Overdrive & Distortion Pedals

Tons of headroom that works equally well with new high output and vintage low output pickups. Equally capable of invoking the sacred sounds of a classically refined overdrive AND summoning wickedly raunchy drive, with more crunch on tap than the overdrive moniker usually entails. With such a wide palette of tones and character the MANTRA will feel just as at home at the feet of the stalwart blues crowd as it will the quintessential rock & roll protagonists.

The MANTRA utilizes amp-like circuit architecture, with multiple cascaded MOSFET and JFET gain stages to insure the most natural, touch-sensitive overdrive conditions possible and a seemingly endless range of clean-up with your guitar's volume knob. We burned a lot of midnight oil to make sure that the MANTRA could get down with vintage-type, low output single coils and hot humbucker pickups alike. From gently fingerpicked melodic phrases to bludgeoning riffs that you'll want to play over and over and over...

Powering the pedal: The MANTRA runs on 9V-18V DC power supplies only, via a negative-center 2.1mm barrel-type plug. The current draw of the MANTRA is minimal at around 10mA. FOR BEST OPERATION use a well-regulated power supply specifically made for powering musical instrument gear and if possible use one with isolated taps. There is a difference. The MANTRA does not consume batteries. They are an antiquated, landfill-bound plague on our environment. Several modern power supply options are now available with voltage "sag" features that can emulate the sound of a semi-used battery producing less voltage.

extras go here

PCB - Boutique-quality distortion pedal ready for heavy tone. The new Mad Professor - Stone Grey Distortion (SGD) is a modern high-gain distortion pedal with unparallelled clarity and definition. This pedal was developed for high gain applications and specifically for clarity at heavy distortion levels.

The Stone Grey Distortion is unique in that it has razor sharp dynamics and high gain intensity. It's ready for drop tuning, 7 string, and modern rock players who are seeking extreme gain with intense "string to string definition". Play a chord and hear each note distinctly, instead of it turning to "mush" like many other high gain pedals.

With the gain turned down, the Stone Grey Distortion approaches overdrive-like textures and responds to the player's touch and dynamics like our other Mad Professor pedals do. Built the Mad Professor way: small footprint and big tone.

Controls:

• VOLUME: sets the output level of the distorted signal.
• DISTORTION: sets the level of distortion - lower levels more overdrive-like textures - higher with heavier distortion.
• TONE: sets the critical treble response for use with various amplifiers.

Specifications:

• Input impedance: approximately 500K Ohm's
• Recommended output load: 50K Ohm's or higher
• Current consumption: @ 9V DC approximately 8mA
• DC supply voltage range: 7,5- 15V
• True bypass

Comes with a FREE Phantom48 Custom Effects Pedal Interconnect: a rugged and reliable cable for connecting effects pedals and minimizes noise without affecting tone.

• 6" Mogami W2524 "Gold" Oxygen-Free Instrument cable
• Neutrik NP2RX-B Black Metal Connectors for durability
• Gold Contacts to ensure long operating life
• Soldered with WBT Silver High-End Audio Grade Solder

PCB - Boutique overdrive with rich, thick tone. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive (SHOD) is a super touch-sensitive medium gain overdrive pedal. It is designed to overdrive distorted amplifiers and give dynamically controlled light overdrive on clean sounds.

Distortion level can be controlled by pick attack and pickup strenght. Harder picking for overdrive and softer for cleaner tone. With the unique Focus control you can adjust the feel and dynamics of the pedal as well as overal EQ. Turning Focus CCW you need to play harder to get distortion and the tone is softer, great for jazz and blue. Focus turned CW gives a slight treble boost and earlier distortion. Focus turned CW gives a slight treble boost and earlier distortion.

This type of overdrive has previously only been found in the BJF Honey Bee but is now presented in Mad Professor version. The Mad Professor SHOD has a tighter sound and is more versatile as it was designed to work with all kinds of guitars and amplifiers. This versatile pedals stacks well with all kind of other pedals and suits for huge variety of different music styles.

Controls:

• VOLUME: sets the output volume.
• DISTORTION: controls the amount of overdrive.
• FOCUS: Controls how easily the circuit distorts as well as adjusting overall EQ. Turning CCW gives less distortion and a mellow effect, turning CW gives a slight treble boost and earlier distortion. Good starting point is 11 o’clock.

