The Smashing Pumpkins frontman teams up with Laney and Carstens to shrink a massive stadium backline into a single, high-performance pedalboard amp.
For decades, achieving the wall of sound synonymous with Billy Corgan required a towering wall of amplifiers and a budget exceeding six figures. Today, that barrier to entry has evaporated. Laney Amplification has officially unveiled the Supergrace Loudpedal, a 60-watt, dual-channel floor amplifier that integrates Corgan’s most prized tonal secrets into a portable, road-ready format.
Developed in a three-way collaboration between Corgan, Laney, and boutique amp builder Brian Carstens, the Supergrace isn’t just a “tribute” pedal—it is a legitimate replacement for a professional touring rig.
Two Iconic Amps, One Compact Footprint
The Supergrace Loudpedal is a “two worlds” solution, bridging the gap between vintage British authority and modern high-gain precision.
The Grace Channel: Modern High-Gain Articulation
Derived from the Carstens GRACE, this channel was born of Corgan’s specific need for extreme gain without sacrificing note definition. Unlike traditional high-gain circuits that can become “mushy” at high saturation, the Grace channel maintains a three-dimensional clarity.
“It’s really solid,” Corgan remarked during testing. “There’s so much body to the notes.”
The Supergroup Channel: The Heritage of Heavy Metal
The second channel traces its origins to the late 1960s. The Laney SUPERGROUP is the circuit that gave birth to heavy metal. This channel captures the uncompressed, wide-bandwidth punch and the legendary “sub-harmonic” growl—often called the “transformer rub”—that made the original Laney stacks iconic.
Stadium-Ready Technology
While the signal path remains 100% analog to preserve the feel and dynamics of a tube amp, the Supergrace embraces modern digital convenience where it matters most:
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60 Watts of Power: Enough headroom to drive a 4×12 cabinet on any stage.
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LA·IR Advanced Speaker Emulation: The pedal features Laney’s proprietary impulse response (IR) technology, preloaded with Billy Corgan’s personal touring speaker captures.
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USB-C Connectivity: Allows for latency-free recording directly into your DAW and deep editing via the LA·IR app.
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Professional Routing: Includes a transformer-isolated FX loop, MIDI In/Thru, and a headphone out for silent practice.
The unit has already survived the ultimate “stress test.” Corgan used a prototype of the Supergrace during a guest appearance with My Chemical Romance in front of 60,000 fans, proving that the $629.99 pedal could hold its own against his usual $100,000 rig.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Laney Supergrace a digital modeler?
No. The core amp tones (Grace and Supergroup) are created via a true analog signal path. Digital technology is used exclusively for the LA·IR speaker emulation and USB connectivity.
Can I use this without a guitar cabinet?
Yes. Thanks to the XLR DI out and headphone output featuring Corgan’s custom IRs, you can plug directly into a PA system or recording interface without needing a physical speaker cabinet.
How does the “Grace” channel differ from a standard distortion pedal?
The Grace channel is a complete amplifier circuit. It offers significantly more headroom and dynamic range than a standard pedal, responding to your guitar’s volume knob and your playing touch just like a boutique tube head.
Where is the Supergrace manufactured?
Each unit is handcrafted at Laney’s Black Country Customs workshop in Birmingham, England.
Guitar Bomb Verdict
The Laney Supergrace Loudpedal represents a shift in how professional tone is delivered. By distilling the essence of the Carstens Grace and the Laney Supergroup into a $629 package, Laney has provided guitarists with a “fly-rig” that offers no compromises.
It could be perfect for any Smashing Pumpkins devotee or a session player in need of elite high-gain and vintage crunch; the Supergrace delivers stadium-filling sound that fits in a backpack.
I want one!
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#Laney #Supergrace Loudpedal #Billy Corgan #Smashing Pumpkins
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