The Garland FX HTX Active Combo Drive is an EQ, boost and overdrive all in one enclosure, built by the Houston-based maker Garland FX1. It is an overdrive based on the company's Pink Drive, with an added active 3-band EQ triggered by a separate footswitch1. Pedal of the Day described it as a reimagining of the Pink Drive, "a great overdrive in its own right," with the EQ circuit added on top2.
Overdrive and active EQ in one enclosure
The HTX combines two functions most players would otherwise put on separate boards: a drive section descended from the Pink Drive, and an active 3-band EQ that can be switched in and out with its own footswitch1. Because the EQ is active, its Bass, Mid and Treble controls work as boost/cut controls rather than simple cut-only tone knobs2. The drive circuit uses what Pedal of the Day called "unique LED/Silicon diodes" for clipping2, and the reviewer noted the pedal manages this "all while staying relatively quiet overall (but only when you want it to)"2.
If you are comparing it against other options, it sits between a straight overdrive pedal and a dedicated EQ pedal, with a boost function folded in2.
The controls
| Section | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | Volume, Tone, Gain | the Drive portion gives you Volume, Tone and Gain knobs2 |
| EQ | Bass, Mid, Treble | Boost/Cut controls comprising the active EQ section2 |
| Switching | Drive Bypass | bypasses the drive section1 |
The drive side inherits its character from the Pink Drive. Reviewing that pedal, Pedal of the Day wrote that "The Gain control sets the dirt level, going from a slightly dirty boost to a full-bodied overdrive, even creeping up into a heavily distorted, fuzz-ish sound when really maxed out," and that the Tone control "offers a nice range of High/Low cut possibilities, working perfectly with single coils and humbuckers alike"3.
Power and connections
The HTX runs on 9vDC power only, with a top mounted DC jack, and uses top mounted 1/4-inch input and output jacks1. Wiring is true bypass via the footswitches1.
Delicious Audio lists the HTX as 9vDC power only1. Plan on a 9vDC supply when fitting it to a board.
Garland FX builds each HTX to order: the listed build time is 5 to 10 business days from the day the order is placed, and the pedal carries a lifetime repair warranty1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's verdict on the HTX was short and positive: "it looks AND sounds just fantastic"2. The review unit was a one-of-a-kind example with custom tweed and knob colors honoring the Milwaukee Brewers, which the reviewer thanked Garland FX's Patrick for2.
The Pink Drive, the circuit the HTX is built on, had already drawn praise from the same publication in 2018: "Able to hang with other, more expensive pedals, it offers a nice mixture of op-amp fueled sounds," with the reviewer adding that the pedal does so "all the while maintaining a rich feel with beautiful harmonic structure" across the gain range3.
Videos
Distortion LTD
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Garland FX HTX Active Combo Drive true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page for the HTX Active Combo Drive lists True Bypass Footswitch Wiring among its features, along with a Drive Bypass switch that takes the drive section out of the circuit. The pedal's input and output jacks are top mounted 1/4-inch jacks, with a top mounted DC jack for power.
What voltage does the HTX Active Combo Drive use?
The HTX Active Combo Drive runs on 9vDC power only, according to Delicious Audio's product page. There is no mention of battery operation, so plan on a 9vDC supply, and note that the DC jack is top mounted on the enclosure.
Can the EQ be switched on separately from the drive?
Yes. The active 3-band EQ is triggered by a separate footswitch, so you can run the drive on its own, the EQ on its own, or both together. There is also a Drive Bypass control that bypasses the drive section.
What is the HTX based on?
The HTX Active Combo Drive is an overdrive based on Garland FX's Pink Drive, described by Pedal of the Day as a great overdrive in its own right. The HTX reimagines that circuit and adds an active EQ section with Bass, Mid and Treble Boost/Cut controls.
How long does Garland FX take to build an HTX?
Delicious Audio's product page lists a build time of 5 to 10 business days, counted from the day the order is placed. The pedal is built by Garland FX, a Houston-based maker.
What warranty does Garland FX offer?
Delicious Audio's product page lists a lifetime repair warranty for the HTX Active Combo Drive.
Sources (3)
- New Pedals: Garland FX HTX Active Combo Drive, Delicious Audio, 2019-09-17
- Garland FX HTX Active Drive Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2019-06-28
- Garland FX Pink Drive Overdrive Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2018-11-07