Specifications:

• Supply voltage range: 7,5 to 18VDC
• Current consumption at 9VDC: 5 mA
• Input inpedance: 260K
• Output impedance: 25K Ohm's
• True Bypass

Comes with a FREE Phantom48 Custom Effects Pedal Interconnect: a rugged and reliable cable for connecting effects pedals and minimizes noise without affecting tone.

• 6" Mogami W2524 "Gold" Oxygen-Free Instrument cable
• Neutrik NP2RX-B Black Metal Connectors for durability
• Gold Contacts to ensure long operating life
• Soldered with WBT Silver High-End Audio Grade Solder

Originally released in 1979, the Maxon OD808 was one of the first tube-amp overdrive simulators to hit the market. Its smooth, creamy crunch tone caught on quickly, and helped to launch a long line of predecessors as well as imitators. Today, the OD808 design is without a doubt the most used, most imitated and most lauded overdrive circuit of all time. The reason for this is simple ­ tone. Simply put, the OD808 provides the natural, mild overdrive of a tube amp without sacrificing your guitar's original tone. In addition, it can be used as a clean booster to provide increased gain without compromising the sound of your amplifier.

The secret behind the legendary "808 tone" lies in the amplifier section of its circuit. Rather than having an amplifier stage followed by a clipping stage, the Maxon OD808 uses a signal-distorting diode (Panasonic #MA150) that is located in the amplifier stage's negative feedback loop (which also contains the JRC4558 IC chip). Therefore, the Maxon OD808 distorts signal in the amplifier circuit itself which yields a smoother, milder, more natural sounding distortion than a separate clipping stage. This is also the reason that the IC type used in the circuit has such a large impact on the unit's tone. Maxon developed this unique design more than 20 years ago, and while it is commonplace nowadays, back then it was an industry first.

It should be noted that the Reissue Series OD808 uses different output resistors than the original version. After the unit's initial release it was discovered to have a high susceptibility to noise due to static electricity buildup. To improve performance, the positions of the output resistors on the reissue OD808 were reversed and their values increased in order to reduce noise levels. This circuit change has no audible affect on the sound of the unit, save for reducing the noise levels.

Whether it's used as an overdrive or a booster, the Maxon OD808 is the closest you can get to the classic sounds of 1970's rock guitar in a compact effect pedal.

Bundled with a FREE 6" Effects Pedal Connector Cable so you can add the OD808 to your pedal board immediately!

extras go here

Let’s face it, just like the term “true bypass switching,” the 4558 IC chip has become a major buzz term in the world of analog effects. And while the arguments rage as to which version sounds best and whether the year the IC was manufactured will affect the tonality of the pedal, the fact remains that most tone junkies are hooked on the sound of the 4558.

Far be it for Maxon to disappoint - the new Maxon OOD-9 Organic Overdrive is based around the same re-vamped OD880 circuit as the OSD-9 Overdrive/Soft Distortion. Yet instead of employing the original 741 Op-Amp, the OOD-9 is loaded with a current production JRC 4558 dual Op-Amp instead.

The difference in tone is subtle but sublime. More focused in the lower-mids, the OOD-9 compliments Humbucker-equipped guitars perfectly by offering a creamier, thicker overdrive than the OSD-9. Like the OSD-9, the OOD-9’s post-integration overdrive circuit smoothly changes according to input level, offering a highly dynamic response to picking technique that will work magic in the hands of a talented player. In other words, if you’ve got technique, the OOD-9 will give you tone to match!

Use the OOD-9 with a clean amp to create a virtual overdriven channel, or use it with an already distorted amplifier for more power and sustain. Better yet, use it combination with the OSD-9 for the fattest, smoothest overdrive ever! Whatever the application, the OOD-9 is the natural choice for the most tube-like overdrive yet!

Bundled with a FREE 6" Effects Pedal Connector Cable so you can add the OD808 to your pedal board immediately!

extras go here

One of Maxon's most esoteric models, the SD-9 has gained a huge cult following since its initial release in the early 1980s. The SD-9 has long been prized for its ability to provide an immense range of distorted tones, from punchy overdrive to blistering fuzz, all with full-frequency response and minimal tonal coloration.

