The Colortone Parasite 4th Edition is a versatile overdrive pedal built around four JFETs, released by Australian maker Colortone Pedals in 2026. Where most overdrives lean on op-amps or a pair of clipping diodes, the Parasite puts JFET transistors, the same family of parts used in amplifier input stages, at the center of its sound. The name comes from those transistors themselves: Guitar Pedal X reports they are described as "sizzling with parasitic feedback," which gives the pedal its name1.
The 4th Edition keeps the compact format and control set of the earlier compact editions and refines them. According to Guitar Pedal X's review, designer AD Hauser "further improved the noise-floor, and refined the high end frequency response / profile" compared with the 2023 V31.
What it does: four sizzling JFETs in an overdrive
The Parasite's core soundstage is built from four JFETs. In the V4, three of them are calibrated to 2.35 and one to 0.68, which Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson calls "evidently... the magic formula"1. JFETs clip more like a tube amplifier's input stage than like diodes, which is why JFET overdrives are often described as warm and dynamic rather than buzzy.
The drive stage is surrounded by a flexible tone-shaping setup:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of gain |
| CAB : 1 x 12" / 4 x 12" | Pre-drive voicing switch, labeled like a speaker cabinet choice |
| Level | Sets output volume |
| BRIGHT : Off / On | Pre-drive bright boost |
| Active Lows | Post-drive low EQ |
| Active Highs | Post-drive high EQ |
The pre-drive Bright switch and Bass Boost (the CAB switch) shape the signal before it hits the JFETs, while the active Low and High EQ knobs shape it after, a structure that gives the pedal a wide usable range on both sides of the drive stage1.
On the question of what it sounds like, the reviewer's view is strong. Karlsson calls it "one of the most fool-proof tone machines you can buy," with "phenomenal vibrancy from the combined EQs and Boosts and huge Gain and Output Ranges overall"1. His three go-to settings are a Dumble ODS voicing, a Plexi voicing, and what he describes as "a really cool Soft/Smooth voicing"1.
Which amps can it sound like?
Guitar Pedal X's "Full Spectrum Colour Chart" for the Parasite lists voicings likened to the Dumble ODS, Marshall Plexi and JTM45, BluesBreaker, OCD, Timmy, Klon, Fender Tweed, Nobels ODR-1 and Honey Bee1. That range, from low-gained tweed-style warmth to fuzz-edged Dumble-style drive, is what the reviewer means by a "Full Spectrum Everyday Overdrive": one pedal that can sit on a board as the only drive.
The earlier compact V2 review described the same character in more detail: "dynamic, warm, harmonic overdrive with guitar-volume cleanup," meaning the pedal cleans up when you roll back your guitar's volume knob, an amp-like behavior many players look for in a drive pedal2.
History and versions
The Parasite has been revised steadily since its first appearance:
| Edition | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| v1 | 2019 | Original full-size, all-through-hole model; described by the reviewer as "super rare"1 |
| V2 | 2021 | Compact enclosure, mostly SMT hybrid construction1 |
| V3 | 2023 | Used conventional TO-92 JFET types1 |
| V4 | 2026 | Current edition; improved noise floor and refined high end1 |
The compact V2 of 2024 is covered in more detail on its own page. That version used three CEN2N547 JFETs, a custom J201 JFET IC and an ST Electronics D741 op-amp, with Q1/Q2 bias trimmers, and its JFETs remained through-hole because, as the review explained, they "need to be carefully analysed and hand-matched"2. The V4 continues the hybrid through-hole and surface-mount approach1.
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, who owns the 2021 V2, 2023 V3 and 2026 V4, called the V2 "one of my favourite overdrives - supremely versatile and vibrant," a verdict the V4's refinements build on21.
Who designed it, and what does it cost?
The Parasite is designed by AD Hauser of Colortone Pedals1. Hauser also carried out the conversion to compact hybrid construction for the V22.
The 4th Edition is priced at $199, or £149 in the UK, as of May 2026, and is available direct from Colortone in Australia and at dealers1.
"It's one of those that sounds immediately impressive out of the box - the vibrancy delvivered by those combined EQ's and Boosts is just phenomenal"
Questions
What does the CAB switch do on the Colortone Parasite?
The CAB switch is a pre-drive voicing control labelled 1 x 12" / 4 x 12". It shifts the pedal's low-end character before the drive stage, in the manner of choosing between a single 12-inch speaker cabinet and a 4 x 12" stack. It works alongside the separate pre-drive Bright switch and the active post-drive Low and High EQ knobs.
What is the difference between the Parasite V3 and V4?
The V4, released in 2026, improves on the 2023 V3 with a lower noise floor and a refined high-end frequency response. Its build uses a hybrid mix of through-hole and surface-mount components. The control set and the four-JFET core carry over from earlier editions.
Which amps can the Colortone Parasite sound like?
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer lists voicings likened to the Dumble ODS, Marshall Plexi and JTM45, BluesBreaker, OCD, Timmy, Klon, Fender Tweed, Nobels ODR-1 and Honey Bee. His three go-to settings are Dumble ODS, Plexi, and a soft, smooth voicing.
How much does the Colortone Parasite 4th Edition cost?
The Parasite 2026 Edition is priced at $199, or £149 in the UK, as of May 2026. It is available direct from Colortone in Australia and at dealers.
Who designed the Colortone Parasite?
The Parasite was designed by AD Hauser of Colortone Pedals. Hauser also converted the pedal to mostly surface-mount hybrid construction for the compact V2 in 2024, keeping the JFETs through-hole and hand-matched.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-05-06
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-08-16
