Hudson Electronics Broadcast Dual Foot Switch vs. AP-II Ariel Posen Signature: A Detailed Comparison

If you aren't familiar with Hudson Electronics, I recommend checking out this article by JHS, "Why You Need to Know Hudson Electronics".

What makes the Hudson Broadcast so special?

I've tried every flavour of overdrive, and while they're all great, the Broadcast stands out as something truly different and unique. The original version features a single bypass foot switch and a low/high gain mode switch. The dual foot switch version moves the low/high gain mode to the right-hand foot switch. My version, a Peach Guitars exclusive, takes 9V power but runs internally at 24V, giving the pedal more headroom. The standard version can operate on power between 9V and 24V, allowing you to choose between a more compressed, overdriven sound or a less overdriven, higher headroom sound depending on your needs.

I absolutely love the sound of this pedal; it’s incredibly versatile. It can deliver everything from a sparkling clean boost to low and mid-gain overdrive, right through to roaring fuzz.

The dual foot switch Broadcast features external controls for low-cut, gain, low gain volume, and high gain volume. The low-cut control is particularly useful for removing excess bass if things start to sound a bit flubby. It’s important to note that the gain control is shared between the low and high gain modes; however, it is possible to balance the gain and volume settings to achieve usable tones from both sides. I find that setting the gain fairly low with the low gain volume cranked and keeping the high gain volume lower provides a good balance between the two modes. The Broadcast is incredibly touch-sensitive and cleans up beautifully with the guitar’s volume control. There are some truly lovely sounds to be found with the gain set high and the volume rolled back on the guitar.

The internal trimmers offer even more tonal versatility. According to the Hudson Electronics website, "by default, the low-gain trimmer is set to its lowest gain position and the high-gain trimmer one and a half notches below maximum." I haven’t adjusted the gain trimmers because I love the low and high gain modes as they are. The high-gain fuzz sound is magical, though it’s not one I expect to use very often. This brings me to the Ariel Posen signature models.

What's the deal with the Arial Posen signature Broadcast?

If you’re not familiar with Ariel Posen, he is an incredibly talented songwriter and guitarist, primarily known for his baritone-tuned Mulecaster and his exceptional slide playing.

Hudson Electronics and Ariel collaborated to create the Broadcast-AP, which removes the high-gain mode and replaces the germanium transistor with silicon, resulting in a darker, smoother tone compared to the original Broadcast. The Broadcast-AP features a single foot switch, along with simplified level and gain controls, and a low-cut switch.

The Broadcast AP-II takes the versatility of the Broadcast to a whole new level with two independent, differently voiced circuits. The first circuit is the silicon transistor design from the original Broadcast-AP. The second circuit replaces the silicon with a germanium transistor, resulting in a brighter, more aggressive tone.

In an interview with Keith from five watt world, Ariel said of the AP-II, "We thought it would be cool to do a King of Tone type of thing where it’s the same circuit on both sides, but one side uses germanium and the other uses silicon."

Like the original Broadcast, the AP-II can run on power anywhere between 9V and 24V. It features separate volume and gain controls for each side, as well as internal trimmers to adjust the gain and low-frequency content of each circuit. It also includes a send/return loop between the two sections, allowing other pedals to be inserted between them. Additionally, if you use a loop switcher, it allows each side of the pedal to be positioned anywhere in your signal chain.

These additional features do come at a cost. At the time of writing, the AP-II is priced at £269 on Peach Guitars, while the dual foot switch Broadcast is £179. I managed to find a great deal on a used AP-II on Reverb, allowing me to pick one up for roughly the same price as a new dual foot switch Broadcast.

Which one will stay on my board?

I love the original Broadcast, but I don’t see myself using the fuzz side frequently enough to justify it taking up permanent space on my board. The AP-II is incredibly versatile; I enjoy running the silicon side with a bit of gain and stacking the germanium side as a cutting solo boost—it’s just killer. However, I do find that I'm missing the external low-cut control of the original. I need to spend more time with both to know which one is for me long-term, but I know for sure a Broadcast will always have a place on my board.

I love Hudson Electronics pedals—the brand, the aesthetic, and the value. I can’t recommend the Broadcast enough. There are numerous options within the Broadcast range to suit every player and their needs, so be sure to check them out!