The CNZ Audio SOD-20 is a compact overdrive pedal, the maker's take on the sound of an overdriven tube amp. CNZ Audio describes it as delivering "Classic Overdrive Tones" and "Natural Tube Amp Style Sounds," saying the pedal "perfectly emulates those warm, natural sounds you'd find in an over-driven tube amp."1 It sits in the broader family of Overdrive Pedals, alongside other CNZ Audio drives like the CNZ Audio VBL-20 Bluesy and the CNZ Audio Dumbled Drive.
The controls: Level, Tone, Gain and the Hot/Warm switch
The SOD-20 keeps its control layout simple: three knobs and a toggle switch. A Level knob controls the overall pedal volume, a Gain knob adjusts the amount of overdrive, and a Tone knob adjusts the brightness of the pedal. The toggle switch selects Hot Mode or Warm Mode1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Controls the overall pedal volume1 |
| Tone | Adjusts the brightness of the pedal1 |
| Gain | Adjusts the amount of overdrive1 |
| Mode toggle | Selects Hot Mode or Warm Mode1 |
The Mode switch is the fourth control and the one that changes the pedal's character. CNZ Audio says it "allows for a choice between two different settings for your pedal": Hot Mode gives a tighter, punchier, higher gain sound, while Warm Mode gives a smoother, more classical over-driven sound.1 In practice that means the pedal can cover both a mild amp breakup and a more driven voice, selected before you play rather than by reaching for the Gain knob.
Power and connections
The SOD-20 runs from a 9V DC input with center-negative polarity, drawing 10 mA. CNZ Audio also lists an 8 mA working current on the same page.1 The input and output are both standard 1/4 inch connectors, with a 520K Ohms input impedance and a 12K Ohms output impedance.1
The maker's page lists a 9V DC input only, with no battery option given. Use a 9V DC center-negative adapter or a matching power supply output.
The pedal is true bypass, which CNZ Audio says "Provides Transparent Tone in Off Setting," so the pedal stays out of your signal path when switched off.1
Size and build
The SOD-20 is a small-format pedal: 3.75 inches long, 1.77 inches wide and 1.9 inches high, with a listed weight of .53 lbs including the box.1 The housing is what CNZ Audio calls a "Solid Aluminum Housing on All Sides" with a firm foot switch.1 That compact footprint suits a crowded board, and the low 10 mA current draw means it fits easily alongside other pedals on a shared power supply.
Videos
Aaron J Livecchi
CNZ Audio
Questions
What is the difference between Hot and Warm mode on the CNZ SOD-20?
A toggle switch selects between two settings. According to CNZ Audio, Hot Mode gives a tighter, punchier, higher gain sound, while Warm Mode gives a smoother, more classical over-driven sound. It lets one pedal cover both a mild breakup tone and a more driven voice without turning knobs mid-song.
Is the CNZ Audio SOD-20 true bypass?
Yes. CNZ Audio describes the SOD-20 as true bypass, which the maker says provides transparent tone in the off setting, so your guitar's signal passes through unchanged when the pedal is switched off.
Can the SOD-20 run on a battery?
The maker's product page lists only a 9V DC input with center-negative polarity, drawing 10 mA. No battery option is given on that page, so plan to power it from a 9V DC adapter or a pedalboard power supply output that matches that polarity.
How big is the CNZ Audio SOD-20?
CNZ Audio lists the SOD-20 at 3.75 inches long, 1.77 inches wide and 1.9 inches high, weighing 0.53 lbs including the box. That compact footprint leaves room on a crowded pedalboard.
Sources (1)
- SOD-20 | Overdrive Pedal | CNZ Audio, CNZ Audio
