The Cornerstone Imperium V2 is a dual overdrive pedal: two three-knob drive pedals in one new-look housing, each with its own footswitch. Launched on 18 June 2025, it is a revamped take on the original Imperium, and Cornerstone is calling it the "ultimate dual overdrive pedal"1. The Italian boutique pedal builder has packed its two signature drive voicings into a single box12.
Two overdrives in one box
One side of the pedal is taken from Cornerstone's Dumble amp-inspired Gladio drive pedal, the other from its Tube Screamer-inspired Antique. Used individually, the Gladio and Antique drive voicing is low to medium gain: think tube amp drive, blues guitar, rhythm playing. Stacked, the two sides deliver more saturation and a more lead-friendly sound with harmonic content and sustain1.
On the Gladio side you will find Volume and Gain controls, plus a Clean control that allows you to blend your clean guitar signal with the overdriven one. Cornerstone describes the result as a "touch-sensitive overdrive that feels like an extension of your fingers"1.
Over on the Antique side, the controls are Volume, Gain and Presence, the latter acting much as it does on an amp, adjusting the high-end frequencies after the clipping stage1.
| Side | Based on | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Gladio | Dumble amp-inspired Gladio drive | Volume, Gain, Clean (clean blend) |
| Antique | Tube Screamer-inspired Antique | Volume, Gain, Presence |
Four I/O and routing
The headline change on the V2 is the doubling of the number of 1/4-inch input/outputs on the pedal. That allows players to get creative with their routing: each side can be used as its own separate overdrive, another pedal can be placed between the two drive circuits, and the pedal can be hooked up to a pedal switcher1.
The four-jack arrangement is what sets the V2 apart from a straightforward two-in-one overdrive: with a switcher, each drive circuit can be treated as an independent pedal on its own loop.
MusicRadar's reviewer, Jonathan Horsley, wrote that "with the four I/O treatment, it could be in the conversation, although it might have some competition, not least from one of its siblings"1. Among those siblings are the Imperivm Daje Drive, which pairs the same Antique Screamer and Gladio Dumble circuits, and the Colosseum, another Cornerstone dual overdrive.
Housing and availability
The V2 arrives in a new-look housing, which the MusicRadar review described as "pretty classy"1. The pedal was available now at launch, priced £319 in the UK and €349 in the EU1.
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Questions
Can each side of the Cornerstone Imperium V2 be used on its own?
Yes. The pedal has four 1/4-inch input/outputs, so each side can be used as its own separate overdrive. You can also get creative with routing, for example placing another pedal between the two drive circuits, or hooking the pedal up to a pedal switcher.
Which pedals is the Imperium V2 based on?
One side is taken from Cornerstone's Dumble amp-inspired Gladio drive pedal, and the other from its Tube Screamer-inspired Antique. Used individually, both voicings sit in low to medium gain territory; stacked, they deliver more saturation and a more lead-friendly sound.
What does the Clean control do on the Gladio side?
Alongside Volume and Gain, the Gladio side has a Clean control that lets you blend your clean guitar signal with the overdriven signal, which is part of what Cornerstone describes as a touch-sensitive overdrive that feels like an extension of your fingers.
Can the Imperium V2 be used with a pedal switcher?
Yes. The V2 doubles the number of 1/4-inch input/outputs on the pedal, allowing players to route it with a pedal switcher, use each side as a separate overdrive, or place another pedal between the two drive circuits.
How much does the Imperium V2 cost?
MusicRadar reported a price of £319 in the UK and €349 in the EU when the pedal launched in June 2025. No US dollar price is given on this page.
Sources (2)
- “Use each side on its own or stack them for a wall of sound that's articulate and powerful”: Cornerstone's revamped Imperium V2 is a Dumble x TS-style stompbox that really is the definition of a 2-in-1 overdrive, MusicRadar, 2025-06-18
- “Usually you hear it coming out of your amp. Here, you feel it all around you”: Paul Davids once visited a nuclear power plant to find the world's most incredible reverb, Guitar World, 2024-10-07
