RARE Providence Stampede SDT-2 “Kurt Ballou / Converge” Distortion (GCI God City Instruments lichtlaerm Thorn Lennart Boussu Amenra Oathbreaker)

The Providence Stampede SDT-2 — Japan’s answer to the perfect distortion box.

Made famous by Kurt Ballou (Converge / God City Instruments), this pedal has earned a cult reputation for its tight low end, punchy mids, and amp-like response. It’s not your average drive — it’s raw, articulate, and brutally musical.

Tonally, the Stampede lives in the sweet spot between a hot-rodded Tube Screamer and a JCM800 pushed into meltdown. There’s that Providence clarity, but with a snarling upper midrange that cuts through even the densest mixes. It handles drop tunings effortlessly while still staying defined — one reason why Ballou uses it to drive both clean amps and already-saturated rigs.

Fun Fact: Belgian Guitar Legend Lennart Bossu from (Amenra, Oathbreaker, Predatory Void, ...) has a signature pedal with lichtlaerm called the "Thorn" which also takes inspiration of the Stampede SDT Circuit ... it's long been soldout (this is one is not, should get you about 90% in the same tone zone)