The 1981 Inventions DRV ALT UNIVERSE is a limited edition version of the DRV, the preamp and distortion pedal from a maker Guitar.com describes as specialising in highly nuanced preamp and distortion pedal design. Announced on 22 August 2022, it pairs the standard DRV circuit with a colorful retro design, and the maker's Matthew Hoopes explained the name this way: "I'm calling it DRV ALT UNIVERSE, because it's reminiscent, but feels completely different."1
Circuit and hardware
Under the artwork, the ALT UNIVERSE is a DRV like the others. Guitar.com reports that it "comes with the standard DRV circuit seen on all previous releases", so players who know the DRV, or own one of its many editions, know what the circuit does. The hardware details the announcement highlights are the jacks and switching: Switchcraft 11 open-frame jacks and super-quiet soft-touch relay switching.1
Design and where the artwork came from
The retro artwork is by Karen Schierhorn of Big Ear Pedals. It was originally commissioned by Matt Pickett as a painted pedal, and was then done as a designed print for this edition.1
Availability
The pedal was in limited supply and available to preorder at announcement, with shipping in three to four weeks, on or before September 15, 2022.1
The DRV ALT UNIVERSE was a limited edition release from 2022. Other DRV editions the site covers include the DRV - Greyscale, DRV MONO, DRV - Silver, DRV - White, DRV - Gold/Cream, DRV - Pink, DRV - Stranger Things, DRV2 No3 and DRV MOD 2 HYPERFADE.
Sources (1)
- 1981 Inventions unveils new DRV variant with uber-retro design, Guitar.com, 2022-08-22
