The Lounsberry Nigel is a multi-stage FET preamp with gain staging and Germanium diodes that sounds and plays more like a guitar amp than a guitar pedal, and the controls work the same. Two stages of amplification are cascaded to provide a lot of push for the Germanium clipping diodes creating a very responsive overdrive that can go from warm semi-clean to full on classic rock crunch and saturated lead tones. It works well for keyboards too because of it's full range response.

Nigel is a multi stage FET preamp with gain staging and Germanium diodes that sounds and plays more like a guitar amp than a guitar pedal, and the controls work the same. Two stages of amplification are cascaded to provide a lot of push for the Germanium clipping diodes creating a very responsive overdrive that can go from warm semi-clean to full on classic rock crunch and saturated lead tones. It works well for keyboards too because of it's full range response.
Lounsberry Pedals endorser Alessandro Bertoni uses the Nigel pedal with his Nord Lead for some impressive synth tones, and Rich Williams of Kansas uses it with a tiny amp as his practice rig.

Operation
Nothing could be simpler. Advance the “Drive” control to add fatness, grit and growl (depending on level). Use the “Level” control to balance the level against the bypassed signal. True bypass is available via the stomp switch. Use a 1/4 in. T/S cables at the input only. Unplug the input cable when not in use to preserve battery life.

The amazing thing about the Nigel, is that it provides the dynamic touch response of a vintage tube amplifier. It's like a Plexi that fits in your pocket!

Gain Staging
Discrete preamps provide gain in several stages, so that a lot of what happens to provide the right amounts of drive and compression in a preamp is determined by how many discrete stages are employed, and their levels, determining how the stages interact.