bass Preamp

Master Effects

47% similarity
$129via Reverb

Shared character: treble, middle, bass

Ampeg Classic Analog Bass Preamp

Ampeg

46% similarity
$116.04via Reverb

Shared character: treble, middle, bass

Zoom MS-60B+

Zoom

42% similarity

Shared character: tonal possibilities, mix, bass

See all alternatives to the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive?+

The closest matches in character are the Ashdown James LoMenzo KegaDrive Bass Distortion, the Aguilar - OBP-1TK On-Board Bass Preamp, the Shadow SH Stompin Bass Perkussives Bassdrum-Instrument. Budget picks: Ashdown Double Shot, Ashdown Pro-FX Two-Band Boost, Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord. Boutique upgrades: Ashdown Triple Shot, Dunlop MXR M85 Bass Distortion, JAM Lucy Dreamer Bass.

What pairs well with the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Swart Star-Base 1, Blackstar Series One 200, Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W — Swart Star-Base 1 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it.

How much does the Ashdown James LoMenzo HyperDrive cost?+

Around $117.01 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).

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