The Polaris Distortion/Sustainer is a pedal that is inspired by the Human Gear Animato. It is a unique take on the Big Muff circuit, with the addition of a Rangemaster circuit in the front. This combination creates a great-sounding distortion with a distinct character.

The Rangemaster portion of the circuit uses a Sziklai pair arrangement of NPN and PNP transistors, allowing it to be run in a negative-ground scenario. This is different from the typical positive-ground setup of the Rangemaster circuit.

While the Animato was originally designed for guitar, it claims to work well for bass as well. However, many bassists find that the Rangemaster input cuts too many low frequencies. To address this, some bassists, including Chris Wolstenholme, use a clean-blend pedal like the Boss LS-2 to mix in the unaffected bass signal and restore the low frequencies.

Overall, the Polaris Distortion/Sustainer is a pedal that captures the unique sound of the Human Gear Animato, offering a versatile and powerful distortion option for guitarists and bassists alike.

Summary created by AI from the original source.