The Decibelics Rivus Overdrive is a mini, handmade take on the Marshall BluesBreaker circuit, built by designer Guillem Vilademunt. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it "Decibelics' Rivus is Guillem's mini, high-fidelity take on the Marshall BluesBreaker", refined from two Pre-95 MK1 units with vintage and thru-hole components1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described its aim as delivering "the transparent yet warm, smooth, and dynamically driven tones of the original circuit it takes inspiration from"2.
Where it came from
Decibelics had already made a name in mini pedals before the Rivus, and the company describes the Rivus as a mini pedal in a "mini luxury format", built with vintage and thru-hole components and made one by one1. Like all Decibelic stompboxes, it is handmade3. The pedal retails for €180 / $190 / £150 plus shipping, and Guitar Pedal X reported that both versions should be available for orders on the Decibelics Webstore immediately upon the article going live, with the First Batch expected to sell out very quickly1.
Guitar Pedal X reported the First Batch was expected to sell out very quickly1.
The controls
The Rivus keeps the three core knobs of the BluesBreaker layout and adds switching that expands the range well beyond the original circuit12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Drives the overdrive12 |
| Level | Sets output volume12 |
| Tone | Toneshaping knob12 |
| Clip switch (3-way) | Hard / None / Soft; shapes the overdrive's character through three clipping modes2 |
| Mode switch (3-way) | Pre '95 (more bass, less gain) / Post '95 (more gain, less bass)12 |
| Internal Gain Structure dual dip-switch | I (stock), II (More Gain), III (Most Gain)3 |
The internal HIGHER GAIN switch, per Delicious Audio, "allows for different levels of overdrive intensity"2. Karlsson put it in context: "The GAIN mod of the KOT, but at the flick of a switch, instead of a non-adjustable mod"1.
How it sounds
As with any overdrive, the sound is best described by those who have played it rather than by the maker. Karlsson's verdict in his review:
"It definitely and authentically has captured that BluesBraker sound - but the Rivus really gives you overall a much expanded and improved palette of tones"1
In his end-of-year roundup of boost and overdrive pedals, he called it "Another superior mini pedal which challenges every size of BluesBreaker with smart controls superb dynamics and of cours[e]" superior sounds overall3.
Power and practicalities
The Rivus runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 18mA1. It is true bypass, and its Intelligent Bypass Footswitch features boot memory and a momentary mode12. At 95mm by 49mm with jacks, it is a genuine mini pedal that fits tight boards1.
If you are weighing it against other drives, it sits in the BluesBreaker family of overdrive pedals, a different flavor from the Tube Screamer-style circuit compared in Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer1.
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Questions
What does the internal Higher Gain switch do?
The internal HIGHER GAIN switch allows for different levels of overdrive intensity. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as the GAIN mod of the KOT, but at the flick of a switch instead of a non-adjustable mod. The pedal's internal Gain Structure dual dip-switch offers three settings: I (stock), II (More Gain) and III (Most Gain).
Is the Decibelics Rivus true bypass?
Yes. The Rivus is true bypass, and its Intelligent Bypass Footswitch also features boot memory and a momentary mode, so the pedal can be set to behave differently when held down.
How much current does the Rivus draw?
The Rivus runs on 9V DC center negative and draws 18mA, according to Guitar Pedal X's review. That is light enough for most pedalboard power supplies.
What colors does the Rivus come in?
The Rivus is available in Blue and Black colourways, both at the same price. Guitar Pedal X noted that an early Black prototype had asymmetrical soft clipping, while the stock version uses symmetrical soft clipping to match the original BluesBreaker circuit.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-11-25
- New Pedal: Decibelics Rivus Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-25
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-16