The Coppersound Kingpin Overdrive is a mini overdrive pedal from Coppersound, announced in July 2023. It is a one-knob, one-toggle design built around a two-stage FET circuit with Germanium clipping diodes, and it is small enough to slot into a crowded board. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it at launch as "a mini, two-stage FET overdrive full of warm characteristics and Germanium sweetness," delivering "a warm yet bright saturation to your signal, with plenty of volume on tap to facilitate interaction with your amp's input stage."1
CopperSound's own product page calls the Kingpin "the secret weapon that unleashes the soul of classic tone, right at your feet," and describes it as capable of overdriving a signal with bell-like clarity and an artful touch of grit, to the point of working as an "always on" pedal.2
What the Kingpin does to your sound
The Kingpin's character comes from its Germanium clipping. CopperSound invites players to "feel the authentic character of Ukrainian Germanium clipping diodes," and pairs that with a FET-based gain stage.2 The maker's description of bell-like clarity with a touch of grit positions it as a light-to-moderate overdrive rather than a high-gain pedal, one that can stay on all the time.2
The toggle selects between three levels of overdrive, and the single Volume knob sets the output.1 Because the Volume knob carries what CopperSound calls "a tremendous amount of gain on tap," the pedal can also be used as a dirty boost, pushing the front end of an amp with a little grit of its own.2 That makes it a flexible alternative to a dedicated clean boost, though with Germanium clipping color rather than a fully clean signal. For a comparison with a dedicated boost, see the site's Boost Pedals page, and for the wider category, Overdrive Pedals.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level; carries enough gain on tap to use the pedal as a dirty boost2 |
| Toggle | Selects between three levels of overdrive1 |
| Footswitch | Mechanical true bypass switching2 |
Power and connections
The Kingpin runs on 9V to 18V DC through a 2.1mm x 5.5mm center negative barrel connector, and draws 10mA at either voltage.21 CopperSound notes that higher voltage unlocks greater headroom and dynamic range, so running it at 18V gives a more open, less compressed response if your supply offers it.2
The Kingpin has no battery option mentioned by the maker; plan for a 9V to 18V DC center negative supply output rated for at least 10mA.
Connections are simple: a 1/4" instrument cable input and a 1/4" instrument cable output.1 CopperSound specifies a 2.2M input impedance and a 30K output impedance.2
Where it sits in CopperSound's range
The Kingpin is the simplest overdrive in CopperSound's lineup. The company's Strategy is a two-channel preamp and overdrive, and the Foxcatcher is its two-in-one overdrive and boost, later revised as the FoxCatcher V2 Compact Edition. The Kingpin, by contrast, is a single-voice mini pedal: one knob, one toggle, and a Germanium-clipped FET circuit.1
Videos
CopperSound Pedals
Ed "The Shred" Clarke
Benji Wilson
Questions
Is the Coppersound Kingpin Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. CopperSound specifies mechanical true bypass switching for the Kingpin, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes straight through without any electronic buffering in the way. Delicious Audio's launch coverage of the pedal in July 2023 also lists mechanical true-bypass switching among its specifications.
What voltage does the Kingpin Overdrive take?
The Kingpin runs on 9V to 18V DC through a 2.1mm x 5.5mm center negative connector. CopperSound notes that powering it at higher voltage unlocks greater headroom and dynamic range, so players who want a cleaner, more open response can run it at 18V.
How much current does the Kingpin Overdrive draw?
The Kingpin draws 10mA whether it is powered at 9V or at 18V, according to CopperSound's product page. That low draw means it sits comfortably alongside other pedals on a standard power supply.
Does the Kingpin Overdrive use germanium diodes?
Yes. CopperSound describes the Kingpin as using Ukrainian Germanium clipping diodes, and Delicious Audio's launch coverage likewise describes it as a two-stage FET overdrive full of warm characteristics and Germanium sweetness.
Can the Kingpin Overdrive work as a boost?
Yes. CopperSound says the Volume knob carries a tremendous amount of gain on tap, allowing players to use the Kingpin as a dirty boost. With the toggle selecting a lower level of overdrive and the Volume turned up, it can push the front of an amp while adding a touch of grit.
What size is the Kingpin Overdrive power jack?
The Kingpin uses a 2.1mm x 5.5mm center negative power connector, the standard barrel size used by most pedal power supplies.
Sources (2)
- New Pedal: Coppersound Kingpin Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2023-07-20
- Mini Germanium Overdrive, CopperSound Pedals
