The Free The Tone OVERDRIVELAND ODL-1 is a two-channel overdrive pedal from Japanese maker Free The Tone. Guitar Pedal X describes it as "a two-channel Dumble overdrive with Normal and Drive sections"1, and Free The Tone itself says the design was referenced on the late-model Dumble Overdrive Special amplifier2. The maker positions it as a pedal with the glossy, commanding character of a Dumble amp that is now hard to obtain, built to let a player express their own personality2.
The pedal comes in a blue enclosure1 and carries Free The Tone's HTS (Holistic Tonal Solution) circuit, which the maker says prevents sound quality degradation even when the effect is off, with the output in phase with the input2. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the circuit type as analog3.
Where the design comes from
Free The Tone's designer, company president Hayashi, has serviced and repaired more than 20 Dumble amplifiers, according to the maker's product page2. That service work informed the ODL-1: the reference point for the design was the late-model Overdrive Special2.
A notable circuit choice is in the Normal channel. Free The Tone decided that the base circuit, the Overdriveland's Normal channel, would use no clipping diodes and no LEDs2. For players comparing overdrives, that distinguishes it from diode-clipping designs like the Boss SD-1 and Ibanez TS9, where clipping diodes shape the overdrive character.
The controls and switches
Guitar Pedal X counts "a modest 9 controls" on the pedal1, laid out across the two channels:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| NOR LEVEL | Sets the volume when the Normal channel is selected2 |
| DRV LEVEL | Sets the volume when the Drive channel is selected2 |
| TONE | Tone control, active when EQ is set to EQ ON2 |
| GAIN | Gain control on the Normal section21 |
| PUSH | Mids control on the Drive section21 |
| HI-CUT | High-cut control on the Drive section21 |
| DRIVE | Drive control on the Drive section21 |
| EQ ON/GLASS switch | Selects whether the TONE circuit runs or is bypassed2 |
| ROCK/JAZZ switch | Voicing switch2 |
| DC9V/DC14.5V switch | Selects external DC9V or the internal 14.5V power supply2 |
Guitar Pedal X's breakdown of the panel lists the Normal section as Nor Level, Tone, Gain, Dry Level and EQ (On/Glass), and the Drive section as Push (Mids), Drive, Hi Cut, plus an On/Off footswitch and a Normal/Drive footswitch1.
The EQ ON/GLASS switch
The EQ switch has two positions. Set to EQ ON, the TONE circuit operates. Set to GLASS, the TONE circuit is bypassed and, in Free The Tone's description, the pedal produces a glossy tone like a blackface Fender Vibroverb with its Bright switch turned on2.
Power: 9V or 14.5V
The ODL-1 runs on a DC9V power source: either a 9V battery of the 006P type or an AC adapter with a DC9V center-negative plug2. Free The Tone confirms the pedal can be used with a 9V battery2.
The DC9V/DC14.5V switch selects between the external DC9V input and an internal boosted power supply at DC14.5V2. One caution from the maker: when running on a 9V battery, the power selector switch should be set to the DC9V side, because the internal power supply setting drains the battery faster2.
Free The Tone's specifications list the current draw as 55mA at DC9V2, but the maker's own FAQ discusses a 95mA draw and recommends using a power supply capable of supplying more than 200mA2. Players powering the ODL-1 from a shared supply should size accordingly.
The ODL-1-CS version
Free The Tone also builds the OVERDRIVELAND ODL-1-CS, a Custom Shop version of the same overdrive4. Its control set matches the standard pedal, with NOR LEVEL, DRV LEVEL, TONE, GAIN, PUSH, HI-CUT and DRIVE knobs plus the EQ ON/GLASS and ROCK/JAZZ switches4.
The differences are in the power section. Where the standard ODL-1 has a fixed DC9V/DC14.5V selector, the CS replaces it with a DC9V/VARIABLE switch and adds a voltage adjustment trimmer42. That trimmer lets the player set the internal operating voltage rather than being fixed at 14.5V. The CS shares the same connections: 1/4-inch standard phone jacks for input and output, plus a DC9V input jack for an AC adapter42.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X reviewed the Overdriveland alongside the Mythos Pedals Herculean Deluxe, two dual-channel Dumble-style overdrives1. The reviewer noted the pedal's blue enclosure and its nine-control layout1.
English manual
Free The Tone publishes an English manual for the pedal as a PDF on its website, linked from RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the ODL-13.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Simon Gotthelf Music
qu99
Questions
Can the Overdriveland ODL-1 run on a battery?
Yes. Free The Tone states the ODL-1 can be used with a 9V battery of the 006P type. When running on a battery, the power selector switch should be set to the DC9V side, because the internal power supply setting drains the battery faster.
How much current does the ODL-1 draw?
Free The Tone's specifications list the current draw as 55mA at DC9V. The maker's own FAQ also mentions a 95mA figure in the context of recommending a power supply rated above 200mA, so players should size their power supply with headroom.
What does the Glass switch do on the Overdriveland?
The EQ switch has two positions. In EQ ON, the TONE circuit is active. In GLASS, the TONE circuit is bypassed and Free The Tone says the pedal produces a glossy tone like a blackface Fender Vibroverb with its Bright switch engaged.
Is the Free The Tone ODL-1 analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the ODL-1's circuit type as analog. The Normal channel circuit is also notable for using no clipping diodes or LEDs at all, according to Free The Tone.
What is the difference between the ODL-1 and ODL-1-CS?
The ODL-1-CS is the Custom Shop version. Its control set matches the standard pedal but replaces the fixed DC9V/DC14.5V power switch with a DC9V/VARIABLE switch and adds a voltage adjustment trimmer, letting the player set the internal operating voltage.
Is there an English manual for the ODL-1?
Yes. Free The Tone publishes an English manual as a PDF on its website, covering the ODL-1 and linked from RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the pedal.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-02-12
- OVERDRIVELAND / ODL-1｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
- OVERDRIVELAND / ODL-1 by Free The Tone, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- OVERDRIVELAND / ODL-1-CS｜CUSTOM SHOP カスタムショップ｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone (freethetone.com)
