Olinthus launches Cicada Overdrive, billed as world's smallest effects pedal

November 14, 2024 · 3 sources

Olinthus, a new pedal brand, has released its first pedal, the Cicada Overdrive, a Screamer-style overdrive priced at $99 in the US¹²³. MusicRadar and GuitarPlayer both published reports on November 14, 2024, and Guitar Pedal X followed on November 15¹²³.

The Cicada is an analog overdrive with a single-stage soft-clipping circuit and filtering before and after the gain stage, and Level, Drive and Tone controls¹³. Guitar Pedal X describes it as "the world's smallest fully functioning Screamer style pedal"¹. MusicRadar and GuitarPlayer both note the circuit is based on the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer²³. GuitarPlayer reports the $99 price is about $50 cheaper than the TS808 reissue³.

The chassis measures 30mm wide, 45mm long and 22mm deep (1.2 by 1.8 by 0.9 inches) and weighs 30g (1.1oz)¹³. It has one top-mounted TRRS jack carrying input, output and power, and ships with a breakout cable; the power supply is not included¹³. Power requirements are a maximum of 9 volts DC center-negative with at least 50mA¹. There is no footswitch: the hinged chassis is pressed at its lower edge to switch the effect on and off²³. The designers, Charles Etienne and Ethan Tufts, say it can withstand up to 250lbs of pressure, but advise it is not specifically a stompbox design and needs gentle operation for prolonged service¹. GuitarPlayer reports the switch mechanism can withstand up to 250 pounds of force³.

Guitar Pedal X reports the pedal is available direct from the Olinthus webstore and its Reverb.com store¹. MusicRadar says it is available exclusively via Reverb².