Astro

The Lightning Wave Astro is an experimental MOSFET-based phaser from New Zealand builder Lightning Wave, existing in configurations ranging from 4 to 12 stages. This pedal represents the company's exploration of their innovative modulation interface before it was refined into production models like the Ghost.

While technical specifications weren't widely documented, the Astro's defining feature was Lightning Wave's signature waveform-drawing interface—allowing users to sketch custom LFO shapes with a fader and store them in multiple preset banks. The precisely matched MOSFET circuit with optical gate control delivered smooth, transparent phasing across multiple stages.

The Astro was discontinued with no future production plans, making existing units rare finds from Lightning Wave's experimental era. It lives on as a conceptual predecessor to their more refined modulation pedals that followed.