The CAST Engineering Mike Zito Peace Drive is a dual overdrive and boost pedal from CAST Engineering, a small builder based in Atlanta, Georgia. Premier Guitar's announcement described it as "two pedals in one, a uniquely voiced overdrive and a special boost," and it was the company's first dual gain pedal when it was released in May 201712. It was developed with guitarist Mike Zito, who, according to Delicious Audio's account of the project, "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"3.
What it does
The pedal carries two independent circuits. The overdrive side is a standard three-knob setup with Level, Gain and Tone, and Premier Guitar's release notes say it produces "overdriven tones that will approach the distortion/fuzz territory when set correctly," so at higher settings it reaches toward distortion and fuzz sounds12. The boost side is simpler, with just Gain and Level controls, and it can be used on its own as a standalone boost132.
Because each circuit has its own gain and level knobs, Delicious Audio describes the interaction between the clean and driven signals as "uber-flexible": you can run the overdrive alone, the boost alone, or stack them in either order32.
The controls and the order switch
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Overdrive | Output level of the overdrive circuit1 |
| Gain | Overdrive | Amount of drive1 |
| Tone | Overdrive | Tone shaping for the overdrive1 |
| Level | Boost | Output level of the boost circuit1 |
| Gain | Boost | Amount of boost1 |
Two footswitches handle the on/off duties, one for the overdrive and one for the boost1. Between them sits a flat push button that changes the order of the two circuits, so the boost can be placed before or after the overdrive channel12. An LED ring around the button changes color depending on which order you choose, giving a visual cue to the routing1.
The order button sits "smack in between the two footswitches," in Delicious Audio's words, so it is easy to reach but separate from the two main switches2.
Power, price and warranty
The Peace Drive runs on a standard 9V DC, negative tip power supply, the common center-negative arrangement, so it works with typical pedalboard power1. At its May 2017 release it was listed at $279.99, and CAST Engineering backs it with a lifetime warranty1.
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Questions
Can the Peace Drive put the boost before or after the overdrive?
Yes. A push button switch placed between the two footswitches changes the signal order, so the boost can run before the overdrive channel or after it. An LED ring around the button changes color depending on which order is selected, so you can see at a glance which way the pedal is routed. The boost can also be used on its own as a standalone boost.
What power supply does the CAST Peace Drive use?
The Peace Drive runs on a standard 9V DC, negative tip power supply, the same center-negative arrangement used by most pedalboard power supplies and daisy chains. No battery option is mentioned in the release material, so plan on a standard 9V supply.
Where is the CAST Engineering Peace Drive made?
The Peace Drive is designed and hand built in Atlanta, Georgia, by CAST Engineering, a small pedal maker. The pedal was developed with Texas guitarist Mike Zito, who specified the tone and the voicing of the boost circuit.
Does the Peace Drive have a warranty?
Yes. CAST Engineering covers the Peace Drive with a lifetime warranty, according to the press release announcing the pedal in May 2017.
How many footswitches does the Peace Drive have?
Two. One footswitch turns the overdrive side on and off, and the other turns the boost side on and off, so you can run either circuit alone or both together. Between them sits a flat push button that changes the order of the two circuits.
Sources (3)
- CAST Engineering Releases the Mike Zito Peace Drive, Premier Guitar, 2017-05-19
- New Pedal Manufacturers: Cast Engineering And The Mike Zito Peace Drive, Delicious Audio, 2017-05-19
- Cast Engineering Mike Zito Peace Drive, Delicious Audio, 2017-10-06
