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1981 Inventions announces LVL, its second overdrive pedal

April 19, 2023 · 3 sources

1981 Inventions, the effects company founded by musician Matt Hoopes, announced its second pedal, the LVL, on April 19, 2023¹. It follows the company's first release, the DRV¹.

The LVL is a low-gain overdrive that Hoopes describes as "non-transparent," built around a combination of light clipping and an op-amp push¹². Guitar.com reports that Hoopes says it will add harmonics and dynamics, and that it should work well with bass guitars¹. Guitar World describes the circuit as designed to emphasize natural harmonics and dynamic range². Hoopes developed the pedal with John Snyder of Electronic Audio Experiments over four years following the DRV¹³.

Hoopes told Spin that the pedal captures a sound from two Relient K albums. "It's my quintessential sound from [Relient K's album] Forget And Not Slow Down, which was 2009, and also probably Air For Free, which was 2016," he said².

"Many of you have been with me since the beginning, even before DRV was launched. I really wanted to do something special just for you. You've patiently waited through barrages of new colourways, and I hope that this will be a sort of payoff."

Matt Hoopes, in a statement to mailing list subscribers, via Guitar.com¹

The LVL is priced at $229¹³. Guitar.com reported on April 19 that a limited run would be available, with an official launch on June 6 and a limit of one unit per customer¹. Guitar World reported on April 20 that the first batch, offered by purchase link to email newsletter subscribers, had already sold out, and that a new batch would drop on June 6, limited to one per customer and "presumably also priced at $229"². Guitar.com reported on June 7 that the pedal was officially released and available to order, with buyers advised to allow up to four weeks for shipping³.

Sources (3)