Bigfoot Engineering Thunder Pup XL

The Bigfoot Engineering Thunder Pup XL is an analog, low to medium gain overdrive pedal built for classic British overdrive tones, with a second footswitch that brings in a foot-switchable clean boost. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the boost as providing 16dB of additional gain, which RockBoard's PedalPedia says is perfect for lifting guitar solos with more fatness, sustain, and volume¹. It sits in the overdrive family, alongside the wider field of overdrive pedals and boost pedals.

Big Amp and Little Amp modes

The Thunder Pup has two settings, Big Amp mode and Little Amp mode, which reshape the character of the overdrive rather than just its gain level¹.

• Big Amp mode: inspired by the tones of Angus Young (AC/DC) and captures the classic Marshall Plexi 4x12 stack sound. It has a little more gain, a stronger lower-midrange punch, and powerful low frequency response¹.
• Little Amp mode: a faster attack in the lows, cleaner mids, and more air in the highs, like a vintage open back 2x12 combo, such as the Vox AC30 or the Marshall Bluesbreaker¹.

In practice, the choice is between a bigger, punchier stack voicing and a brighter, more open combo voicing, both within the pedal's low to medium gain range¹.

Power requirements

The Thunder Pup XL runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug and draws 5mA¹. That low draw means it sits comfortably on any standard pedalboard supply, and a single isolated supply output covers it with room to spare.