The Anasounds Sandman is a limited edition double overdrive pedal that puts two of the maker's earlier circuits in one enclosure: the Savage MkI and the Ego Driver. Anasounds describes the Savage MkI circuit as famous for its warmth and harmonically rich sounds, and the manual is explicit that the Savage side is the original circuit, "identical, not a modified version," paired with the Ego Driver as two complementary overdrives that take up little space on a pedalboard12.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson characterized the pairing as a Klon and Screamer combination, calling both "incredibly strong voicings"3. Pedal of the Day's review framed it the same way: the Sandman combines two of Anasounds' previous pedals into one unit, with the Savage MkI on the left footswitch and the FX Teacher Ego Driver on the right4.
The Sandman is a limited edition that is no longer available direct from Anasounds. Preorders are closed, and the maker's page points remaining stock at retailers including Art Rock Music Store, Broc Music and Woodbrass.com1.
Two overdrives in one box: the Savage MkI and the Ego Driver
The Savage MkI is one of Anasounds' earlier pedals, and in the Sandman its circuit is identical to the original, not a modified version2. Anasounds describes it as famous for its warmth and harmonically-rich sounds1. In the Sandman it sits on the left footswitch with the larger knobs4. The manual notes the Savage section has 27V headroom like the original pedal, giving a very large volume reserve designed to saturate an already crunched amp2.
The Ego Driver side is a Tube Screamer-family circuit, and the manual describes the two as perfectly complementary overdrives2. Anasounds also provided an extra internal slot for clipping diodes on the Sandman, for players who want to experiment with their own clipping character4.
The controls
The front panel splits cleanly between the two channels3:
| Channel | Controls |
|---|---|
| Savage (Klon-style) | Out, Tone, Gain, Clipping switch (Vintage Ge / Modern Si), left footswitch |
| Ego Driver (Screamer-style) | Mode switch (Hi Mids / Lo Mids), Out, Tone, Gain, right footswitch |
Each footswitch runs its own channel, and the two channels can be used separately or together for different textures4.
The manual details what the knobs and the internal trimmers do2:
- Savage Gain: controls the amount of saturation, mixing clean and drive and adding midrange. At minimum it is a warm clean, at maximum a thick saturation, and in the middle a blend of clean and overdrive that the manual calls ideal for bass.
- Ego Driver Gain: runs from a light crunch to a thick overdrive. Stacked with the Savage, it can be set at minimum to keep the Ego Driver's coloration while boosting the Savage with the volume control.
- Ego Driver Hi/Lo switch: changes the voicing. At the bottom, more saturation in the lower midrange; at the top, more saturation in the upper midrange; in the middle, the original voicing of the famous mid boost.
- Internal T/M trimmer (Savage): sets the Savage's voicing, T for a crystal-clear treble sound or M for a more modern, midrange-focused sound. It works best when the Savage tone is at maximum.
- Internal Bass trimmer (Ego Driver): adjusts the bass range that will saturate the Ego Driver when the Hi/Lo switch is set to Lo. It acts like a tone before the saturation stage, so the effect is more subtle than the front-panel tone and affects the precision of the lower midrange.
- Internal Diodes/LED trimmer (Ego Driver): selects the clipping. Diodes give the original clipping with 1N914 silicon diodes; LED gives more dynamics and less compression.
Power and connections
The Sandman runs on a negative-center 9V DC supply. The manual warns that a protection circuit cuts the power supply if a wrong-polarity supply is used, and that the pedal should only be used with mono jacks, to allow the circuit to be powered2.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson, reviewing the pedal in his Klon klones roundup, listed it at €369 / $429 and wrote3:
"This one's definitely top tier and it's had a decent innings on the board - well over a year if I recall!"3
Pedal of the Day's 2024 review covered the dual-circuit design and the internal clipping diode slot, noting the two channels can be stacked or run on their own4.
Availability and price
The Sandman was offered as a limited edition. Preorders ran from June 2 to 16, 2023 at 299 euros, with the price rising to 369 euros, "just as limited," when it reached the store later in the year5. Guitar Pedal X listed it at €369 / $429 in September 20253. As of February 2026, Anasounds has closed preorders and directs remaining buyers to its retailers for the last pieces1.
Videos
Florent Passamonti
Pedal of the Day
Jejebel
Questions
Is the Savage side of the Sandman the same as the original Savage MkI?
Yes. Anasounds states in the Sandman manual that the pedal combines the circuit of the Savage MkI, identical and not a modified version, with the Ego Driver. The Savage section also keeps the 27V headroom of the original pedal, giving a large volume reserve designed to saturate an already crunched amp.
Can the Anasounds Sandman run off a battery?
The Sandman is powered by a negative-center 9V DC power supply. The manual warns that a protection circuit cuts the power supply if a wrong-polarity supply is used, and that the pedal should only be used with mono jacks to allow the circuit to be powered.
Can both sides of the Sandman be used at the same time?
Yes. The pedal has two footswitches, one for each channel, and Pedal of the Day notes the two channels can be used separately or together for different textures. The manual adds that with the Ego Driver gain at minimum you can keep its coloration while using its volume control to boost the Savage.
Is the Anasounds Sandman still available?
The Sandman was a limited edition and Anasounds has closed preorders. The maker's product page directs anyone still looking for one to its retailers, naming Art Rock Music Store, Broc Music and Woodbrass.com among those holding the last pieces.
Sources (5)
- Sandman limited edition, Anasounds, 2026-02-09
- Anasounds sandman user manual, Anasounds, 2023-05-23
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-09-03
- Anasounds Sandman Double Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2024-04-13
- Sandman | Anasounds, Anasounds, 2023-06-08
