The D. Allen Bazooka Overdrive is a low to mid gain overdrive pedal from David Allen, a builder best known for his pickups. When the pedal was new, guitarist Pete Thorn demonstrated it for Vintage King and described it as "designed to be kind of brown Fender while veering into Marshall territory"1. It sits on the gentler end of the dirt spectrum, closer to the territory covered in overdrive pedals than to distortion or fuzz.
The controls
The Bazooka keeps its front panel simple: three knobs, each named for what it does in the circuit rather than for the usual labels1.
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Elevation | Volume |
| Chatter | Gain |
| Range | Tone |
| Load switch | Three-position cabinet-style voicing |
The Load switch
The Load switch is the pedal's distinguishing feature: a three-position switch that changes the pedal's voicing in the manner of different speaker cabinets. Pete Thorn described the positions this way1:
- Middle: the brightest setting, with the least amount of bottom end, sounding kind of like a 1x12 cabinet.
- Left: a response a little more like a 2x12, with things getting fatter in the low mids and the pedal kicking harder.
- Right: voiced to sit more like a full stack through a 4x12 cabinet, with the heaviest low-end push of the three.
Thorn's verdict on the switch was that "it's really nice and versatile with that switch, you can kind of tune it to your rig"1. For a player, that means the Bazooka can be leaned toward a brighter, tighter voice or a fatter, harder-pushing one without changing pedals.
Review video
Pete Thorn's demo for Vintage King introduces the Bazooka as a brand new low to mid gain overdrive from David Allen, walks through the Elevation, Chatter and Range controls, and demonstrates each of the three Load switch positions in turn, showing how the voicing shifts from bright and tight to fatter in the low mids to the Plexi-through-a-4x12 setting1.
Videos
David Allen Pickups
David Allen Pickups
Questions
What do the Elevation, Chatter and Range knobs do on the D. Allen Bazooka?
Elevation is the volume control, Chatter is the gain control, and Range is the tone control. With those three knobs you set the overall level, how much drive the pedal produces, and the voicing of the high end.
What are the three Load switch positions on the Bazooka Overdrive?
The Load switch is a three-position voicing switch modeled on different speaker cabinets. The middle position is the brightest, with the least bottom end, described as sounding like a 1x12 cabinet. The left position responds more like a 2x12, fatter in the low mids with a harder kick. The right position is voiced like a 1967 Plexi through a 4x12 cabinet.
How much gain does the D. Allen Bazooka Overdrive have?
It is a low to mid gain overdrive. Pete Thorn, demonstrating the pedal when it was new, described it as designed to be kind of brown Fender while veering into Marshall territory.
Who makes the Bazooka Overdrive?
The Bazooka Overdrive is made by David Allen, a builder best known for his pickups.
Sources (1)
- D. Allen Bazooka Overdrive, demo by Pete Thorn/Vintage King, Pete Thorn (YouTube channel), for Vintage King, 2014-12-24
