The Beetronics Overhive is a medium-gain overdrive pedal. Beetronics describes it as "a versatile, medium-gain overdrive that enhances your amp's natural character with warmth, clarity, and just the right amount of bite," and as "a highly versatile mid-gain drive that blends naturally with any amp or guitar." Rather than imposing its own character, it is built to work with what the amp and guitar already do, cleaning up with the guitar's volume control and responding to playing touch. Beetronics calls it "perfect for stacking or standalone use," so it can sit under another drive on a board or carry a song on its own1.
This page covers the Custom Shop unit with serial OV1451, one of Beetronics' hand-finished Custom Shop editions. It is listed as sold out on the maker's product page1. Other editions of the same circuit appear regularly, including the Overhive Skull Blaze, the Overhive "Transylvania" and the standard Overhive.
Controls and switching
The Overhive keeps its control set simple, with two switches shaping the voice of the drive alongside its gain and level controls. The Hive switch toggles between fat and focused tones, and the Body switch boosts low end1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Hive switch | Toggles between fat and focused tones; changes the pedal's overall feel from tighter and more focused to bigger and smoother1 |
| Body switch | Boosts low end1 |
Beetronics describes the Hive switch as "great for dialing in any rig," since the tighter setting suits brighter amps and the bigger, smoother setting adds weight1.
Power, bypass and practicalities
The pedal runs on 9V DC center-negative power, the standard for pedalboards, and a power supply is not included. Switching is true bypass, which Beetronics says keeps "your tone intact when disengaged"1. Physically it measures approximately 5.5" x 3.5" x 2.75" and weighs around 1 lb, in line with the rest of the company's pedal range1.
The Custom Shop OV1451 is sold out. Beetronics' Custom Shop editions are one-off or limited hand-finished units, so this exact pedal does not return to stock; other Overhive editions, such as the Overhive Mid-Gain Overdrive The Blackbee Edition or the Overhive Mid-Gain Overdrive Limited Edition Babee Blue, cover the same circuit in different finishes.
Where it sits in Beetronics' range
The Overhive is Beetronics' mid-gain overdrive, sitting below heavier drives in gain. Players comparing it within the company's lineup will find the Fatbee positioned as the company's other overdrive platform, and the Nectar Tone Sweetener as a compact overdrive and fuzz. Against drives outside the brand, a mid-gain overdrive of this kind occupies similar territory to the circuits compared in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, though the Overhive's Hive and Body switches give it more voicing options than either of those simpler designs. For more on the effect type itself, see Overdrive Pedals1.
The purchase terms on the maker's page include a 14-day money back guarantee1.
Questions
Is the Beetronics Overhive true bypass?
Yes. Beetronics states the Overhive features true bypass switching to keep your tone intact when the pedal is disengaged, so your guitar's signal passes straight through to the amp when the effect is off.
What power supply does the Beetronics Overhive need?
The Overhive runs on 9V DC center-negative power, the standard pedal power supply. Beetronics notes that a power supply is not included with the pedal, so you will need to use your own supply or a spot on a pedalboard power brick.
What does the Hive switch do on the Overhive?
The Hive switch changes the pedal's overall feel, from tighter and more focused to bigger and smoother. Beetronics describes it as toggling between fat and focused tones, which makes it useful for dialing the pedal in against different amps and guitars.
Can you stack the Overhive with other pedals?
Yes. Beetronics describes the Overhive as cleaning up with your guitar's volume and responding naturally to your touch, and calls it perfect for stacking or standalone use, so it can sit under another drive or work on its own.
Is the Beetronics Overhive still available?
This particular unit, the Custom Shop OV1451, is listed as sold out on Beetronics' product page. Beetronics regularly releases other Overhive editions, and the standard Overhive remains part of the company's range.
Sources (1)
- Overhive Mid-Gain OD Custom Shop OV1451, Beetronics
