The Animals Pedal PUSH & PULL DISTORTION is a distortion pedal from Japanese maker Animals Pedal. Animals Pedal describes its sound as the brown sound, and specifically the thick brown sound of around the 1980s1. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in November 2024, finding top-notch construction and industry standard parts selection that make it a solid choice for sound and roadworthiness2.
The pedal is designed to be used with clean amplifiers, so its character comes from the pedal rather than from pushing an already-breaking amp2.
Controls and sound
The Push & Pull is a three-knob pedal2. Animals Pedal's own description of the sound centers on the brown sound: the maker says that while there are many interpretations of the brown sound, the thick 1980s-style version is what the Push & Pull Distortion is built to produce1. The maker adds that it is easy to handle, sharpens the guitar tone's edge, and delivers thick distortion with long sustain that suits legato, tapping and fast alternate picking5.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed up the pedal's character on first impression2:
"this three-knob gem instantly vaults your guitar sound into vintage mode"
Pedal of the Day, 24 November 20242
The same review notes the pedal is designed to be used with clean amplifiers2, which fits the brown-sound approach: the pedal supplies the distortion, and the amp stays clean and loud.
Impedance, current draw and power
Animals Pedal lists an input impedance of 500K ohm and an output impedance of less than 2k ohm for the pedal4. The 500K input impedance is in the range of a typical guitar amp input, so the pedal preserves the high end of passive pickups, while the low output impedance lets it drive long cable runs or the next pedal in the chain without losing treble.
The current draw is 0.5mA4, which is extremely low. On a pedalboard power supply, the pedal draws less current than most any other effect, so it can share an output or run happily on a battery for a long time.
The pedal uses a true bypass footswitch and runs on a 9V battery or a standard center-negative 9V DC adapter1.
The 0.5mA draw means the Push & Pull Distortion is one of the easiest pedals on a board to power, but it still needs a center-negative 9V supply or a 9V battery, not a center-positive adapter.
What reviewers said
"Top-notch construction and industry standard parts selection make this a solid choice, both for killer sound"2
Pedal of the Day, 24 November 20242
The Limited Edition C box set
Animals Pedal also offers the PUSH & PULL DISTORTION LIMITED EDITION C, a limited-design version of the same pedal5. It shares the standard version's core specifications: 0.5mA current draw, true bypass footswitch, 500K ohm input impedance and output impedance under 2k ohm5. It is listed at 380g and measures 64(W) x 108(D) x 49(H)mm, slightly smaller than the standard version's 64 x 112 x 50mm including protrusions45.
The Limited Edition C is sold as a box set containing:
- One PUSH & PULL DISTORTION LIMITED EDITION C
- One Animals Pedal pedal of the buyer's choice, with options including the 1927 HOME RUN KING COMP.5
If the Firewood Acoustick D.I. MkII is chosen as the second pedal, it does not fit in the same box and an additional charge applies5.
The Limited Edition C is sold only through the Animals Pedal official online shop. For US buyers, orders ship via Yamato, delivered by UPS, and customs duties, taxes and fees are invoiced separately before shipment rather than included at checkout5.
Price
Animals Pedal's product page lists the standard Push & Pull Distortion at a regular price of £66.06, with a sale price of £59.45 under a 10% off campaign ending at 16:00 on Monday 26 October4.
Videos
GUITAR HERO ギターヒーロー
youngguitarmagazine
phillip andrew
Questions
Is the Animals Pedal Push & Pull Distortion true bypass?
Yes. Animals Pedal states the Push & Pull Distortion uses a true bypass footswitch, so with the pedal off the signal passes through without active buffering. It runs on a 9V battery or a standard center-negative 9V DC adapter.
How many knobs does the Push & Pull Distortion have?
Three. Pedal of the Day's review describes it as a three-knob distortion, and the controls follow the familiar Level, Tone and Gain layout players expect from a vintage-style distortion pedal.
Should the Push & Pull Distortion be used with a clean amp?
Yes. Pedal of the Day notes the pedal is designed to be used with clean amplifiers, so the distortion character comes from the pedal itself rather than from stacking onto an amp that is already breaking up.
How much current does the Push & Pull Distortion draw?
It draws 0.5mA, according to Animals Pedal's product page. That is a very small draw, so it places almost no demand on a pedalboard power supply and can share a supply with many other pedals.
How much does the Push & Pull Distortion weigh?
The standard Push & Pull Distortion weighs 381g, and the Limited Edition C version is listed at 380g. Both are compact pedals, measuring roughly 64mm wide and about 50mm tall.
Where can the Limited Edition C be bought?
The Limited Edition C is sold only through the Animals Pedal official online shop. US orders ship via Yamato, delivered by UPS, with customs duties, taxes and fees invoiced separately before shipment rather than at checkout.
Sources (5)
- Custom Illustrated PPDS たゆめる #01, Animals Pedal
- Animals Pedal Push & Pull Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2024-11-24
- Animals Pedal PUSH & PULL DISTORTION マニュアル, Animals Pedal
- 【10/26(月)16:00まで10%OFF】Animals Pedal PUSH & PULL DISTORTION, Animals Pedal (animalspedal.jp)
- Animals Pedal, Animals Pedal (animalspedal.jp)
