The Flattley Revolution is a dynamic overdrive pedal built around a Tube Screamer-style circuit, made by Flattley Guitar Pedals, a boutique company based in Gloucestershire, UK1. Where a stock Tube Screamer gives you one fixed clipping character, the Revolution puts three clipping options on a three-way toggle switch, which Delicious Audio described as "like having three overdrive pedals in one"2. Premier Guitar called it a tube screamer style circuit but on "steroids"3.
Designer and builder Paul Flattley offers meticulously hand-finished pedals, and the Revolution is part of Flattley's Platinum Range, each pedal hand-finished12. A 10th Anniversary Edition, the Revolution 10 AE, was announced in 2026 with purple cosmetics to mark the company's tenth anniversary34.
What it does: a Tube Screamer with more range
The Revolution's starting point is the classic Tube Screamer circuit, the midrange-focused overdrive design used by countless players. Delicious Audio called it "a turbocharged take on the classic tube screamer circuit," delivering "smooth, rich overdrive tones that respond dynamically to your playing style"2. Gearnews describes it as a highly reactive dynamic overdrive engineered to deliver smooth, creamy tones that adapt instinctively to a player's touch4.
What separates it from a standard Tube Screamer clone is the selectable clipping. Instead of one pair of clipping diodes fixed in the circuit, the three-way toggle switches between three clipping stages, so one pedal covers ground from tight and controlled to loose and raunchy. Guitar World's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, found it "more than just another TS-style overdrive," and reported that "an A/B test with our TS808 proved that it could nail all those TS sounds with ease and then some"1.
MusicRadar categorized it as a transparent overdrive pedal and described it as a TS-style pedal "on steroids"5.
The controls and the three-way clipping switch
The front panel is simple: Gain, Treble and Volume knobs, a bypass footswitch, and the three-way clipping toggle5.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Treble | Adjusts the high end |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Bypass footswitch | Engages and disengages the pedal (buffered bypass)5 |
| Three-way toggle | Selects one of three clipping stages2 |
The three toggle positions each have their own character:
- Upper position: Silicon diodes, per Delicious Audio2. Guitar World found this setting has a lower output than the others and gives the tightest sound with controlled bottom-end1. Premier Guitar and Pedal of the Day describe the upper/forward position as asymmetrical clipping provided by three different types of diode36.
- Middle position: An op-amp integrated circuit, where the overdrive circuit uses the op-amp itself for clipping25. Guitar World found things "more opened up, louder, looser and more raunchy" here1.
- Lower position: LED diodes2. Guitar World called this "the crunchiest of the lot with more compression and a spongier feel under the fingers as you dig in for sustain"1.
Note that the press describes the upper toggle position two ways: Delicious Audio says silicon diodes, while Premier Guitar, Gearnews and Pedal of the Day say asymmetrical clipping from a blend of three diode types2346.
The Halo light ring
A signature Flattley feature is the Halo light ring that surrounds the footswitch and diffuses the light when playing live1. Pedal of the Day explains the practical point: the purple halo ring diffuses the light, "avoiding being blinded by the standard LEDs just as you" look down at your board, and gives a larger area to see the pedal on darkened stages6. A custom-ordered Halo Light Plate variant moves the light to a transparent section inserted between the pedal base and chassis1.
"One cool feature of Flattley pedals is the Halo light ring that surrounds the footswitch and diffuses the light when playing live."
Versions and finishes
The Revolution has appeared in several forms. The Platinum series version MusicRadar reviewed is finished with a sort of Paisley Pattern adorned with Mexican sugar skulls5. The Revolution 10 AE anniversary edition comes with purple candy lacquer, purple laser-etched control knobs, 20mm purple anodised aluminum custom etched knobs, and a purple halo light ring34.
The Revolution runs on a 9V DC adaptor that is not supplied with the pedal, and there is no internal battery option, so you need your own 9V supply before it will work13.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review was positive on the pedal's core strengths, with a clear reservation on price1:
- Plus: "More than just another TS-style overdrive"1
- Plus: "Switchable clipping options"1
- Plus: "Touch-sensitive and cleans up nicely"1
- Minus: "It's expensive"1
The reviewer's overall verdict: "There's no shortage of drive pedals around, but this example excels with its easy playability and three-voice versatility"1.
Pedal of the Day, reviewing the Revolution 10 AE, called it "a wonderful drive effect that will help shape and define your sound with ease," praising smooth, creamy overdrive tones full of depth and reactive sounds depending on your style of playing6.
Videos
Flattley Guitar Pedals
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Philip Czarnecki and Flattley Guitar Pedals
Questions
Is the Flattley Revolution true bypass?
No. MusicRadar's review lists the Revolution as having buffered bypass rather than true bypass. That means a buffer stage stays in the signal path when the pedal is off, which keeps the signal strong over long cable runs but colors the tone slightly compared with a true bypass pedal.
What does the Halo light ring on the Flattley Revolution do?
The Halo is a light ring that surrounds the footswitch and diffuses the light when playing live. Instead of a single bright LED, it spreads a soft glow over a larger area, so you can see the pedal on a dark stage without being blinded by a standard indicator light.
Does the Flattley Revolution come with a power supply?
No. The Revolution runs on a 9V DC adaptor, which is not supplied with the pedal, and there is no internal battery option. You will need your own 9V power supply before you can use it.
Where are Flattley pedals made?
Flattley pedals are handmade and hand-wired in the UK. Gearnews reports that the company's boutique drive pedals are handmade, hand-wired and custom-painted in Sleaford, England, using what Premier Guitar describes as high quality components.
Who designed the Flattley Revolution?
The designer and builder is Paul Flattley, founder of Flattley Guitar Pedals, a boutique pedal company based in Gloucestershire, UK. Guitar World describes him as offering meticulously hand-finished pedals.
Sources (6)
- Flattley Revolution review, Guitar World, 2021-08-12
- Flattley Revolution Dynamic Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2025-02-24
- Flattley Pedals Introduces Revolution 10 AE Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2026-06-08
- Guitar Journal: Squier Troy Van Leeuwen 12-String Teased, gearnews.com, 2026-06-09
- Flattley Revolution and Silver Centurion review, MusicRadar, 2021-10-01
- Flattley Pedals Revolution 10 AE Dynamic Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2026-07-13
