The Anasounds FX Driver is an overdrive and booster pedal inspired by what Anasounds calls "a popular green mid-boost overdrive," the classic Tube Screamer family of circuits1. Anasounds positions it as a companion for pushing an already-crunched amp harder, and says it can reproduce the vintage sound of the original pedal it was inspired by while adding more dynamics thanks to its 18V headroom1.
The FX Driver is exactly the same pedal as the Anasounds Ego Driver, renamed for the US market1. It is sold fully assembled rather than as a kit1.
What it does and how it differs from a stock Tube Screamer
Anasounds describes the FX Driver as inspired by a popular green mid-boost overdrive, the design most players know as the Tube Screamer, and says it works as a boost for an amp that is already breaking up1. The maker's key claim for the pedal is its 18V internal headroom, which it says gives more dynamics than the original circuit it draws on1. For a player used to a stock Tube Screamer, that headroom is the main advertised difference: the same vintage mid-boost character, with more room before the circuit compresses.
The voicing switch
The FX Driver was updated to match the identity of Anasounds' FX Teacher line. The circuit remains the same as before, with one change: the choice of voicing capacitor was moved onto a switch1. The upper position selects a 22nF capacitor, which Anasounds calls "our favorite for strong high mids"1. The update also brought a new black enclosure with a gray and black design and an interchangeable footswitch system1.
"The 22nF, our favorite for strong high mids, is now the upper position of the voicing switch."
The FX Driver and the Ego Driver
The FX Driver is not a new circuit. Anasounds states plainly that it is exactly the same pedal as the Ego Driver, labeled FX Driver instead of Ego Driver for the US market1. Players comparing the two are comparing one circuit under two names. The pedal ships assembled, tested and adjusted, completely finished2.
The FX Teacher project
Alongside the assembled pedal, Anasounds ties the FX Driver to its FX Teacher project, a build-and-learn program. With the FX Driver and the FX Teacher project, the maker says a player can create their own Tube Screamer, customize it, and understand how to better adjust it2. A full kit version of the pedal exists for players who want that build experience. The FX Teacher line has since grown to include pedals such as the Anasounds Blues Believer, a BluesBreaker-style overdrive.
Related Anasounds overdrives
Anasounds' overdrive range includes several other circuits a player comparing options may encounter:
- Anasounds Savage, the maker's first overdrive, launched in 2015
- Anasounds Cerberus, with a clipping diode selection switch and internal controls
- Anasounds Sandman, a double overdrive combining the Savage MkI and Ego Driver circuits
The FX Driver, as the Ego Driver circuit at 18V with a voicing switch, sits alongside these as the maker's Tube Screamer-based option1.
Questions
Is the Anasounds FX Driver the same as the Ego Driver?
Yes. Anasounds states the FX Driver is exactly the same pedal as its Ego Driver, only carrying a different name for the US market. The circuit is identical, so a player comparing the two is looking at the same overdrive and booster under two labels.
What does the voicing switch do on the Anasounds FX Driver?
The voicing switch selects the capacitor that shapes the pedal's midrange character. The upper position engages a 22nF capacitor, which Anasounds calls its favorite for strong high mids. The switch was added when the pedal was updated to match the FX Teacher line, with the rest of the circuit unchanged.
Does the Anasounds FX Driver come assembled?
Yes. The FX Driver is sold already assembled, tested, adjusted and completely finished, ready to play. A full DIY kit version exists separately for players who want to build it themselves.
What is the FX Teacher project?
The FX Teacher project is Anasounds' program for building and understanding your own Tube Screamer-style pedal. Paired with the FX Driver, it lets a player create their own Tube Screamer, customize it, and learn how to better adjust it. The FX Driver's updated look matches this line's identity.
