The Celestial Effects Sagittarius Overdrive Boost is a pedal that carries two discrete effects in one enclosure: an overdrive and a boost, each with its own footswitch. Announced by the company on April 29, 2015, it was pitched as a space-saving way to cover what would otherwise take two pedals on a board1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, summed up the territory it covers this way: "Boost, Overdrive, Fuzz and Distortion are all covered on some level here"2.
Two effects in one box
The overdrive section's gain structure, as Celestial Effects describes it, ranges from a soft boost to a semi-heavy grind, with emphasis on low compression and lots of presence1. The company describes the circuit as an original design that marries the crisp, non-compressed, transparent qualities of the Timmy OD with the in-your-face presence of the Klon1. Mike B at Pedal of the Day found the Drive control has a monstrous range of sounds, from a subtle and slight boost to a warm and inviting tube amp-like sound through to heavy, dirty, grinding drive2.
"This Overdrive section is great for really kicking your amp into high gear if needed for a solo, but can also be a great tone shaping tool, one you can dial in and leave on once you get it to play nice with your amp!"
The press release makes the same point about leaving it on: "It is a great effect to keep on all the time to set your 'base tone'"1.
The boost side is not a new circuit. Celestial Effects states in the press release that the Sagittarius boost section is actually the company's Scorpio Super Boost pedal, which it calls undoubtedly its most popular pedal to date1. Pedal of the Day notes the boost is implemented via a second footswitch, and that cranked it adds hints of fuzz and overdrive, something the reviewer says was created through sheer accident2.
The controls
| Control | Section | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Overdrive | Controls the output of the overdrive2 |
| Drive | Overdrive | Ranges from a subtle and slight boost to a warm, tube amp-like sound to heavy, dirty, grinding drive2 |
| Bass | Overdrive | Tone shaping alongside the treble control1 |
| Treble | Overdrive | Tone shaping alongside the bass control1 |
| Low / High EQ | Boost | A 2-knob EQ section to dial in how much Low or High end you need2 |
| Effects order switch | Both | Latched IN or DOWN sets the order to Boost into Overdrive1 |
The bass and treble controls are described in the press release as a way to "take over total control of your tone"1. On the boost side, the 2-knob EQ "lets you dial in exactly how much Low or High end you need"2.
Effects order and footswitches
The Sagittarius runs two footswitches, one per effect. A small effects order switch sets which circuit comes first: when gently pushed and latched IN or DOWN, the order of the two effects is Boost into Overdrive1. That matters in practice, because a boost feeding an overdrive pushes the drive's gain stage, while the reverse keeps the boost's added level at the end of the chain.
Power, size and practicalities
The pedal runs on a battery or a +9vdc (only) power jack with a Boss type, center negative connector, and draws approximately 22 mA at full ON2. Input impedance is 1 Meg Ohms and output impedance is 1K Ohms2. The enclosure measures 5.00″d x 4.00″w x 2.40″h including switches and knobs, and weighs 12.1 oz not including the battery2.
The power jack accepts +9vdc only, with a center negative Boss type connector. Pedal of the Day lists battery power as an alternative2.
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Questions
Can the Sagittarius run on a battery?
Yes. Pedal of the Day lists battery power or a +9vdc (only) power jack with a Boss type, center negative connector. The pedal draws approximately 22 mA at full ON, so it sits comfortably within what a standard 9V center negative supply provides, and the battery option means it can be used without a supply at all.
Is the Celestial Effects Sagittarius true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes true bypass switching via a high grade 3PDT footswitch, the common double-pole switch used on pedals that take the effect fully out of the signal path when it is off.
Can the boost go before or after the overdrive?
The order is set by a small effects order switch. When gently pushed and latched IN or DOWN, the order of the two effects is Boost into Overdrive, according to the Premier Guitar press release. The switch therefore changes which circuit feeds the other, which changes how the two gains interact.
What is the Celestial Effects Scorpio Super Boost?
The Scorpio Super Boost is Celestial Effects' own boost pedal and, per the company in its April 2015 press release, its most popular pedal to date. The boost section inside the Sagittarius is that same circuit, reached through a second footswitch.
Is the Sagittarius meant to be left on all the time?
The overdrive section is described that way in the Premier Guitar press release: it is a great effect to keep on all the time to set your base tone. Pedal of the Day's reviewer likewise called it a great tone shaping tool to leave on, as well as a way to kick the amp into high gear for a solo.
Sources (2)
- Celestial Effects Unveils Sagittarius Overdrive Boost, Premier Guitar, 2015-04-29
- Celestial Effects Sagittarius Overdrive Boost, Pedal of the Day, 2016-02-23