The Garland FX Dos Armas Combo Drive is a boost and overdrive pedal that puts two effects in one enclosure: a clean boost on the left side and a tweed-inspired overdrive on the right. Pedal of the Day's 2017 review called it "a unique and excellent-sounding overdrive and boost pedal."1
The Drive side produces a nice range of sounds from just a couple of simple controls, with what Guitar Player called "all the classic Fender amp gooeyness you've been after," and the Boost side pairs with it for "an over-the-top, break-up territory sonic enhancer."1
What it does
The left side of the pedal is the boost. Pedal of the Day describes it as clean and clear, a mode that "just ups the ante on your overall tone, making it sparkle and shine without any discoloration," lifting the signal without tone-shaping of its own. Players looking for other clean lifts can compare it with other boost pedals.1
The right side is the overdrive, built around vintage tweed-style tones with a pronounced mid-range and plenty of gain. The reviewer described "all the classic Fender amp gooeyness" available from just two knobs, and heard a range of dirty sounds from a simple control set. It sits in the same family as other overdrive pedals.1
Controls
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume knob | Drive, left | Sets the drive side's output level1 |
| Gain knob | Drive, right | Sets the drive side's amount of dirt1 |
| Toggle switch | Drive | Bypasses the Gain knob altogether and selects a completely different mode that is dirtier and gets almost into fuzz territory1 |
The layout is deliberately simple. As the review put it: "The Volume knob is on the left, while the Gain knob is on the right: done and done."1
Using the two sides together
The boost and the drive can be used on their own or stacked. The reviewer found the boost "pairs well with the overdrive side of this tweed machine, for an over-the-top, break-up territory sonic enhancer," pushing the drive into heavier break-up than either side reaches alone.1
Videos
Garland FX
Garland FX
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is Garland FX still in business?
No. As of the August 2017 review on Pedal of the Day, Garland FX appears to have ceased business operations: the review reports the company's website was down and its social media accounts had been deleted. That same review suggested the Dos Armas Combo Drive might become a collector's item, and it has since been difficult to get.
What does the toggle switch on the Dos Armas Combo Drive do?
The lone toggle switch bypasses the Gain knob altogether and gives a completely different mode, one that is dirtier and gets almost into fuzz territory. It is a way of doubling the drive side's character without adding more knobs.
Is the Garland FX Dos Armas Combo Drive hard to find?
Yes. The 2017 Pedal of the Day review described the pedal as difficult to get and suggested it just might be a collector's item further on down the road, especially now that the company is no longer operating.
Can the boost side and the drive side be used together?
Yes. The reviewer found the boost pairs well with the overdrive side, describing the combination as an over-the-top, break-up territory sonic enhancer. The boost also works on its own as a clean lift for the overall tone.
Sources (1)
- Garland FX Dos Armas Combo Drive Boost Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-08-21