The Clifton Guitarworks Torque Converter Overdrive Reverb is a single pedal that combines two effects: an original overdrive circuit design and a plate reverb. Clifton Guitarworks describes it as combining "an original overdrive circuit design with a nice plate reverb"1.
What it does
The pedal puts a drive side and a reverb side in one enclosure. Pedal of the Day described the Drive side as capable of a wide range of tones, from low gain boost to a much heavier crunch, and the Reverb side as offering a warm plate-style 'verb1. If you want to hear how a standalone drive pedal compares, the site's pages on Overdrive Pedals and Reverb Pedals cover the effect types separately.
"The Torque Converter is a unique, hand-built pedal"
The controls
The drive and reverb sides have their own sets of knobs1:
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Drive | Output level1 |
| Gain | Drive | Amount of drive1 |
| Tone | Drive | Tone shaping1 |
| Voice | Drive | Cuts or boosts the high frequency band1 |
| Blend | Reverb | Dials in as much or as little of the effect as you need1 |
| Decay | Reverb | Dials in as much or as little of the effect as you need1 |
The Voice knob is the standout among the drive controls: where most overdrives stop at Volume, Gain and Tone, the Torque Converter adds a knob that lets you cut or boost the high frequency band, giving another way to shape how the drive sits in a mix1. On the reverb side, the simple Blend and Decay controls set the amount and length of the plate-style reverb1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review, published 5 December 2022, found the pedal easy to dial in a great sound quickly, crediting its ease of use1. The same review praised the pairing of the original overdrive circuit with what it called a nice plate reverb1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Kyle Ingle
Questions
Is the Clifton Guitarworks Torque Converter two pedals in one?
It is a single pedal that combines two effects: a drive side built on an original overdrive circuit design, and a reverb side offering a warm plate-style reverb. The reverb side has its own Blend and Decay controls, so you can dial in as much or as little of the effect as you need alongside the drive.
What does the Voice knob do on the Torque Converter?
The Voice knob lets you cut or boost the high frequency band of the overdrive. Alongside the Volume, Gain and Tone controls, it gives you a way to shape the top end of the drive side beyond what a standard tone control offers.
Is the Torque Converter Overdrive Reverb hand-built?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the Torque Converter as a unique, hand-built pedal. It was also Clifton Guitarworks' first foray into the effects pedal world.
What kind of reverb does the Torque Converter have?
The reverb side offers a warm plate-style reverb, combined in the same enclosure with an original overdrive circuit design. Simple Blend and Decay controls set how much reverb you hear and how long it lasts.
Was the Torque Converter Clifton Guitarworks' first pedal?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, the Torque Converter Overdrive Reverb was Clifton Guitarworks' first foray into the effects pedal world, combining an original overdrive circuit design with a plate reverb.
Sources (1)
- Clifton Guitarworks Torque Converter Overdrive Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2022-12-05