The Browne Amplification Ethane Dual Overdrive is a limited-edition dual overdrive pedal that fuses two of the company's existing circuits, the Carbon V2 and the Gritador, into a single enclosure. Browne describes it as its heavily tweaked and modified take on the Bluesbreaker/Tube Screamer amalgamation, designed so the two sides can be stacked for a range of sounds from warm boosts to soaring leads1. It was designed in Kansas City and made in the USA, in collaboration between Andertons Music Co. and Browne Amplification1.
The two circuits inside
The Ethane's dual design lets you stack the Carbon V2 and the Gritador, which Browne calls the fusion of two of its most revered and coveted circuits1. Each side draws on a well-known overdrive lineage: the Bluesbreaker-style side handles the lower-gain, transparent end of the blend, while the Tube Screamer-style side brings the mid-focused drive. The Tube Screamer approach itself has a long history among pedal builders; the runoffgroove project, which analyzed the circuit, described its own take as "an overdrive pedal that has some air of the original TS, but with more attitude and character"2.
Both parent circuits are available on their own: the Browne Amplification The Carbon and the Browne Amplification Gritador. The Ethane puts them side by side in one box so the two can be stacked without extra cabling or tap dancing31.
Power and pedalboard fit
The Ethane runs on 9V DC with a negative tip and draws around 100mA. A power supply is not included1. That current draw is worth noting when planning a board: it is more than many single overdrives need, so a supply output rated for it is the practical choice.
The Ethane draws around 100mA at 9V DC (negative tip) and ships without a power supply1.
For pedalboard layout, the pedal measures 120mm x 94mm x 56mm including knobs and uses top-mounted jacks, which keep patch cables from sticking out sideways1. Browne also built in soft-switching with an adjustable startup state and an internal split mode, which the company says ensures seamless pedalboard integration1. On the Carbon V2, Browne explains that "Softswitching now includes an adjustable start up state," a feature carried into the Ethane's design4.
A limited run of 200
The Ethane carries a list price of $359.00 USD as of October 2025, and Browne Amplification builds it in the USA1. It measures 120mm x 94mm x 56mm including knobs, with top-mounted jacks, and its soft-switching bypass with adjustable startup state and internal split mode is designed for pedalboard integration1.
The finishes offered were:
The unit shown on Browne's product page features what the company calls a "stunning Black Silver Vein powder coat"1.
How it compares to Browne's other dual overdrives
The Ethane is not Browne's first dual overdrive. The Browne Amplification Protein Dual Overdrive launched at the end of 2018, with production units shipping in 2019, and pairs a Bluesbreaker-based blue side with an ODR-1-inspired green side. In July 2025 the Protein was updated to V3, adding top-mounted jacks, soft switching, and a single internal switch for split mode, the same board-friendly features the Ethane carries. The green side of the Protein was also released on its own as the Browne Amplification Atom, which Guitar.com's reviewer Richard Purvis found to be a mids-focused overdrive inspired by the ODR-1 and Tube Screamer but a clone of neither. Browne's other current dual, the Carbon X, had its right-side label changed to LEVEL/DRIVE in February 2025 to reduce confusion between the two sides of the circuit.
Where the Protein blends a Bluesbreaker with an ODR-1-style circuit, the Ethane blends a Bluesbreaker with a Tube Screamer-style one, which places its stacked sound in a different part of the overdrive range. For a wider look at where pedals like this sit, see the site's Overdrive Pedals page, or the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison for more on the Tube Screamer lineage1.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Browne Amplification
John Nathan Cordy
Questions
How many Browne Ethane Dual Overdrive pedals were made?
Browne Amplification limited the Ethane to 200 units. Of those, 100 were sold in the UK exclusively through Andertons Music Co., which collaborated with Browne on the design. The remaining 100 were sold through Browne's own channels. Because the run was capped at 200, the pedal is a limited edition rather than a standard catalog product.
What power supply does the Browne Ethane need?
The Ethane runs on a 9V DC power supply with a negative tip, drawing around 100mA. A power supply is not included with the pedal, so you will need to provide your own. Because the draw is around 100mA, a standard low-current daisy-chain output may not be comfortable; a dedicated supply output rated for that current is the safer choice.
What does soft switching mean on this pedal?
Soft switching is Browne's switching design, which on the related Carbon V2 includes an adjustable startup state, meaning you can set how the pedal behaves when power is applied. On the Ethane, Browne pairs soft switching with an adjustable startup state and an internal split mode, aimed at fitting cleanly into a pedalboard setup.
What finishes did the Ethane come in?
The Ethane was offered in six finishes: Gold Folded, Aqua Copper Vein, Matte Black, Silver, Blue Silver Vein, and Black Silver Vein. The version shown on Browne's product page features a Black Silver Vein powder coat finish.
Sources (4)
- Ethane Dual Overdrive, Browne Amplification
- UBE Screamer, runoffgroove.com, 2006-08
- Ethane Dual Overdrive — Browne Amplification, Browne Amplification
- The Carbon Overdrive, Browne Amplification
