The Arteffect Zenith Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Arteffect, and it was the third release in the company's product line when Premier Guitar reviewed it in March 20211. The pedal is built around flexibility: Premier Guitar described it as "incredibly flexible, delivering everything from clean boost that leaves the timbre of your guitar and amp" intact, on up through driven tones1.
Controls and layout
The Zenith's control panel is split into two rows. Premier Guitar highlighted "an extremely effective EQ section consisting of simple Treble and Bass knobs along the bottom row, as well as the Voice" control, which sits between the Drive and Volume controls on the top row1.
| Control | Row | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | Top | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Voice | Top, between Drive and Volume | Shapes the pedal's voicing |
| Volume | Top | Sets output level |
| Treble | Bottom | EQ, high frequencies |
| Bass | Bottom | EQ, low frequencies |
The 18V internal operation is worth noting for pedalboard planning: the pedal runs from a single 9V battery or a standard AC adapter, with the higher internal voltage part of how it delivers its headroom and range of tones1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's March 2021 review was strongly positive. The reviewer called the pedal unusual in the best sense1:
"the Zenith is an anomaly, offering an incredibly broad range of tones with nearly all of them kicking ass"1
The same review noted that the pedal "integrated itself" into the reviewer's rig immediately overall1.
Related pedals
The Zenith circuit has a life beyond Arteffect's own pedal. GuitarPCB sells the Zenith Mini, a DIY overdrive pedal circuit board described by the maker as "a dynamic, touch-sensitive overdrive pedal"2. Building it yourself is a different route to this style of overdrive than buying a finished pedal.
Adventure Audio's Glacial Zenith II is a related name from the same family of designs. Guitar.com described it in September 2018 as "a drive, three-band EQ and a boost all wrapped up in one box"3. Where the Zenith pairs its drive with Treble, Bass and Voice controls, the Glacial Zenith II adds a separate boost stage alongside a three-band EQ.
If you are weighing the Zenith against other drive pedals, the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers two of the most common overdrive alternatives.
Videos
arteffectpedals
arteffectpedals
arteffectpedals
Questions
What kind of pedal is the Arteffect Zenith Overdrive?
It is an overdrive pedal, described by Premier Guitar as incredibly flexible, covering everything from a clean boost that leaves the character of your guitar and amp intact through a broad range of driven tones. It adds a Voice control between Drive and Volume, plus Treble and Bass knobs, and runs internally at 18V from a single 9V battery or a standard AC adapter.
How much does the Arteffect Zenith Overdrive cost?
Premier Guitar's March 2021 review lists an MSRP of $225 for the Zenith Overdrive.
Sources (3)
- Arteffect Zenith Overdrive Review, Premier Guitar, 2008-05-15
- Zenith Mini, GuitarPCB
- Adventure Audio debuts the Glacial Zenith II, Guitar.com, 2018-09-21
