The Bondi Effects Breakers Overdrive is an overdrive pedal released in 2017. It can work as a Clean Boost, an Overdrive or a blend of the two, and it carries a voltage toggle that changes the pedal's internal operating voltage, which shifts how compressed or dynamic it feels under the fingers. Delicious Audio, writing when the pedal came through its pages, described the sound as natural and amp-like, rich, focused and smooth1.
Where it came from
Bondi Effects began the Breakers as a revision to its Del Mar Overdrive, but the project, in the maker's words, "started as a revision to our Del Mar Overdrive, and quickly took on a whole new character"1. The name follows the company's own: "'Breakers' was inspired from our namesake, Bondi Beach," with Bondi meaning "the sound of waves breaking on the rocks"1.
Controls and how it works
Alongside the usual controls for Level, Gain, Bass and Treble, the Breakers has a toggle switch in the middle of the pedal that changes its voltage from 9V in the up position to 18V in the down position, giving a more or less compressed or dynamic sound1. That makes the pedal two voicings in one box: lower headroom and compression at 9V, more dynamics at 18V.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output level |
| Gain | Amount of overdrive |
| Bass | Low end |
| Treble | High end |
| Voltage toggle | 9V (up) or 18V (down) for more or less compressed or dynamic response1 |
Power and bypass
The Breakers draws 60mA and uses soft touch buffered bypass switching1. The buffer means the pedal is not true bypass, which is worth bearing in mind if a player's board is built entirely around hardwire switching.
At 60mA, the Breakers draws more current than many compact overdrives, so plan pedalboard power accordingly.
Related pedals
Bondi Effects' overdrive line also includes the Sick As and the limited-run Sick As High Shredroom. For a wider look at the category, see the site's page on Overdrive Pedals, or the comparison of the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer for two of the circuits players most often weigh against pedals like this.
Videos
Reverb
Brett Kingman
James Emerson
Questions
Is the Breakers Overdrive true bypass?
No. The Breakers uses soft touch buffered bypass switching rather than true bypass, according to the product page published by Delicious Audio. A buffer keeps the signal path consistent when the pedal is off, which some players prefer on longer pedalboards, though it differs from the hardwire approach of true bypass pedals.
How much current does the Breakers Overdrive draw?
The Breakers draws 60mA, as listed on the Delicious Audio product page. That is worth knowing when planning a pedalboard power supply, since it is a heavier draw than many compact overdrives and may rule out sharing a low-current output with other pedals.
Can the Breakers Overdrive be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Delicious Audio's page describes the Breakers as capable of Clean Boost, Overdrive or a blend of the two, so it can be run as a straight boost, as a full overdrive, or anywhere in between depending on how the controls are set.
What is the Breakers Overdrive based on?
Bondi Effects started the Breakers as a revision to its Del Mar Overdrive, but the circuit, in the maker's words quoted by Delicious Audio, quickly took on a whole new character. It is best understood as a sibling to the Del Mar rather than a direct update.
Why is it called Breakers?
The name comes from Bondi Beach, the maker's namesake. According to the Delicious Audio page, Bondi is aboriginal for the sound of waves breaking on the rocks, and Breakers was inspired by that connection.
Sources (1)
- Bondi Effects Breakers Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2020-04-03
