The EBS The Drive is an analog overdrive pedal from EBS, announced for NAMM 2017 alongside two siblings, the Black Haze and Drive Me Crazy1. EBS developed all three for guitar, but the company says they work with bass too1, and reviewers at MusicPlayers.com described the range as "optimized for guitar, though each is also useable for bass"2.
Controls and connections
The front panel is minimal: Tone, Drive and Volume knobs, a 1/4" mono input and output, a 9V barrel-type power supply jack, and a battery compartment. A Carling-style single button switch toggles the pedal from bypass to active2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Tone | Shapes the frequency balance |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
Power
The Drive runs on 9V to 12V DC and draws 30mA2. Because it has a battery compartment alongside the barrel jack, it can operate without a power supply2.
The pedal accepts 9V to 12V DC, so a standard 9V supply works, but check your power brick's voltage if you plan to run it higher2.
Size and pedalboard fit
The Drive uses EBS's compact housing design introduced with this range, which includes recessed jacks to reduce the space between pedals on a pedalboard and a comfortable pedal angle1. It measures 2.6" wide and 1.9" deep and weighs 0.66 lbs, which reviewers noted should please guitarists with cramped pedalboards2.
What reviewers said
MusicPlayers.com gave The Drive an overall rating of 3.5 stars in its July 2017 review of the three-pedal range2. The reviewers' experience of the gain structure was mixed:
The Drive keeps its control set simple: Tone, Drive and Volume knobs, a 1/4" mono input and output, true bypass, a 9V barrel-type power supply jack, and a battery compartment2. A Carling-style single button switch toggles the pedal from bypass to active2. It launched at NAMM 2017 alongside the Black Haze and Drive Me Crazy as one of three analog overdrive pedals, with an MSRP of $199.95 and a MAP price of $99.9512.
MusicPlayers.com review, 20172
Questions
Does the EBS The Drive take a battery?
Yes. Alongside its 9V barrel-type power supply jack, the pedal has a battery compartment, so it can run without an external supply. Power requirements are 9V to 12V DC at 30mA.
Is the EBS The Drive true bypass?
Yes. The pedal uses true bypass, so when it is switched off the signal passes through without processing. A Carling-style single button switch toggles it between bypass and active.
Can you use the EBS The Drive on bass?
Yes. EBS developed the pedal for guitar, but the company says it works with bass too, and reviewers described the three-pedal range as optimized for guitar though each is also usable for bass.
How big is the EBS The Drive?
The pedal measures 2.6 inches wide and 1.9 inches deep, and weighs 0.66 lbs. Its compact housing has recessed jacks to reduce the space between pedals on a pedalboard.
Sources (2)
- EBS Announces Three New Analogue Pedals, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2017-01-18
- EBS The Drive, Black Haze, and Drive Me Crazy Overdrive Pedals, MusicPlayers.com, 2017-07-11
