The EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive is a signature pedal for shredder Rusty Cooley from the Israeli firm EC, providing two independent channels of overdrive1. Where a conventional overdrive gives you one sound, this one carries two, which MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found makes it a practical option for adding dirty and/or boosted sounds to your 'board1.
Two independent overdrive channels
Each channel has its own gain, tone and level knobs, and features a range of sounds not unlike a Tube Screamer1. That makes the pedal familiar territory for players who already use that style of drive, while the second channel means you can set up two different sounds and move between them.
Each side also has two internal switches for selecting clipping mode and tone stack, for a fuller low end or a leaner vibe1. These sit inside the pedal rather than on the facia, so they are set-and-forget voicing choices rather than performance controls.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain, tone and level knobs (per channel) | Shape each channel's drive, EQ and output1 |
| Internal switches (two per side) | Select clipping mode and tone stack: fuller low end or leaner vibe1 |
| Right footswitch | Operates as a normal bypass switch1 |
| Left footswitch | Switches between the two channels1 |
Footswitches and pre-selecting channels
Two footswitches control the action: the one to the right operates as a normal bypass switch, while the one on the left switches between the two channels1. The left footswitch still operates when the pedal is bypassed, so you can pre-select the desired channel before you bring the overdrive in1.
"This will do that, but can also give you two distinctly different sounds, making it a practical option for adding dirty and/or boosted sounds to your 'board."
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen listed a nice, Tube Screamer-like overdrive, pre-selectable overdrives and a choice of sounds among his reasons to buy1.
Questions
Who is Rusty Cooley and why does he have a signature overdrive?
Rusty Cooley is a shredder, a guitarist known for technically demanding playing, and the EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive is a signature pedal made for him. EC built the pedal around his needs, giving it two independent overdrive channels so he could carry distinctly different dirty and boosted sounds on one pedalboard unit.
Does the EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive sound like a Tube Screamer?
MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found that each channel features a range of sounds not unlike a Tube Screamer, and listed a nice, Tube Screamer-like overdrive among his reasons to buy. The internal switches add further tonal options beyond that basic character.
Can you pre-select a channel while the EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive is bypassed?
Yes. The left footswitch, which switches between the two channels, still operates when the pedal is bypassed, so you can pre-select the desired channel before bringing the effect back in.
What do the internal switches on the EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive do?
Each side of the pedal has two internal switches for selecting clipping mode and tone stack, offering a fuller low end or a leaner vibe. They let you shape each channel's character beyond the front panel knobs.
Who makes the EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive?
The pedal is made by EC, an Israeli firm, as a signature pedal for Rusty Cooley.
Sources (1)
- EC Rusty Cooley Overdrive review, MusicRadar, 2015-03-30