The Push Me Pull Me is an overdrive pedal from the French maker Custom 77, reviewed by Guitar World in November 2012. Reviewer Billy Voight described it as like having three different overdrives in one box, with a three-way toggle that changes the character of the gain, and he found the pedal itself, in his words, "just as addicting" as the handheld game Bop It.1
Controls and modes
The pedal keeps its top panel simple: three knobs and one toggle switch1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output level |
| Tone | Tone shaping |
| Gain | Amount of overdrive |
| Vintage / Wild / Modern toggle | Three-way switch on the top right that changes the pedal's character1 |
Guitar World's reviewer described the Vintage setting as giving "a softer, bluesy tone," and summed the pedal up as "like having three different overdrives" in one.1 For a player, that means the toggle is the main voice switch, with the knobs doing the fine adjustment on top of it.
Power and bypass
The Push Me Pull Me can be powered at 9 or 18 volts from an external supply, and it can also run on a supplied 9-volt battery.1 The on/off switch is true bypass, so the overdrive circuit is out of the signal path when the pedal is off.1
The pedal also includes a buffer. Guitar World's reviewer described it as "great if you plan on running this in front of a longer chain of pedals," which is a different arrangement from relying on true bypass alone.1 For more on where a buffer fits on a board, see Buffer Pedals.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review, published November 19, 2012, is the published account of this pedal. Billy Voight's verdict:
"the Push me Pull me overdrive pedal by Custom 77 is just as addicting."
The review frames the pedal as a three-voice overdrive with a softer, bluesy side in Vintage mode, true bypass switching, and the flexibility of 9 or 18 volt operation.1 If you are comparing it with other gain pedals, the Overdrive Pedals type page covers the wider field, and the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison looks at two of the circuits players most often weigh against a pedal like this.
Videos
Custom77
Custom77
Custom77
Questions
Is the Custom 77 Push Me Pull Me true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's review of the pedal states that the on/off switch is true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the overdrive circuit in the way. The pedal also includes a buffer, which the reviewer found useful when running it in front of a longer chain of pedals.
Does the Push Me Pull Me take a battery?
Yes. According to Guitar World's review, the pedal can run on a supplied 9-volt battery, in addition to being powered from an external supply at 9 or 18 volts.
What do the Vintage, Wild and Modern settings do?
The three-way toggle switch on the top right of the pedal is labeled Vintage, Wild and Modern. Guitar World's reviewer described the Vintage setting as giving a softer, bluesy tone, and called the pedal like having three different overdrives in one box.
Can the Push Me Pull Me run at 18 volts?
Yes. Guitar World's review notes the ability to power the pedal with 9 or 18 volts, so it can be run at either from an external power supply, or on the supplied 9-volt battery.
Why does the Push Me Pull Me have a buffer?
The pedal includes a buffer for running it in front of a longer chain of pedals. A buffer helps keep the signal strong through the rest of the chain, and Guitar World's reviewer described the buffer as great for that use.
How much does the Custom 77 Push Me Pull Me cost in the US?
Guitar World's 2012 review listed a street price of $120 for the Push Me Pull Me in the US.
Sources (1)
- Review: Push Me Pull Me Overdrive Pedal by Custom 77, Guitar World, 2012-11-19