The Velvet Hammer Overdrive is a two-voicing overdrive pedal from BMF Effects. The idea is one circuit with two characters: the Velvet side carries the pedal's classic voicing with full controls, while the Hammer side adds a fixed midrange and gain bump for what the maker calls "the perfect delivery of pre-portioned oomph"1. BMF Effects describes that voicing as "humble-yet-nonetheless-mighty", spanning "classic sweat-drenched Texas blues" through smooth fusion sounds1.
Controls and the two voicings
The pedal is arranged around its two sides. The left side is the Velvet, with the conventional overdrive control set; the Hammer side needs no controls of its own because its midrange and gain bump are fixed1.
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Velvet | Output level for the Velvet voicing1 |
| Tone | Velvet | "Just enough shaping to line things up with your rig without compromising that tone," per BMF Effects1 |
| Gain | Velvet | Runs "from mild to fairly wild" while working with the classic voicing1 |
| Fixed midrange and gain bump | Hammer | A preset boost to mids and gain, no knobs, for added drive on demand1 |
"the Hammer, with its fixed midrange and gain bump, for the perfect delivery of pre-portioned oomph"
For a player, the layout means the Velvet side behaves like a straightforward three-knob overdrive, and the Hammer works as a second, hotter voice you can switch to without re-dialling anything. The maker notes that color and graphics are subject to change between units1.
Power, bypass and size
The Velvet Hammer uses true bypass switching and takes power from a DC jack1. Its current draw is listed at 4mA1, a light load that suits any standard pedalboard supply output. The enclosure measures 4.2 inches wide by 4.5 inches long (106.7mm x 114.3mm)1, a compact footprint that sits easily on a crowded board.
The pedal was listed as sold out on BMF Effects' product page as of 26 October 2026, with the maker stating a current lead time of 7 to 10 days1.
Where it sits in BMF Effects' range
BMF Effects builds several overdrives with distinct voicings, and the Velvet Hammer's two-sided approach of a controlled voicing plus a fixed gain bump is one way the company splits a pedal's characters. The maker's other overdrives include the Godfather Overdrive, the Rocket 88 Overdrive and the dual-channel Godfather II Dual Overdrive. For a wider look at the category, see the site's Overdrive Pedals page1.
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Questions
What does the Hammer side of the Velvet Hammer do?
The Hammer is the second of the pedal's two voicings. Where the Velvet side carries the Volume, Tone and Gain controls, the Hammer side applies a fixed midrange and gain bump, which BMF Effects describes as pre-portioned oomph. In practice it is a hotter setting you can call up without turning knobs, sitting on top of the same basic voicing.
Is the BMF Effects Velvet Hammer true bypass?
Yes. BMF Effects states that the Velvet Hammer Overdrive features true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the circuit in the way. The pedal is powered through a DC jack rather than a battery compartment.
How much current does the Velvet Hammer draw?
BMF Effects lists the current draw at 4mA, which is low by pedal standards and well within what a standard 9V supply or an isolated output on a pedalboard power supply provides.
How big is the BMF Effects Velvet Hammer?
The enclosure measures 4.2 inches wide by 4.5 inches long, or 106.7mm by 114.3mm, according to BMF Effects' product page. That is a compact footprint by standard pedal enclosure sizes.
Sources (1)
- Velvet Hammer Overdrive, BMF Effects
