The Meridian Exciter/Compressor is a faithful clone of the Guyatone PS-021 Guitar Exciter/Compressor and the PS-020 Bass Exciter/Compressor. These pedals were originally released in the 80s under the Nady brand in the USA. Aion FX traced the original circuits in 2017 to create the Meridian.

The PS-021 is made up of three distinct circuits. The first stage is a Dyna Comp, which acts as a limiter rather than a sustainer due to reduced sensitivity on the Sustain control. The second stage is an exciter, similar to a circuit found in a Japanese electronics book from the 80s. It adds harmonics to the signal without frequency-specific control, similar to the BBE Sonic Stomp. The final stage is a tone control that pans between bass and treble emphasis, with a slight mid hump throughout the rotation.

The PS-020 is the bass version of the pedal, with slight modifications to the exciter and tone control to make the frequencies more suitable for bass. It also brings back the mid-scoop frequency curve, similar to the Big Muff.

The Meridian is a direct clone of the original PS-021 and PS-020, with a few changes. It has been converted to true bypass, removing the JFET switching. Additionally, the obsolete CA3080 chip has been replaced with the current-production LM13700, which performs identically.

Overall, the Meridian Exciter/Compressor is a highly regarded tone enhancer that may not have gained widespread recognition due to its lack of association with big-name artists or records. However, it offers a unique combination of compressor, exciter, and tone control that creates a distinctive and sought-after sound.

Summary created by AI from the original source.