The 76Owl Owldrive is an overdrive pedal from 76Owl, built around a circuit that Aric Bandy of 76Owl found while exploring the many variations of the Klon, and which Premier Guitar described as particularly accurate to the Klon. It is a hand-wired, through-hole pedal in a copper enclosure, listed at $129 at the time of its 2021 review1.
A Klon-style circuit
Bandy came across the circuit while exploring the intricacies and now-numerous variations of the famously transparent and dynamic Klon. He decided to market it for sale in the U.S. as the 76Owl Owldrive. The pedal is an import from China, which Bandy makes no secret of, and which enables the low $129 price1.
The controls follow the Klon's layout exactly, right down to the nomenclature:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Drive amount, as on the Klon |
| Treble | Treble cut and boost character, as on the Klon |
| Output | Overall level, as on the Klon |
Premier Guitar notes the controls are the same as the Klon's, with the same gain, treble and output naming1.
True-bypass switching is a slight tweak on the original formula, a small departure from the Klon's own switching1.
Build and hardware
The Owldrive honors the style of the original Klon in a smaller box: a metallic-copper finish, three retro radio pointer knobs, and an off-center footswitch. At 4 ½" x 3 ½" x 1 3/8", it is not as big as the original. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the pedal feels robust and is entirely hand-wired using through-hole construction1.
There is no battery option. The input, output and 9V jacks are top mounted, so plan your pedalboard layout and power supply accordingly1.
Runs and availability
The review pedal was No. 9 from an initial run of 100. A second run was already in the works at the time of the review, which would be the same electronically with a few cosmetic updates1.
76Owl has also partnered with Woodchuck USA to plant a tree for every pedal sold. Each Owldrive includes a card to geo-locate the planting1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review called it "a super-usable and worthy overdrive," and its reviewer found the pedal's clarity held up under drive1:
"it exhibits a clarity that shines no matter how much overdrive you ladle on your signal"
For context on how the Owldrive's Klon-style approach sits among other drive circuits, see Overdrive Pedals, or compare two classic drive voicings in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
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Questions
Is the 76Owl Owldrive a Klon clone?
It is built around a circuit from China that 76Owl's Aric Bandy found while exploring Klon variations, and Premier Guitar described it as particularly accurate to the Klon. The controls carry the same nomenclature as the Klon: gain, treble and output. True-bypass switching is a slight tweak on the original formula, and the enclosure is smaller than the original while honoring its style.
Does the Owldrive take a battery?
No. Premier Guitar's review notes there is no battery option, so the pedal runs from a 9V power supply through its top-mounted 9V jack. The input, output and 9V jacks are all top mounted, which helps the pedal fit on crowded pedalboards.
Is the 76Owl Owldrive true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar reports that the Owldrive uses true-bypass switching, which the review describes as a slight tweak on the original Klon formula.
Where is the 76Owl Owldrive made?
The pedal is an import from China, which Aric Bandy of 76Owl makes no secret of, and which enables the low $129 price. It is marketed for sale in the U.S. as the 76Owl Owldrive.
How many Owldrive pedals were made in the first run?
Premier Guitar's review pedal was No. 9 from an initial run of 100 pedals. A second run was already in the works at the time of the review, which would be the same electronically with a few cosmetic updates.
Sources (1)
- 76Owl Owldrive Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-08-02