The Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive is a handbuilt overdrive pedal aimed at light to medium drive. Pedal of the Day's guest reviewer described it as ranging "anywhere from a slight crunchy edge to a big, full, and hairy sound," and found that it "very subtly alters the sound of the guitar and simply adds a bit of grit onto the tone"1. It sits alongside overdrive pedals like the Emerson Custom Guitars EM Drive in the maker's range, and you can read more about the effect type on the Overdrive Pedals page.
What the Paramount does
The Paramount is a Stage 2 pedal in Emerson's lineup. Pedal of the Day's reviewer put it this way: "since it's a Stage 2 pedal, you can get anything from boost to crunch to grit and more"2. In practice that means it covers the territory from a clean-ish level push through crunchy rhythm tones, rather than the high-gain sounds you would look for among Distortion Pedals or Fuzz Pedals.
The circuit is Emerson's own design. According to Pedal of the Day, "the crew at Emerson designed a completely original circuit," and each pedal is handbuilt, wired and tested in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma2. The reviewer also noted the pedal "has a nice blue light" as its indicator1.
The controls
The Paramount keeps things simple with three knobs, all doing what their names suggest2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level; the guest reviewer found "heaps of volume on tap," keeping it well below 12 o'clock and still reaching unity volume easily1 |
| Gain | Drive amount; described as very usable and never losing its clarity, even maxed out, and able to be set up as a clean boost1 |
| Tone | Treble shading; usable all the way through, warm and bass-y to the left without sounding muffled, crisp and clear to the right without screeching1 |
"The gain knob is also very usable and it never loses its clarity, even with the control maxed out. It can also be set up to work very well as a clean boost."
That clean boost ability makes the Paramount a candidate for players also looking at Boost Pedals: set the gain low and use the volume knob to push the front of an amp1.
Power and build
The Paramount runs on a standard 9 to 18V DC power supply with a negative center 2.1mm barrel connector2.
There is no internal battery option, so a power supply is required. The 15mA current draw is light enough that it should sit comfortably alongside other pedals on a shared supply2.
Other build details from the review include a durable powdercoated finish and USA Switchcraft jacks2.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Paramount twice: a March 2016 review covering the specs and build2, and a July 2016 guest review from Wesley S. praising its transparency and controls1. Looking back in 2017, the site grouped it with the Emerson Custom Pomeroy as "two of the finest drive pedals we have come across, and staples on pedalboards around the world"3.
Videos
Sweetwater
Curtis Kent
Curtis Kent
Questions
Does the Emerson Paramount take a battery?
No. The Paramount Overdrive runs on a standard 9 to 18V DC power supply with a negative center 2.1mm barrel connector, and Pedal of the Day's review notes there is no internal battery option. Plan for a power supply on your board rather than relying on a battery.
Is the Emerson Paramount true bypass?
Yes. The Paramount uses a 3PDT true bypass footswitch, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the overdrive circuit in the way, according to Pedal of the Day's review.
Can the Paramount Overdrive be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's guest reviewer found the gain knob very usable and never losing its clarity, even maxed out, and said it can be set up to work very well as a clean boost. The volume knob also has plenty of level on tap for pushing an amp.
Where is the Emerson Paramount made?
Emerson Custom handbuilds, wires and tests each Paramount Overdrive in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA, according to Pedal of the Day's review. The company is mostly known for its wiring kits and also makes the Pomeroy boost/overdrive.
Sources (3)
- Guest Reviewer Fridays: Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-07-15
- Emerson Custom Paramount Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-08
- Emerson Custom Pomeroy Boost Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-09-17
