Charlie Paolo Guitars Charlie Paolo Custom Effects Sapphire Transparent Overdrive

The Sapphire Transparent Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Charlie Paolo Guitars, a maker that was, at the time of its press coverage, little known in the pedal world. The maker positions it as "the secret sauce in your tone that delivers a clear and crisp punch to lead lines and rhythm playing," and its distinguishing feature is a set of four diode clipping options, each adding its own distinct character to the overdrive.¹

Controls and clipping options

The maker's own note on the pedal makes the case for going beyond the usual three-knob layout: "Sometimes have controls for volume, tone, and drive just doesn't cut it." The Sapphire carries those standard volume, tone, and drive controls, and adds the four-way clipping selection on top of it.¹

The four clipping modes are described by the maker as follows:

• Open: a fat and full sounding overdrive with plenty of push¹
• Three further diode clipping options, each with its own distinct character¹

Build and power

Each Sapphire Transparent Overdrive is "carefully handmade from start to finish using the highest quality analog components available," according to the maker. The pedal is true bypass "to maintain the tone of your guitar and amp" when it is out of the circuit.¹

What reviewers said

The pedal was covered by Delicious Audio, whose Paolo De Gregorio introduced it as "an overdrive pedal by a manufacturer we were not familiar with, Charlie Paolo Guitars." The coverage included a demo played with a Fano PX6 guitar.¹

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