The Gatekeeper GK-Drive is a medium-gain overdrive pedal that can also be set as a clean boost, made by Gatekeeper, the subset company of pickup maker Porter Pickups. It was the company's first effects pedal offering, and Premier Guitar described it as "designed to be a versatile overdrive that can also be used as a booster."1
An overdrive that doubles as a boost
The GK-Drive sits in the territory between overdrive and boost pedals. Pedal of the Day's reviewer described its two faces: "Keep it as a clean transparent boost to fatten up your signal, or use it for leads and riffs with the gain cranked."2
On pickup compatibility, the reviewer found it worked across the board: "It did not disappoint, working beautifully with humbuckers and split coils alike, for a wide variety of gorgeous tones."2 That makes it a candidate for players who swap between guitars with different pickup types, or who run a split-coil mode on their humbuckers.
The controls: Gain, Tone and the Lift/Clip switch
The pedal keeps its control layout simple: a Gain knob, a Tone knob and a Lift/Clip switch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Gain control with a versatile sweep2 |
| Tone | Tone knob with a versatile sweep for shaping gain and tone character2 |
| Lift/Clip switch | Lifts diodes for a fuller sound1 |
The Lift/Clip switch is the pedal's character control. Premier Guitar's description, "lifts diodes for a fuller sound," points to what it changes in the circuit: with the diodes lifted out of the signal path, the pedal leans toward its fuller, boost-like voicing, and with them in circuit it clips like a conventional overdrive.1 Pedal of the Day summed up the layout as "the versatile sweep of the Tone and Gain knobs paired with the Lift/Clip switch."2
Power and switching
The GK-Drive runs on an external power supply at either 9 volts or 18 volts DC, and it uses true bypass switching.1
The GK-Drive takes an external power supply rather than running on a battery.1
Who makes Gatekeeper pedals?
Gatekeeper is the subset company of Porter Pickups, and the GK-Drive was its first effects pedal.2 Premier Guitar lists the pedal as made in the USA, with a list price of $179 as of December 2022.1
Videos
PorterPickups
Pedal of the Day
Rumblin Man
Questions
Can the GK-Drive run at 18 volts?
Yes. Premier Guitar lists the GK-Drive as offering 9-volt and 18-volt DC operation with an external power supply. Running at 18 volts gives players the option of more headroom than a standard 9-volt supply, though the pedal works at either voltage. Note that it uses an external supply rather than a battery.
Is the Gatekeeper GK-Drive true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's announcement of the pedal lists true bypass switching, so when the GK-Drive is off, your guitar's signal passes through the pedal without loading it down.
Who makes Gatekeeper pedals?
Gatekeeper is the subset company of Porter Pickups, a pickup maker. The GK-Drive was the company's first effects pedal offering, and according to Premier Guitar it is made in the USA.
What does the Lift/Clip switch do on the GK-Drive?
The Lift/Clip switch lifts the pedal's diodes for a fuller sound, according to Premier Guitar. Paired with the Tone and Gain knobs, it helps shape the pedal's character between cleaner boost-style settings and more gain-cranked lead tones.
Sources (2)
- Gatekeeper Introduces GK-Drive Distortion Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2022-12-15
- Gatekeeper GK-Drive Boost Overdrive (Porter Pickups), Pedal of the Day, 2023-02-06