The Fulltone Full-Drive 2 V2 is a two-channel overdrive pedal from Fulltone, announced in July 2018 as the successor to the company's long-running Full-Drive 2123. It is built around the JRC4558 chip and the 1990s-era Full-Drive circuit1, packed into a smaller chassis than the original, and it covers ground from overdrive to distortion4. Two footswitches handle the on/off function and the second drive channel4.
The original Full-Drive 2, designed by Mike Fuller, dates back to 1995 and became one of the best-selling pedals ever made5. The V2 keeps that circuit's character while reworking it into a two-channel format with more clipping options.
What it does
The Full-Drive 2 V2 provides what Guitar World's reviewer Chris Gill called "stellar overdrive and distortion textures," with a significantly smaller footprint than its predecessor4. Where the original blue box had one channel with an additional boost stage, giving four sound options, the V2 has two overdrive channels, each with individually adjustable Volume and Drive knobs, and removes the separate boost stage altogether6.
Guitar.com described the V2 as a step up in versatility from the original, which offered only four sound options6. The original's boost footswitch, which Guitar World's history of the boutique pedal boom noted "pushed the circuit into a thick, singing lead tone for solos," is replaced in the V2 by the second footswitchable drive channel7.
The controls
The control set carries over from the original with one addition. Gearnews reported that the knobs stayed the same, just moved a little closer together: Volume, Tone, Drive 1 and Drive 2, with a small Drive 2 Volume knob just below Drive 23. Guitar World's review confirms full-size volume, tone, drive 1 and drive 2 knobs plus the new drive 2 volume mini pot4.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the overall output level |
| Tone | Shapes the treble content |
| Drive 1 | Sets the gain of the first overdrive channel |
| Drive 2 | Sets the gain of the second overdrive channel |
| Drive 2 Volume (mini pot) | Sets the level of the second channel independently4 |
| On/off footswitch | Engages and bypasses the pedal4 |
| Drive 2 footswitch | Switches to the second drive channel4 |
The Drive 2 Volume mini pot is the key new feature: because each channel has its own level control, you can set a rhythm tone on Drive 1 and a louder, higher-gain lead tone on Drive 2 and jump between them with the second footswitch436.
The clipping toggles
Two toggle switches shape how the circuit clips the signal, and this is where the V2 expands most on the original. Guitar.com detailed the positions6:
| Toggle | Position | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Comp-Cut | Removes the clipping diodes entirely |
| Left | Flat Mids | Feeds the signal back onto the clipping diode |
| Left | Vintage | Traditional '90s asymmetrical clipping |
| Right | Standard | Traditional Full-Drive 2 tone |
| Right | Half-Clipped | Clips the top of the waveform |
The left toggle selects the clipping character, from the open, uncompressed feel of Comp-Cut with the diodes out of the circuit, to the Vintage position's asymmetrical clipping, which is the sound the original Full-Drive 2 was known for. The right toggle offers the traditional Full-Drive 2 tone or the Half-Clipped setting, which clips only the top half of the waveform for a rougher, more uneven character6.
Lineage and history
The Full-Drive 2 was first introduced in 1996 by Guitar World's account, with GuitarPlayer dating the debut to 199545. Mike Fuller built the early units himself, and the pedal went on to be one of the best-selling pedals ever, a status JHS Pedals' Josh Scott credits as central to the boutique pedal boom8. Guitar World's history of that era notes the original featured clean true bypass switching and the independent Boost footswitch7.
The original line also included a Full-Drive 2 MOSFET version, which Pedal of the Day reviewed alongside the standard model in 20159. The V2, announced in July 2018, consolidated the range into the smaller chassis1.
"The Full-Drive 2 V2 is still a 'Tube Screamer killer,' boosting the most desirable midrange frequencies while also adding a vast palette of overdrive textures."
That midrange push is the trait the Full-Drive shares with the Ibanez Tube Screamer, another JRC4558-based circuit, but the V2's two channels and five clipping configurations give it a wider range than a stock Tube Screamer. Pedal of the Day's Mike B described the original's drive sounds as "ranging from a slight crunch to a thick-and-meaty roar"9.
Power and bypass
The V2 uses Fulltone's "No-Pop" true bypass circuit, so the pedal's circuitry is out of the signal path when it is off1. Power comes from a 9-volt battery, accessed by removing the rear panel with a pair of thumbscrews, or from an external 9- to 18-volt power supply4. Running at 18 volts gives the circuit more headroom before clipping, which suits the Comp-Cut setting in particular.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Full-Drive 2 and the Full-Drive 2 V2?
The V2 is a smaller-chassis successor to the 1990s Full-Drive 2. The original had one overdrive channel with an additional boost stage, giving four sound options, while the V2 has two overdrive channels, each with its own Volume and Drive knobs, plus a new Drive 2 Volume mini pot and more clipping options.
Is the Full-Drive 2 a Tube Screamer?
No, but it is closely related. Guitar World's reviewer called the Full-Drive 2 V2 a Tube Screamer killer, because it boosts the most desirable midrange frequencies the way a Tube Screamer does while offering a wider range of overdrive textures. It uses the same JRC4558 chip family as the classic Tube Screamer.
Does the Full-Drive 2 V2 take a battery?
Yes. It runs on a 9-volt battery, and a pair of thumbscrews makes it easy to remove the rear panel to change it. It can also be powered with an external 9- to 18-volt supply.
Is the Full-Drive 2 V2 true bypass?
Yes. It uses Fulltone's No-Pop true bypass circuit, which switches the pedal's circuitry out of the signal path entirely when the effect is off.
What chip is in the Full-Drive 2 V2?
The JRC4558 chip, the same dual op-amp used in the classic Tube Screamer. The V2's circuit is based around this chip and the 1990s-era Full-Drive 2 circuit.
Can the Full-Drive 2 V2 run on 18 volts?
Yes. Guitar World reports the pedal can be powered with an external 9- to 18-volt power supply. Higher voltage typically gives more headroom before the circuit clips.
Sources (9)
- Fulltone Debuts New Full-Drive 2 V2 Pedal, Guitar World, 2018-07-09
- Fulltone announces versatile, downsized Full-Drive 2 V2 pedal, MusicRadar, 2018-07-05
- Fulltone Full-Drive2 V2: An old favourite gets smaller, gearnews.com, 2018-07-05
- Review: Fulltone Deja Vibe CS-MDV MKII and Full-Drive 2 V2 Pedals, Guitar World, 2019-03-11
- The Best Guitar Effects Pedals of All Time, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-06-25
- Ol’ reliable Fulltone Full-Drive 2 gets rebooted, Guitar.com, 2018-07-06
- 12 iconic stompboxes that built the boutique pedal boom, Guitar World, 2026-07-13
- 12 RARE PEDALS, JHS Pedals
- Fulltone Full-Drive 2 Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-09-09
