The Axess Electronics AXSGTR OBViouS Boost/Overdrive is a transparent, lower-gain pedal meant to push an already overdriven tube amplifier. It sits in the territory shared by boost pedals and overdrive pedals: rather than piling on distortion of its own, it dirties up a clean amp and pushes a dirty amp harder, with controls for shaping the result1.
What it does
Pedal of the Day describes the OBViouS as "a transparent and straightforward, lower gain pedal meant to push an already overdriven" tube amplifier1. The design's stated strength is tonal shaping: the pedal can "sculpt and fine-tune, tightened and tailored, bass and treble frequencies" for what the review calls a hot-rodded transparent response1. In practice that means a player with an amp already breaking up can use the OBViouS to add push and tighten the low end and tailor the top without changing the amp's basic character.
"The pedal's stimulus was the beloved Marshall® JMP plexi and 1987/X family of amplifiers"
That plexi inspiration points to the classic British overdrive sound: an amp driven into natural power-tube and preamp breakup rather than heavy clipping. The OBViouS is built to live in that world, not to replace a distortion pedal or a fuzz pedal1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain knob | Drives the sound to the edge, from a clean push into breakup1 |
| Three-position clip toggle switch | Works with the Gain knob to drive the sound to the edge, offering three clipping settings1 |
| Bass and treble shaping | Sculpts and fine-tunes bass and treble frequencies for a hot-rodded transparent response1 |
The clip switch is the pedal's main voicing tool: three positions give different amounts and flavors of clipping as the Gain knob pushes the circuit, so the breakup point and texture can be matched to the amp1.
Who makes it, and where it came from
The OBViouS was designed by Mario Marino, who "has been creating products under the name Axess Electronics since 1998"1. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal in November 2022, treated it as the first pedal he has released under that name: "if this is just the first pedal he's released, the future looks bright, and we are looking forward to more pedals soon"1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review was strongly positive on the pedal's sound and playability, calling it "a remarkable, gorgeous-sounding effect" overall1. The reviewer's verdict on playing it:
"This is one of those pedals that really is hard to stop playing once you turn it on and crank it up"
Videos
Shawn Tubbs
Philip Czarnecki
Pedal of the Day
Sources (1)
- Axess Electronics, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2022-11-16