The secret to the SD-9's versatility lies in its minimal component configuration. The circuit itself is deceptively simple, but it's this simplicity that leads to the SD-9's transparent operation. With fewer components to load down your guitar's tone, more "sonic information" is passed to the output, yielding a more authentic reproduction of your guitar sound. But don't let its simplicity fool you; the SD-9 can provide a whopping 42 dB of gain, more than enough to provide a healthy solo boost or to slam the front end of your amp into submission.

Anther notable feature of the SD-9 is its tone control. While most other overdrives and distortions feature hi boost/hi cut tone circuits, the SD-9 tone control uses a low range boost/cut circuit for added bottom end. In addition, the SD-9's tone circuit features the JRC4558 IC chip, generally regarded as sonically superior to other op amp models. The combination of these two elements creates a pedal with more low-end punch than other distortions.

Versatile, powerful and responsive - the SD-9 is perfect for the player looking to get more than just distortion out of their distortion pedal.

Bundled with a FREE 6" Effects Pedal Connector Cable so you can add the OD808 to your pedal board immediately!

extras go here

John Suhr knows guitars. John Suhr knows amps, and now without a shadow of a doubt, we can say that John Suhr knows overdrive pedals. 

After more than a year of design work, Suhr has delivered on an exceptional overdrive pedal. The tone is somewhere in between a classic British sound and a modern Triple-Rec.

It works with the amp to deliver a big full sound that never sounds artificial or overly electronic. There are no bees-in-the-jar buzziness, harsh high-end or tubby lows that are often what you hear in high-gain distortion pedals. Again, a pedal is highly dependent on the amp it's connected to and how the amp is set, but the Riot will perform exceedingly well with virtually any decent tube amp out there - even with old vintage-style Blackface type of amps. Get musical distortion and an amp-like feel from the Riot. If you need alternative high-gain sounds without adding another amp, the Riot is the ticket to high-gain heaven in a small package.

• Input Impedance: 1M ohm
• Output Impedance: 600 ohm
• Power Connector: 9Vdc, center negative, 2.1mm x 5.5mm
• Operating Voltage: 4V to 18V (nominal 9V)
• Maximum Voltage: 20Vdc
• Reverse Battery Protect: yes
• Current Consumption: 8mA
• Estimated Battery Life: 75 – 100 hours continuous use
• Dimensions: 2.50" Width x 4.50" Depth x 1.25" Height
• Weight: 0.75 pound
• FxLink Connector: 1/8" stereo
• FxLink max Voltage: 3.3Vdc
• Shield Tip: Activate
• ROHS Compliant: Yes – all components, finishes, processes

An overdrive pedal from the tone-meister: John Suhr. The Shiba Drive is a smooth sounding overdrive pedal that will work great with clean amps for a bluesy overdrive tone or with an already overdriven amp to kick it to next gear. Some players even like to use pedals of this class with a heavily overdriven amp for additional sustain and compression. Whatever the application, the Shiba Drive will shine and give you the performance you seek from a high quality overdrive pedal.

There is no harshness or flubbiness in the Shiba Drive's sonic character whatsoever. There is a slight midrange hump that helps you cut through the mix, but the sonic integrity of your guitar and pickups comes through loud and clear. The tone is musical and balanced with firm lows, punchy mids with just the right amount of cut, and sweet silky highs. The Shiba Drive can purr, sing, growl or scream depending on the amp's setup and the amount of signal you're feeding it from your guitar and pickups. Combine the Shiba with the Koko with a single-channel tube amp for an extremely versatile rig. Like all of our products, what you put into this pedal is what you'll get out of it. The Shiba Drive begs you to stomp on it and produce some righteous tones.

• Input Impedance: 1M ohm
• Output Impedance: 600 ohm
• Power Connector: 9Vdc, center negative, 2.1mm x 5.5mm
• Operating Voltage: 4V to 18V (nominal 9V)
• Maximum Voltage: 20Vdc
• Reverse Battery Protect: yes
• Current Consumption: 8mA
• Estimated Battery Life: 75 – 100 hours continuous use
• Dimensions: 2.50" Width x 4.50" Depth x 1.25" Height
• Weight: 0.75 pound
• FxLink Connector: 1/8" stereo
• FxLink max Voltage: 3.3Vdc
• Shield Tip: Activate
• ROHS Compliant: Yes – all components, finishes, processes

Over the years, we've had tons and tons of folks asking us when we were going to produce an overdrive pedal that emulates the sound of a cranked Fender® amp.

