Strymon La Brea Analog Tape Drive

Strymon's analog engineering team spent over a decade developing this all-analog drive pedal, inspired by the tape saturation techniques originally used in the company's Deco pedal. The Strymon La Brea Analog Tape Drive employs multi-stage tape saturation circuitry to deliver everything from subtle breakup to full fuzz, with pre-emphasis and de-emphasis filtering that mimics the warmth of magnetic tape. A variable dry path runs in parallel with the saturated signal, remaining perfectly in phase to preserve transients and maintain clarity even at extreme gain settings.

The pedal operates at 24 volts internally via a custom power supply, providing exceptional headroom and quiet operation despite running on a standard 9VDC input with 500mA minimum draw. The Tape Sat control determines saturation intensity, with a two-position Gain switch selecting between normal and high gain ranges. A three-position Shift switch offers flat response, high-frequency boost for sparkle, or high-mid boost for increased presence and bite. Independent Level and Dry controls allow precise blending of saturated and clean signals, with the Dry path capable of +6dB boost when used on its own.

True bypass switching and JFET buffered input accommodate both pedalboard and rack mounting applications. An internal jumper allows the pedal to power on automatically when it receives voltage, eliminating the need to access a footswitch in complex routing setups. As part of Strymon's Series A line, the La Brea contains no digital processing, MIDI, USB, or firmware–the entire signal path remains purely analog throughout.

Features

• All-analog tape saturation drive with multi-stage gain circuitry
• Internal 24V power supply for wide headroom despite 9VDC input
• Variable dry path with up to +6dB boost, always in phase
• Two-position Gain switch selects normal or high saturation ranges
• Three-position Shift switch: flat, high-frequency, or high-mid boost
• Independent Level and Dry controls for precise wet/dry blending
• True bypass switching with JFET buffered mono input
• Dimensions: 11.51 cm x 7.19 cm x 5.92 cm