The Cultco 001 Medium Overdrive is an overdrive pedal with an unusual backstory: it was created by the band Joywave with Adventure Audio, produced initially for that one band, and used on almost every track of a major label album release1. Despite that pedigree, it reached players with little or no exposure or advertising, and stayed under the radar1.
What it does
On the surface, the 001 appears to be an ordinary overdrive, but Pedal of the Day's reviewer called that appearance "the deception"1. It is a medium-gain design: with the Gain turned down, you still get a nice, mellow growl, one that can be left on all the time, and cranked up it becomes a warm and meaty overdrive with a boatload of sustain1. The reviewer added that it can get a little nasty if you need it to as well1.
The controls
The pedal keeps things simple with two knobs, and the reviewer found both cover a wide range1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | A nice range, from a mellow growl when turned down to a warm and meaty overdrive with a boatload of sustain when cranked up1 |
| Equalizer | A bigger range than the Gain, offering great low-end presence and a sharp and clear but not offensive treble tone1 |
The wide Equalizer range is the pedal's distinguishing control. Beyond the low-end presence and treble shaping, it gives the 001 more tonal ground to cover than its two-knob layout suggests1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's Mike B reviewed the pedal in September 2015 and came away impressed by how much ground it covers for a medium overdrive1.
"this slick pedal will do just about any drive tone you can think of, and while not exactly a wall of distortion when cranked, it's not trying to do something it can't"
He also praised the enclosure's clean, simplistic graphic design1.
Where it sits on a board
As a medium overdrive, the 001 occupies the same general territory as other low-to-medium gain drives, from transparent always-on grit to fuller distortion territory when pushed. Its Gain range stops short of a wall of distortion, so players needing heavier sounds would look at a dedicated distortion or fuzz pedal instead1. For players comparing medium overdrives, the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers two of the most common alternatives.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Who made the Cultco 001 Medium Overdrive?
The 001 Medium Overdrive was created by the band Joywave together with Adventure Audio. According to Pedal of the Day, it was produced initially for one specific band, which makes it unusual among overdrive pedals, and it later saw little or no exposure or advertising, keeping it under the radar for most players.
What bands use the Cultco 001?
Joywave is the band behind the pedal and the one documented as using it. Pedal of the Day notes that it was used on almost every track of a major label album release, though the review does not name other artists using it.
What does the Equalizer knob do on the Cultco 001?
The Equalizer control has a bigger range than the Gain knob. Playing with it can bring out great low-end presence, along with a treble tone that Pedal of the Day described as sharp and clear but not offensive.
How much gain does the Cultco 001 have?
It is a medium overdrive rather than a high-gain pedal. With the Gain turned down you get a nice, mellow growl that can stay on all the time, and cranked it delivers a warm and meaty overdrive with a boatload of sustain. The reviewer noted it is not exactly a wall of distortion when cranked.
Sources (1)
- Cultco 001 Medium Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-09-29