The Bookworm Effects Billy Pilgrim Overdrive is a handmade overdrive pedal built in Morgantown, West Virginia. It keeps things simple on the surface: a single knob that adjusts the level of the pedal's output, plus two toggle switches, Bomb and Necklace, that reshape the tone. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, called it "a little Kurt Vonnegut-inspired masterpiece" and found that "a surprising amount of differing tones were capable" through it1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level knob | Adjusts the level of the pedal's output1 |
| Bomb toggle | Clipping selector between Vintage and Modern tone modes1 |
| Necklace switch | Gain Cut: bumps up the overall level (about 3dB) and boosts the mids1 |
Vintage and Modern modes
The Bomb toggle is the pedal's clipping selector, and it is where most of the tonal range lives. In Vintage mode, the reviewer described the tone as more balanced and compressed. Flipping to Modern brings a boost in mids and volume1. The Necklace switch layers on top of that: when activated, it raises the overall level by about 3dB and pushes the mids forward1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal in March 2016. Mike B's verdict:
"it sounds great and features some fantastic tonal options in an easy-to-use enclosure"1
The review also noted the "classic novel-inspired graphic design by Brian Pickens of MadeinWV.com"1.
The name
Billy Pilgrim is a nod to Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five. Pedal of the Day describes the pedal as an ode to the book, with graphic design to match1.
If you are weighing the Billy Pilgrim against other drives, the Overdrive Pedals page covers the type as a whole, and the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison looks at two of the most common reference points.
Videos
Bookworm Effects
Bookworm Effects
Bookworm Effects
Questions
What does the Bomb switch do on the Billy Pilgrim Overdrive?
The Bomb is a toggle switch that acts as a clipping selector. It moves between two tone modes: Vintage, which Pedal of the Day's reviewer described as more balanced and compressed, and Modern, which boosts the mids and the overall volume. Flipping between the two is the main way to change the pedal's character.
What does the Necklace switch do?
The Necklace switch is a Gain Cut. When activated, it bumps up the overall level of the pedal by about 3dB and boosts the mids, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It works alongside the Bomb switch's Vintage and Modern clipping modes.
Is the Bookworm Effects Billy Pilgrim Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes the Billy Pilgrim as true bypass and 9v powered, handmade in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Where is the Billy Pilgrim Overdrive made?
The pedal is handmade in Morgantown, West Virginia, by Bookworm Effects, according to Pedal of the Day's 2016 review.
What voltage does the Billy Pilgrim Overdrive use?
The Billy Pilgrim runs on 9v power, as described in Pedal of the Day's review. The review does not give a current draw figure.
Why is it called Billy Pilgrim?
Billy Pilgrim is the name of a character in Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five. Pedal of the Day's review calls the pedal an ode to Slaughterhouse-Five and describes it as a Kurt Vonnegut-inspired design, with novel-inspired graphic design by Brian Pickens of MadeinWV.com.
Sources (1)
- Bookworm Effects Billy Pilgrim Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-01