What is Cornerstone Gladio? A comparison of the legendary Dumble pedals [sound demo and reviews]

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Cornerstone / Gladio Double Preamp

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What is Cornerstone? | The Italian pedal brand that pursues the legendary Dumble sound

Cornerstone Music Gear is an Italian family-run boutique effects brand that emerged in the guitar industry in the late 2010s. One of their signature products is the Gladio overdrive pedal.

Behind the development of Gladio was a desire to reproduce the rich tones of masters such as Robben Ford and Sonny Landreth in a pedal. In fact, the original Gladio (double-principled) had a two-channel configuration, with channel 1 reproducing Robben Ford's smooth tone and channel 2 reproducing Sonny Landreth's thick, creamy tone. It was released in 2, and although it was only produced for three years (until the end of 2019), it was used extensively in recordings and live performances, leaving a definite mark on the boutique pedal world.

Although the original Gladio was discontinued in December 2022, its spirit has been passed down to its successor. One is the Gladio SC (single channel version) that we will cover this time, and the other is the Imperium model that will be released in 12. The Imperium is a dual overdrive that combines the circuit of the Gladio SC with the company's TS-series drive "Antique V2023", and was developed as a new flagship to effectively replace the Gladio double prince. In other words, Cornerstone's Dumble pedals currently come in two models, the Gladio SC (single channel) and the Imperium (dual channel), but in this article we will focus on the currently available Gladio SC and the legendary original Gladio, which is no longer in production, and compare and explain the differences between them.

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[The ultimate 2-in-1] Cornerstone Imperium V2 | The appeal of the ultimate pedal that combines two legendary drives [Sound disc… Every guitarist dreams of the rich overdrive of the Dumble amp and the traditional Tube Screamer drive. If you could get both at once... that would be a dream...

Cornerstone Gladio | A thorough comparison of the specs of the two models


Release date	Released in 2019 (production ends December 2022)	2021 release (current model)
Channel	2 channels (CH1 = Robben Ford type, CH2 = Sonny Landreth type)	1 channel (based on the original CH1)
Main Controls	CH1: Gain, Tone, Volume + Comp switch (2 levels of compression) CH2: Gain, Tone, Volume + Jazz/Rock switch	Gain, Tone, Volume, Clean knobs (clean signal blend) + Comp switch
Stacking	Equipped with a toggle for switching between CH1⇔CH2 alone or both simultaneously (v2.1 and later) *High gain can be achieved by connecting both channels in series	(No stacking as it is a single channel)
Size	Approx. 119 x 93 x 39 mm (wide dual housing)	Approx. 67 x 122 x 39.5 mm (compact body)
weight	— (estimated around 400–500g)	Approximately 250 g
国内価格	List price: around ¥56,100 (tax included) (at the time of release)	List price: around ¥48,400 (including tax) (Sound House)
Overseas price	Approximately $300 when new (at the time of release)	New: Around $239 to $249

Cornerstone Gladio | Examining the capabilities of this legendary machine with user reviews

Gladio Double Preamp

Product Features

Two channels for different Dumble sounds
Cornerstone Gladio has a dual configuration of CH1 and CH2. CH1 provides a smooth and creamy drive inspired by Robben Ford's "Cannonball Shuffle," while CH2 provides a thick, hard clipping tone inspired by Sonny Landreth's "Elemental Journey." Each has a Gain, Tone, and Volume knob, CH1 has a COMP switch that switches between two levels of compression, and CH2 has a Jazz/Rock switch that changes the tone character. It's a truly versatile booster/overdrive that allows you to use different Dumble-type sounds with just one unit.
Diverse sounds by combining channels
Gladio can be used with each channel alone or stacked (used simultaneously). In the early batches, both were turned on by simultaneously turning on the footswitch, but in the later V2.1, the "SINGLE/DOUBLE mode" can be selected with an internal toggle, making it easy to use the extremely thick sound of two channels driven in series. By stacking CH2 over the smooth overdrive of CH1, you can cover everything from heavy lead tones to powerful power chords. The greatest appeal of Gladio is that it gives you the depth and sustain of **two stacked amps**. In fact, some people have said that when both channels are applied at the same time, "a beautiful sustain that goes on forever is created."
High-quality craftsmanship that can only be achieved through handmade production
Handmade in Italy, it is guaranteed to be durable and reliable with its sturdy aluminum casing and careful internal wiring. The knobs are arranged in a way that is reminiscent of retro Dumble amps, and the foot switches and toggles are also sturdy. Although it is large in size, it is easy to use and is a pedal with a truly "professional" appearance.

