The Alpha Centauri Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Blacksoil FX, a maker Pedal of the Day describes as building pedals 100% handcrafted in the heart of the black soil lands, the Russian region the company is named after1. It is a Klon-based design: the review calls it "based on the legendary Klon schematic," and it was featured on Pedal of the Day on Saturday, August 20, 201612.
From clean boost to warm overdrive
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the pedal covers a broad range on the gain spectrum, from a glorious clean boost when dialed back to a warm and rich-sounding overdrive1. At the low end of the Drive control it behaves like the kind of pedal covered on the site's Boost Pedals page; turned up, it sits firmly in overdrive territory.
The controls are the familiar three-knob layout:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level |
| Tone | Shapes the treble character of the overdrive |
| Drive | Sets the amount of gain, from boost to overdrive |
The reviewer described the three knobs as producing "a rich, crystal-clear, non-compressed overdrive"1.
The turbo switch
What sets the Alpha Centauri apart from other Klon-based pedals is a toggle switch that selects between regular and "turbo" drive mode. Turbo mode adds in extra drive to push the amp harder1. For players comparing Klones, it effectively gives two gain settings on one pedal without touching the knobs.
Buffered bypass, not true bypass
The Alpha Centauri uses a buffered bypass based on the low-noise precision of the BurrBrown OpAmp, according to Pedal of the Day1. That means a small circuit stays active when the pedal is switched off, rather than the signal passing through a plain wire as with true bypass. Players with long cable runs or large boards often welcome a good buffer; players who want a strictly untouched signal path should know this pedal is not true bypass.
The Alpha Centauri is buffered bypass, not true bypass. If your board is built around true-bypass switching only, this is worth knowing before adding it to the chain.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal on August 25, 2016, covering it as Blacksoil FX's Klon-based overdrive handcrafted in Russia1. The reviewer's verdict:
"the Alpha Centauri was a welcome surprise in the Klone department"
Pedal of the Day also singled out the extra toggle switch for boosting the circuit as a highlight of the pedal1.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Blacksoil FX Alpha Centauri true bypass?
No. Pedal of the Day's review describes the Alpha Centauri as using a buffered bypass based on the low-noise precision of the BurrBrown OpAmp. A buffered bypass leaves a small circuit active when the pedal is off, which can help preserve your signal over long cable runs, but it is not the same as true bypass switching.
What does the turbo switch do on the Alpha Centauri?
The toggle switch selects between regular and turbo drive mode. According to Pedal of the Day, turbo mode adds in extra drive to push the amp harder. It is the pedal's distinguishing feature among Klon-based designs, and the reviewer singled it out as a welcome addition.
Is the Alpha Centauri a Klon clone?
Pedal of the Day describes the Alpha Centauri as based on the legendary Klon schematic, and reviewed it in the Klone department. It is not an exact copy: the added turbo toggle gives it a second, higher-drive mode the original Klon does not have.
Where is the Blacksoil FX Alpha Centauri made?
The pedal is handcrafted in Russia. Pedal of the Day quotes the maker's description of being 100% handcrafted in the heart of the black soil lands, the region that gives Blacksoil FX its name.
Sources (2)
- Blacksoil FX Alpha Centauri Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-08-25
- Blacksoil FX Alpha Centauri Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-08-20
