Strymon La Brea: tape warmth hits the pedalboard

Strymon announced its new La Brea Analog Tape Drive on September 29, 2026. It puts tape-inspired saturation into an all-analog guitar pedal, with a gain range that the company describes as running from subtle breakup to the edge of fuzz.

The controls aim to keep driven sounds clear: a three-position Shift switch changes the high-frequency contour, while a variable dry signal stays in phase with the effected sound. Strymon says the circuit operates internally at 24 volts for extra headroom.

The idea grew out of engineer Josh Forbes’s experiments inspired by the company’s Deco pedal. For guitarists interested in the character of an overloaded tape machine, it is a new option to hear alongside conventional overdrive pedals.

Strymon lists the US price at $199. We have not tested it; this is a news summary based on the manufacturer’s announcement.

Source and sound demos: https://www.strymon.net/introducing-la-brea/