The Friedman Amplification BE-OD Deluxe is a dual-channel overdrive pedal that, in Friedman's words, "captures the tone of the now legendary Friedman BE-100 amplifier"1. Where the original BE-OD put one BE-100-derived circuit in a box, the Deluxe stacks two of them: the top row of controls, Channel 1, is identical to the original BE-OD, while the bottom row, Channel 2, was voiced by Dave Friedman with slightly lower gain1. Friedman describes the result as "Authentic British Overdrive Tones based on the Legendary 'BE-100' tube head"1.
The pedal was announced alongside the Golden Pearl overdrive in November 2018 and released on 19 November 2018 at a USD 269 RRP2. It is built in the USA and, per Friedman, "designed to withstand decades of abuse"1.
Two channels of BE-100 British overdrive
The BE-OD Deluxe is, at heart, two BE-ODs sharing one enclosure. Friedman states plainly that the "BE-OD Deluxe pedal employs the exact same circuit as the original BE-OD"1. The original BE-OD itself is the pedal form of the Friedman BE-100 amplifier, a high-gain British-voiced tube head; Delicious Audio has called the BE-OD "a popular and highly regarded emulation of a high-gain JCM amp"34.
For a player, the two-channel layout means two complete gain and EQ settings available from one box. Friedman's own description of the split is specific153:
"The top row (Channel 1) is identical to the original BE-OD pedal while Dave voiced the bottom row (Channel 2) with slightly lower gain1."
Friedman Amplification product page1
That makes the Deluxe a natural fit for a clean or lightly driven amp: Pete Thorn, demoing the pedal on release day, framed it as a great sounding two channel overdrive/distortion that turns a clean amp into a three channel rig5. Delicious Audio, covering the announcement, noted the Deluxe added dual midrange controls and a tight switch over the original3.
A Sweetwater-exclusive Clockworks Edition of the Deluxe was shown at the same time, with a different cosmetic finish6.
The controls
Each channel carries its own full control set1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Volume | Sets the channel's output level |
| Bass | Low-end cut or boost |
| Middle | Midrange cut or boost |
| Treble | High-end cut or boost |
| Presence | Upper-frequency bite |
| Tight switch | Three-position low-end character control, per channel |
The Middle knob is a real difference from the original BE-OD, whose control set is volume, gain, tight, bass, treble and presence with no mid control7. With two channels each carrying a mid knob, the Deluxe offers far more tone shaping than the single-channel pedal.
On the original BE-OD, Friedman says the responsive knobs take you "from light, slightly broken up overdrives to straight up gain nirvana"8, and the Deluxe's Channel 1 inherits that range, with Channel 2 sitting slightly below it.
What the tight switch does
Each channel has a three-position tight switch1. On the original BE-OD, MusicRadar's buying guide describes the tight control as coming "in very handy for a more defined attack"9. In practice it firms up the low end: builders of the BE-OD circuit report that with the gain maxed, "the bass notes don't get mushy with max gain. Bass notes stay tight, clear, and punchy"10. The Deluxe gives you that control independently on both channels.
Power: 18V DC, no battery
The BE-OD Deluxe runs on 18V DC only, with no battery option1. This differs from the original BE-OD, which Friedman rates for 9 to 18V DC8. If you are moving from the single-channel pedal, check your power supply: a 9V output that ran the BE-OD will not run the Deluxe.
The original BE-OD draws about 11mA7, though Friedman does not publish a current draw figure for the Deluxe.
Inside the circuit
Independent technical analysis of the BE-OD circuit, which the Deluxe shares, shows three places in the circuit where diodes clip the signal to produce distortion, including a pair of BAV99 diodes (or a quartet of 1N4148s) in the feedback loop of one op-amp stage1110. The same analysis notes the circuit is closely related to Friedman's Dirty Shirley pedal, the two being "mostly the same"11. DIY builders have also experimented with MOSFET-based clipping in place of the stock diodes, reporting "warmer and more gradual clipping that resembles how overdriven tubes clip"11.
From the BE-OD to the Deluxe
The single-channel BE-OD came first, and Delicious Audio notes that "There's also a one channel version" when covering the Deluxe in its guide to plexi-style pedals12. The Deluxe was released on 19 November 2018 with an RRP of USD 2692, and Friedman says it "employs the exact same circuit as the original BE-OD"1.
What reviewers said
Pete Thorn published a review video on release day, 19 November 20185:
"I really like it you know I'm a big fan of the original pedal and this one lives up to all the expectations that I would [have]"5
Thorn's demo walks through the pedal, and he came away positive about it: "I really like it you know I'm a big fan of the original pedal and this one lives up to all the expectations that I would"5. He also identifies the designer, calling it "the beo D deluxe from my pal Dave Friedman"5.
On the original BE-OD circuit that Channel 1 reproduces, MusicRadar's guide flags one caveat, noting the pedal "can sound pretty bright"9, which the Deluxe's per-channel treble and presence controls let you pull back.
Videos
Sweetwater
Friedman Amplification
Questions
What is the difference between the BE-OD and the BE-OD Deluxe?
The BE-OD Deluxe is a dual-channel version of the original BE-OD. Its top row of controls, Channel 1, is identical to the original pedal, while the bottom row, Channel 2, is voiced by Dave Friedman with slightly lower gain. The Deluxe also adds a Middle knob per channel, where the original BE-OD has no mid control.
Can the BE-OD Deluxe run on 9V?
No. Friedman specifies the BE-OD Deluxe as powered by 18V DC with no battery option. The original single-channel BE-OD is different: Friedman rates it for 9 to 18V DC, so the two pedals have different power requirements and the Deluxe needs an 18V supply.
What does the tight switch do on the BE-OD Deluxe?
Each channel has a three-position tight switch. On the original BE-OD, reviewers describe the tight control as handy for a more defined attack, firming up the low end so bass notes stay clear at high gain rather than getting mushy. The Deluxe carries the same idea across both channels.
Is the BE-OD Deluxe true bypass?
Yes. Friedman lists true bypass switching for the BE-OD Deluxe, so when the pedal is off the signal passes through without the circuit in the path. The original BE-OD also uses true bypass switching.
Is channel 2 of the BE-OD Deluxe lower gain?
Yes. Friedman says Dave Friedman voiced the bottom row, Channel 2, with slightly lower gain than Channel 1, which is identical to the original BE-OD. This gives two usable gain structures in one pedal, from heavier lead sounds on top to a slightly tamer voice below.
Sources (12)
- BE-OD DELUXE, Friedman Amplification, 2026-06-01
- Friedman Amplification adds BE-OD Deluxe and Golden Pearl overdrive pedals, gearnews.com, 2018-11-16
- Friedman BE-OD Deluxe Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2018-11-21
- Friedman BE-OD, Delicious Audio, 2020-04-13
- FRIEDMAN BE-OD DELUXE, YouTube (Pete Thorn channel), 2018-11-19
- Friedman BE-OD Deluxe Dual Overdrive Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2018-11-21
- BE-OD by Friedman, RockBoard (PedalPedia), 2026
- BE-OD | Friedman Amplification, Friedman Amplification, 2026-06-01
- Best distortion pedals: top gain stages for guitar, MusicRadar, 2023-01-20
- Guitar FX Layouts: Friedman BE-OD, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2017-12-09
- Effects > Friedman BE-OD : DIY Fever, DIY Fever (diy-fever.com)
- 2024 Best Plexi Pedals & Marshall-Style Distortions: A Buyer's Guide, Delicious Audio, 2024-09-16
