The CAST Engineering Mike Zito Peace Drive is a dual overdrive and boost pedal with order switching, built by Cast Engineering together with the guitarist Mike Zito. Released in May 2017, it was the company's first dual gain pedal: two gain stages in one box, with a switch that decides whether the overdrive or the boost sits first in the chain12.
Controls
The overdrive side is a standard three-knob setup, while the boost offers Gain and Level controls. Each circuit has both gain and level knobs, which Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described as allowing a very flexible interaction between clean and driven signal. A tone knob affects the overall sound2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Overdrive knobs (3) | Standard three-knob overdrive setup2 |
| Boost Gain and Level | Shape the boost circuit's drive and output2 |
| Tone | Affects the overall sound2 |
| Center order switch | Selects whether the overdrive or the boost comes first2 |
Order switching
The Peace Drive's distinguishing feature is a flat push button placed between the two footswitches, which changes the order of the two circuits2. A light on the switch shows which section is first in the chain: a red light means the drive is in front of the boost, otherwise the boost is first1.
The order switch light matches the pedal's color coding: a red switch light corresponds to the red drive section being first in the chain1.
How it sounds
Delicious Audio's write-up described the sounds as rich, with a good amount of gain that never gets super dirty, and noted that both channels together get a solid British vibe2. Of the design process with Zito, the makers said:
"Mike had a very refined tone in his head that he wanted in this pedal and we nailed it per Mike. He also wanted a specific voicing in the Boost which has been achieved."
In October 2017 the pedal was picked up by ProGuitarShop, which released a demo video1.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Mike Zito
CAST Engineering
Questions
Is the Mike Zito Peace Drive true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page states plainly that the pedal is true bypass, so when it is switched off your guitar's signal passes through without loading from the circuits. That matters on a pedalboard where several pedals sit in front of the amp, since each buffered stage can slowly dull the top end.
How do you change the order of the overdrive and boost?
A flat push button sits between the two footswitches and changes the order of the two circuits. A light on the switch shows which section is first in the chain: when the light is red, the drive is in front of the boost; otherwise the boost comes first. You can therefore set up boost-into-drive or drive-into-boost without repatching cables.
What does the red light on the Peace Drive mean?
The light on the order switch corresponds with the part of the pedal that is first in the chain. A red switch light means the drive section is in front of the boost. If the light is not red, the boost is first. It is a quick visual check of which circuit is hitting the other.
Who designed the Cast Engineering Mike Zito Peace Drive?
The pedal was developed by Cast Engineering together with guitarist Mike Zito, who specified the tone he wanted and a specific voicing for the boost section. According to Delicious Audio, the makers felt they nailed the tone per Mike. It was the company's first dual gain pedal.
Can you run the overdrive and boost at the same time?
Yes. The Peace Drive carries both circuits in one box, each with its own gain and level knobs, and the order switch lets you choose whether the overdrive or the boost comes first. Delicious Audio described the interaction between the clean and driven signal as very flexible, with both channels together producing a solid British vibe.
Sources (2)
- Cast Engineering Mike Zito Peace Drive, Delicious Audio, 2017-10-06
- New Pedal Manufacturers: Cast Engineering And The Mike Zito Peace Drive, Delicious Audio, 2017-05-19