Positive reviews

"No matter which knob you turn, you won't get a bad sound. The build and sound quality are excellent, and you can enjoy infinite variations by combining channels. It's an exciting and inspiring pedal."
"The sound has a good attack, is amp-like, and responds well to touch. I think this is the definitive Dumble pedal." (User review: "While many other pedals are disappointing with their humbuckers, the Gladio has one of the best sounds among humbuckers.")

Negative reviews

"I bought it with high expectations, but to be honest I was disappointed. I heard it was a Dumble type, but it didn't have that sound as much as I expected, and it didn't go well with other pedals."
"It was too expensive for me and didn't suit me. It's good for a clean boost, but I feel like I could use a cheaper pedal instead. (※Dissatisfaction with the price)"

Cornerstone / Gladio Double Preamp

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Gladio SC

Product Features

Inheriting the CH1 sound and making it more compact
Gladio SC is a compact, single-channel successor model based on the sound of the original CH1. The basic controls are simple, Gain, Tone, and Volume, but a new Clean knob has been added. The body has been reduced to the size of a typical compact pedal (67mm wide), so it fits well on a board. The rich low-mids and touch-responsive overdrive tone that was the charm of the original can now be enjoyed more easily. In fact, the manufacturer explains that "Gladio SC aims to provide the same sound as its 'big brother' Gladio in a smaller body."
Create an SRV-like sound with the Clean blend function
The Clean knob, the biggest feature of the Gladio SC, was installed to reproduce the clean tone blend practiced by Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV) in a pedal. By mixing the original clean signal with the overdrive sound, the aim is to add thickness and depth to the sound while maintaining the picking attack and dynamism. The manufacturer also explains that "Blending the clean signal with the overdrive makes the sound warmer and gives it a clear uncompressed attack," and turning up the Clean knob creates a thickness that sounds like two amps are playing at the same time, one clean and one distorted. This function makes it easy to create the "overdrive tone with a slight clean mix" that SRV was looking for.
Practical ease of use and high versatility
Gladio SC is not only highly regarded for its flexibility in sound creation, but also for its ease of use in actual battles. The internal circuitry is 100% analog, with true bypass specifications and the minimum required current (approximately 9V, 60mA), which minimizes noise. In fact, users have given it positive reviews, saying things like, "It's thick and has an excellent feel, whether it's a single coil or a humbucker." The distortion range is more toward the low-mid range, and it doesn't produce extreme high gain, but in return it has good sound penetration and response in the crunch to overdrive range, making it suitable for a wide range of uses, from always-on preamp use to boosters and lead drives. The compression level can also be switched with a toggle, so it has the depth to be able to freely express anything from blues to fusion, depending on the player's touch.

Positive reviews

"It's great as a clean boost. When you turn up the volume and tone and mix in some clean, you get that Texas blues vibe."
"The sound is just thick and pleasant. Whether you use a single coil or a humbucker, the tone is thick and it's a pedal that's fun to play."

Negative reviews

"It didn't have the dumble I was hoping for. It just seemed like a gain knob with a bit of a quirk, and it didn't seem to work well with other pedals."
"Honestly, I wasn't impressed. I tried it because it had a good reputation, but in my environment it was "lifeless" and it was hard to combine with any pedal."

(Note: Negative reviews of the Gladio SC are in the minority, but some have said it's "more plain than I expected" and "hard to stack with other pedals.")

Cornerstone/GLADIO SC Overdrive

CORNERSTONE

52,800 JPY(TAX+) (As of 2026:05 on March 16, 09 | According to Amazon)

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