The Animals Pedal Major Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Japanese maker Animals Pedal, built around a circuit designed by Skreddy Pedals. Animals Pedal describes it as an overdrive with the character of a vintage Plexi-style amp, and as a higher-gain, hotter rock-toned pedal than the Diamond Peak Hybrid Overdrive that followed it1. It went on sale on 19 October 20162.
The pedal's control section is deliberately simple. Pedal of the Day's reviewer noted that "The Major Overdrive's control section is pretty basic, as far as overdrives are concerned," with a Volume knob to set the output level among its controls3.
A Skreddy Pedals design
The circuit inside the Major Overdrive comes from Skreddy Pedals, which lists the Major Overdrive among its own designs6. Animals Pedal's own index credits Skreddy Pedals with developing the pedal's vintage-Plexi character1.
The Skreddy Major Overdrive circuit predates the Animals Pedal version. Delicious Audio reports that the circuit "already existed in a less refined version inside Nevada's" Skreddy Pedals lineup before Animals Pedal adopted it4.
How it differs from the Diamond Peak
In 2021 Animals Pedal released the Diamond Peak Hybrid Overdrive, another collaboration with Skreddy Pedals. Delicious Audio describes the Diamond Peak as "based on another Skreddy design, the Major Overdrive," reworked with less gain and more headroom4. Animals Pedal positions the Major Overdrive as the higher-gain of the two, with a hotter rock tone1.
| Pedal | Relationship | Gain |
|---|---|---|
| Major Overdrive (2016) | Original Skreddy design | Higher gain, hot rock tone2 |
| Diamond Peak Hybrid Overdrive (2021) | Reworked Major Overdrive circuit | Less gain, more headroom1 |
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal in August 2017, praising its low end and clarity3:
"The low end doesn't get lost either, thankfully, and the tones are clear and crisp at any setting"
The reviewer also noted its look: a little brown box with classic graphic artwork and bold buttons, shipped from Japan3.
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Questions
How is the Major Overdrive different from the Diamond Peak?
The Major Overdrive came first, released in October 2016. Animals Pedal later used its circuit as the basis for the Diamond Peak Hybrid Overdrive in 2021, which was tuned with less gain and more headroom. The Major Overdrive is the higher-gain pedal of the two, aimed at hotter rock tones.
Who designed the Animals Pedal Major Overdrive?
The circuit was designed by Skreddy Pedals, the American boutique pedal maker. Animals Pedal, the Japanese company that builds and sells the pedal, describes it as an overdrive with the character of a vintage Plexi-style amp developed by Skreddy Pedals.
Sources (6)
- Pedal Summary, Animals Pedal
- HISTORY - Animals Pedal, Animals Pedal, 2016-10-19
- Animals Pedal Major Overdrive Review, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2017-08-02
- Animals Pedal Diamond Peak Hybrid Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2021-05-26
- 【10/26(月)16:00まで10%OFF】Animals Pedal Major Overdrive, Animals Pedal (animalspedal.jp)
- Animals Pedal, Skreddy Pedals
