The Browne Amplification Carbon is a transparent overdrive pedal: the blue side of the company's Protein dual overdrive released as a standalone stompbox. Browne describes it as "a heavily modified BB style pedal," meaning a circuit descended from the 1991 Marshall Bluesbreaker, and says it offers "drive options from clean boost all the way to" high-gain lead tones123. Guitar.com's reviewer classed it as "a transparent overdrive, and it absolutely excels as an always-on enhancer for a clean amp"4.
The current version is the Carbon Overdrive V2, available in Sky Blue and Midnight Black finishes (plus BLEM cosmetic-seconds versions), listed from $189.00 USD on Browne's store as of October 20262. Guitar World's review gives the price as $/£2195.
A transparent overdrive for an always-on role
The Carbon exists because players asked for it. Browne Amplification describes the Carbon as "the stand alone Blue Side of the Protein Pedal," a "heavily modified BB style pedal that is half of the celebrated Protein Pedal found on pro boards all across the" world2. Guitar.com's review describes the result as "the lower-gain half of the Protein dual overdrive goes out on its own"4.
What "transparent" means here is that the pedal leaves the core of your amp's character in place while adding drive. Reviewing the Protein for Guitar.com, Huw Price noted that "the blue pedal keeps things broadly transparent in its updating of the 1991 Marshall Bluesbreaker overdrive"3. Browne's own pitch for the Carbon leans the same way: "the Carbon is a pedal you might never turn off"2.
Both published reviewers rated it well. Guitar.com scored it 9 out of 10 and called it "arguably the most interesting half of the Browne Protein, and it works fantastically well as a" single stompbox4. Guitar World's Paul Riario went further on the comparison:
"the Carbon sounds more organic as its own pedal. It's still an outstanding circuit in either housing, but here, it blooms with more liveliness and presence and is bigger-sounding."5
The controls
The Carbon keeps it simple: three knobs and, on the V2, one toggle52.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the drive amount, from clean boost to screaming overdrive lead tones15 |
| Volume | Sets the output level5 |
| Tone | Sets the brightness5 |
| Hi-cut toggle (V2) | Left = Subtle Cut, Center = OG Carbon, Right = More Cut2 |
Guitar World noted that on the original Carbon "There are no internal or external switches to fiddle with; the Carbon's custom-tweaked overdriven voice is achieved only" through the three knobs5. The V2 changes that with the hi-cut toggle, which Browne says offers "2 variations, along with the OG Carbon setting"2.
One thing to know when dialing it in: Browne says "The higher you have the gain set, the brighter the Carbon will be," so at high gain settings you may want to pull the tone control back1.
The Carbon runs on a 9-volt mains supply only4. There is no battery compartment, so it needs a spot on a powered pedalboard.
Versions and the Carbon X
The Carbon has appeared in two main forms. The original, reviewed by Guitar.com in April 2023, measured 120 x 72 x 59mm in what the reviewer called "a handsome cobalt blue enclosure with Browne's familiar 'industrial chic' name-plate in the middle and a blue LED next to the soft-touch footswitch"4. Guitar World later described the housing as "ruggedly handsome, with a mini-metal name badge attached to the powder blue coating of its metal housing"5. The V2 is slightly larger at approximately 4.8" x 2.75" x 2.25" with knobs1, and its soft switching "now includes an adjustable start up state," letting you choose whether the pedal powers up engaged or bypassed2.
The circuit also lives on in the Carbon X, a dual overdrive released by Browne. Its left side is the Carbon V2 circuit with a three-way hi-cut switch, while the right side is a new take on the Carbon circuit with reduced sheen and headroom, a grittier character and added sag6. Browne's manual describes it as the fusion of two blue sides, "the classic Carbon sound elevated to new heights"7. In February 2025 Browne changed the Carbon X's right-side label to LEVEL/DRIVE to reduce confusion between the two sides7. The Carbon V2 circuit also appears as one side of the Ethane Dual Overdrive, where Browne says it "reimagines the Bluesbreaker with Browne's signature refinements"89.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Browne Amplification Carbon true bypass?
Yes. Guitar.com's review lists the Carbon as true bypass. It also uses a soft-touch footswitch with soft switching, and on the V2 the soft switching includes an adjustable start-up state, so you can choose whether the pedal comes on in engaged or bypassed mode when power is applied.
Can the Browne Carbon run on a battery?
No. The Carbon is powered by a 9-volt mains supply only, according to Guitar.com's review, so there is no battery option. It needs a 9V DC power supply on your pedalboard.
How is the Carbon related to the Browne Protein?
The Carbon is the blue side of the Browne Protein dual overdrive released as its own standalone pedal. Browne describes it as a heavily modified Bluesbreaker-style circuit, and it is the lower-gain half of the Protein. The green side became the standalone Atom.
Where is the Browne Carbon made?
The Carbon is made in the USA. Guitar.com's review lists it as an overdrive pedal made in the USA, and it is built by Browne Amplification.
What size is the Browne Carbon?
The current Carbon Overdrive V2 measures approximately 4.8 by 2.75 by 2.25 inches including knobs, per Browne's product page. The original version reviewed by Guitar.com measured 120 by 72 by 59mm, a compact standard-size enclosure.
Is the Browne Carbon the same as the Protein's blue side?
It is the same circuit family, but not identical in practice. Guitar World's reviewer found the Carbon sounds more organic as its own pedal than the blue side of the Protein, with more liveliness, presence and a bigger sound. The V2 also adds a hi-cut toggle the Protein's blue side did not have.
Sources (9)
- The Carbon Overdrive, Browne Amplification
- The Carbon, Browne Amplification
- The Browne Atom is a tasteful overdrive with a sound of its own, guitar.com, 2023-06-19
- Browne Amplification Carbon review, guitar.com, 2023-04-03
- Browne Amplification The Fixer and The Carbon review, Guitar World, 2023-04-26
- Carbon X, Browne Amplification
- Carbon_X_Manual_v2, Browne Amplification, 2025-02
- Ethane Dual Overdrive, Browne Amplification
- Ethane Dual Overdrive, Browne Amplification