When Brian decided that he was going to see if he could do it, he wanted to ensure that it was perfect. Looking back at it now, we think he must have spent a good 9 months breadboarding and prototyping lots of different ideas, a/b-ing each one with various Fender® amps, tweaking and changing until he found the sound that was accurate.

Once he got a sound that he was 100% happy with, he took it to Nashville studio ace Brent Mason to test it out. To be certain, Brian also took several pedals by other companies that are supposed to do the same thing. Brent knows Fender® amps better than anyone, and Brian knew if Brent thought it was good, we were onto a winner. Long story short, Brent LOVED it!

We've heard guys say they hear The Twin®, some say Vibrolux®, some say Deluxe Reverb® when they play this pedal. Whatever they hear, it still has that "Blackface" type of sound that we were looking for. When you turn it up, it's going to break up more like the amp would if you turn it up.

With the additional of the boost switch, you can increase the gain to make it sound like the amp is being driven harder.

Main Features:

• Hand made in the U.S.A.
• Completely true bypass
• Battery connection and 9v power jack (barrel plug like Boss)
• Power draw: 3mA
• Controls: Volume, Gain, Bass, Mid's, Treble, Gain boost switch
• 2.5" x 4.5" in size (63.5mm x 114.3mm)
• 5 Year Warranty
• Powder coated durable finish
• Completely original circuitry
• Stacks VERY well with other pedals

extras go here

Most people think they’ve never heard of Brent Mason. We would bet that although you may not recognize the name, chances are huge that you have heard him. Brent is, without doubt, the number 1 session musician working out of Nashville and has been since the early 1990’s.

If you have seen ‘Friends’, ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ or ‘Becker’… Or listened to Shania Twain, Travis Tritt, Alan Jackson, George Strait or any other of the hundreds of artists that call Brent first when they need a guitar player on their recording, you’ve heard him. It’s getting to the point now where Brent is probably one of the most recorded guitar players in history.

Not only is he a now a legendary studio figure, but also a renowned composer and songwriter. His compositions have been used in countless films, TV shows and commercials. His solo albums, in particular “Hot Wired” (from which this pedal got its name) has become almost mythical in its reputation for guitar tone and quality of musicianship. With Brent, you will not believe it until you hear it.

Built on the foundations of v1, v2 stands alone in terms of versatility. The studio scene in Nashville has changed over the last few years, so we had to change the Hot Wired to mirror the industry Brent works in. As you probably already know, v1 was geared towards all out chickin' pickin' and beyond - v2 brings you a broader range of subtlety in channel 1 that mirrors Brent's work today. You can still find the chickin' pickin' tones, but you can also find a deeper, warmer overdrive section that will allow you to play as smooth as you like. With the added blend control, you won't believe how fat your tone can be without it sounding too overdriven. Channel 2 still has the same "Plexi" flavor that Brent loves.

Two pedals in one (overdrive and distortion), this is without doubt one of the most versatile pedals available today. One channel has all your overdrive needs, from a gentle break up to all out crunch, the other gives you dirt... Loads of fat, creamy distortion that is tonally perfect from top to bottom. If need be you can stack them both together for a huge, huge sound.

Brent uses this pedal daily in the studio. He uses it live. When it has Brent’s name on it, you know it’s nothing short of perfect.

Main Features:

• Hand made in the U.S.A.
• High grade film capacitors and resistors picked for their superior sound and response
• Completely true bypass
• Power draw: 17mA
• Battery connection and 9v power jack (barrel plug like Boss)
• Built to Brent's specs exactly
• 2 separate pedals in one box, each with their own gain structure - volume|tone|gain (clean blend on channel 1)
• Bass boost switch on each channel (2 extra stages)
• 4.5” x 4.5” in size (114.3mm x 114.3mm)
• Brent's personal pedal is the exact same as the ones we build for everyone
• Both channels can be used at the same time for ultimate “stacking” tones