Silktone unveils Overdrive+, its first drive pedal
November 1, 2023 · 2 sources
Silktone unveiled the Overdrive+, the brand's first drive pedal, at the tail end of 20231. It is built in the same wide-body enclosure as the Silktone Fuzz1.
The pedal has three knobs, three mini switches and two footswitches1. The knobs are volume, tone and gain1. The mini switches cover a bass cut and a clipping mode selector, which offers either asymmetrical or symmetrical clipping1. A true-bypass footswitch on the right activates the main drive circuit1. A footswitch on the left engages a non-independent lead gain boost, whose only parameter option is a mini switch with Raw or Strangle settings1. The textured finish comes in two shades of gray, called Concrete and Dark1.
According to designer Charles Henry, the Overdrive+ is an original circuit that uses a collection of JFETs, op-amps and diodes2. Henry told Premier Guitar that the bass cut, which he dialed in by ear, shelves frequencies around 1000-1200kHz2. Premier Guitar described Raw as the more open, full-spectrum option and Strangle, which uses inductor-based filtering, as the more focused2. Guitar.com compared the asymmetrical setting to a Boss SD-1 and the symmetrical setting to an Ibanez Tube Screamer2.
The US list price is $2691. Guitar.com's review, published June 3, 2024, called it "no mere clone, it has its own unique voice and wonderfully responsive amp-like feel" and listed the lack of independent gain and volume controls for the boost as a drawback1. Premier Guitar's review said the pedal "makes a strong case for itself as the only gain device you'll need on your pedalboard"2.
"According to designer Charles Henry, the Overdrive+ is an original circuit"
More drive pedals are covered in our Overdrive Pedals section.