The Ashdown John Myung Double Drive is a dual-channel distortion pedal for bass, designed with John Myung, the bassist of Dream Theater, and optimized for his Music Man Bongo and 6-string signature bass tone1. Ashdown developed it after consultation with Myung and his bass tech Maddi Schieferstein2. Where most drive pedals give you one circuit, this one gives you two independent channels, Drive 1 and Drive 2, and lets you run either one or both stacked together12.
Two drive channels in one pedal
The pedal's whole idea is putting two different drive voices in one box and letting you combine them. Each channel has its own character and its own controls.
| Channel | Character | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Drive 1 | Subtle distortion with precise shaping | Gain, Loud, Tone1 |
| Drive 2 | Vintage-style fuzz, from warm growls to aggressive overdrive | Grit, Brun1 |
On Drive 1, the Gain control sets the drive amount. Guitar World's reviewer Joel McIver tested Drive 1 with Gain at half and the Loud knob maxed, and reported "a cutting distortion"2. Drive 2 takes a different route: Ashdown describes it as a vintage-style fuzz voice with Grit and Brun controls, ranging from warm growls to searing overdrive1.
The stacking option is where the two channels meet. You can select a drive, or both at the same time if you wish2, and Ashdown says stacking Drive 1 and Drive 2 produces limitless overdrive tones1. For a bassist, that means one pedal can cover a light edge for verses, a heavier voice for choruses, and a stacked setting for the heaviest sections, all without re-dialing knobs between songs.
Myung himself is quoted on how he uses the two sides:
"Drive 1 is great at harmonic distortion, and Drive 2 offers a great tweak in bass presence, being able to bring it out without getting in the way of itself"2
DI output and connections
Alongside the drive circuitry, the pedal carries a pro transformer-isolated balanced DI output, which Ashdown describes as suitable for front of house or any line-level input1. For a gigging bassist, that means the driven tone can go straight to the mixing desk without needing a separate DI box, and the transformer isolation helps keep ground noise out of the long cable run to FOH.
Power and build
The Double Drive runs on a 9 to 18V external power supply with a center pin negative plug1.
There is no battery option. The pedal needs an external supply, and the center pin negative polarity is the standard used by most modern pedalboard power bricks, but it is worth matching before plugging in.
Physically it is a substantial unit: a 1.6mm Zintec steel chassis with a 0.9mm alloy over panel, 180 mm wide, 120 mm deep and 60 mm high, weighing 1.2 kg1. Guitar World's review lists it as made in China2. Ashdown says all of its products include a 5 year warranty1.
Where it came from
The pedal comes out of Ashdown's long-running artist collaboration approach. The company produced the Double Drive after consultation with Myung and his bass tech Maddi Schieferstein2, and Myung is personally endorsed by Ashdown as one of the world's finest bassists1. Premier Guitar's 2019 rig rundown of Dream Theater covered Myung's bass, effects, amps and more, the rig that this pedal grew out of3.
Ashdown has a track record with dual-channel bass distortion in particular. The company released the Nate Mendel NM2 Double Distortion pedal in September 2013, another two-channel bass drive built with a named artist, and the John Myung Double Drive sits in the same family of artist-designed bass pedals.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Joel McIver reviewed the pedal and was positive about it, concluding:
"This Ashdown x John Myung collaboration is perfect for bass, with a super-heavy crunch from a super-solid unit."2
His review also carries the practical details a buyer wants: it lists the pedal as made in China2, and notes that you can select a drive, or both at the same time if you wish2. The pedal has also drawn comparison elsewhere in the press: a Guitar World review of the Fender Trapper Bass Distortion named the John Myung Double Drive among similar units4.
Price
Pricing for the Ashdown John Myung Double Drive varies by listing. Ashdown's own product page lists it at £229.001, while a Guitar World review lists it at $2995. With figures this far apart, the price a player actually pays depends on retailer and date.
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Questions
Is the Ashdown John Myung Double Drive made for bass or guitar?
It is a bass pedal. Ashdown designed it with John Myung of Dream Theater and optimized it for his Music Man Bongo and 6-string signature bass tone. Guitar World's reviewer called it perfect for bass, with a super-heavy crunch from a super-solid unit.
Can both drive channels run at the same time?
Yes. The two channels are independent, and you can select Drive 1, Drive 2, or both at the same time. Ashdown says stacking Drive 1 and Drive 2 produces limitless overdrive tones.
Does the John Myung Double Drive have a DI output?
Yes. It has a pro transformer-isolated balanced DI output that Ashdown describes as suitable for front of house or any line-level input, so you can send your driven signal straight to the desk alongside your amp.
What power supply does the Double Drive need?
It runs on a 9 to 18V external power supply with a center pin negative plug. There is no battery option, so it needs a wall supply or a pedalboard power brick with the correct polarity.
Where is the Ashdown John Myung Double Drive made?
Guitar World's review lists it as made in China. It is built in a 1.6mm Zintec steel chassis with a 0.9mm alloy over panel, and Ashdown gives a 5 year warranty on all of its products.
How long is the warranty on the Double Drive?
Ashdown says all of its products include a 5 year warranty, which covers the Double Drive.
Sources (5)
- John Myung Signature Double Drive Pedal, Ashdown Engineering
- Ashdown John Myung Double Drive review, Guitar World, 2022-03-04
- Dream Theater 2019 Gear: Petrucci & Myung's Setup, Premier Guitar (www.premierguitar.com), 2019-05-22
- Fender Trapper Bass Distortion review, Guitar World, 2022-03-08
- Ashdown Geezer Butler Pedal of Doom review, Guitar World, 2026-01-28
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