The Beetronics Overhive Unchained is a medium gain overdrive from Beetronics' Custom Series, built to sit between your guitar and a driven amp rather than replace the amp's own character. Beetronics describes it as "an extremely versatile medium gain overdrive" whose "round and warm tone respects your amp, enhancing it's best qualities while dynamically reacting to your playing."1 If you are shopping this corner of the market, it belongs to the same family as the Overhive and other Beetronics drives such as the Nectar and the Wannabee Beelateral Buzz, and it sits in the broader field of overdrive pedals alongside circuits like the Tube Screamer and Boss SD-1 covered in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
Controls
Beetronics gives the Unchained a small, focused control set aimed at shaping how the drive breaks up rather than piling on gain1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Honey | Beetronics says: "Roll it down for a nice and smooth crunch, or roll it up for a smooth and dynamic drive, where your hands dictate the breakup."1 |
| Tone | A tone control, included alongside the master volume1 |
| Master volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Hive switch | "can make you sound bigger and fatter, or tighter and thinner"1 |
| Body switch | Adds a low end boost, which Beetronics calls "great for when you are switching guitars on a set"1 |
The two switches are the part that sets this apart from a straightforward three-knob drive. The Hive switch changes the overall body of the sound in either direction, fatter or tighter, while the Body switch is a dedicated low end lift that is handy mid-set when you swap from a bright guitar to a thinner one. Together with the Honey control, the layout is built around dialling in how the pedal responds to picking dynamics, which is where Beetronics places the emphasis in its description of the circuit.1
Power and size
The Unchained runs on a 9VDC supply with a center negative connector, the standard for most pedalboards. Beetronics notes that the pedal does not include a power supply, so plan on a spare output from your brick or your own adapter.1
No power supply is included with the pedal. Beetronics specifies 9VDC center negative power.1
Physical details from the maker's page:
- Pedal size: 5.5" x 3.5" x 2.75", including knobs, switches and so on1
- Enclosure size: 5.5" x 3.25" x 2"1
- Pedal weight: 1 lbs / 0.5 kilos1
- Package size: 6.75" x 5.25" x 3.25"1
- Package weight: 1 lbs 8 oz / 0.75 kilos1
Availability and returns
As of the maker's product page dated October 2026, the Overhive Unchained is listed as sold out, at a regular price of £216.00 GBP as stated by Beetronics.1 The page carries a "14-Day Hive Happiness Guarantee" return policy, with the caveat that a return may carry "a modest restocking fee of 15%, or the possibility of receiving store credit instead" if the product shows wear and tear or is missing accessories. Products labeled as "Scratch and Dent" are sold in their current condition and cannot be returned for a refund.1
Questions
Does the Beetronics Overhive Unchained come with a power supply?
No. Beetronics states on the product page that the Overhive Unchained does not include a power supply, so you will need to provide your own 9VDC center negative supply or a spare output from your pedalboard power brick.
What power supply does the Overhive Unchained need?
Beetronics specifies a 9VDC power supply with a center negative connector, the same standard used by most modern pedals. The maker does not list a current draw figure on the product page, so a standard 9V center negative output from a pedalboard supply should be planned for.
How big is the Beetronics Overhive Unchained?
Beetronics lists the pedal itself at 5.5 by 3.5 by 2.75 inches including knobs and switches, with an enclosure measuring 5.5 by 3.25 by 2 inches. The pedal weighs 1 pound, or 0.5 kilos, and the shipping package measures 6.75 by 5.25 by 3.25 inches and weighs 1 pound 8 ounces, or 0.75 kilos.
Is the Beetronics Overhive Unchained still available?
As of the maker's product page dated October 2026, the Overhive Unchained is listed as sold out. Beetronics sells its pedals in runs, so availability changes over time, and the page also notes a 14-Day Hive Happiness Guarantee return policy for purchases.
Sources (1)
- Overhive, Beetronics
