The Hamstead Soundworks Odyssey Intergalactic Driver is an all-analog drive pedal built around three selectable clipping circuits, a two-band EQ and a clean boost with EQ. Guitar World's Trevor Curwen describes it as "one of those supremely versatile drive pedals that can provide you with a whole range of tones from clean boost to fuzz", and notes that "this Intergalactic Driver features three selectable clipping options or a simple clean boost with EQ"12. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson counted five tone-shaping controls plus three further toggle switches affecting gain structure, clipping and EQ order placement3.
What it does
The Odyssey is Hamstead's first all-analog attempt, in Guitar World's words, "to push the boundaries of what a drive pedal can be"1. Its range runs from clean boost through drive to fuzz territory, and the EQ section can be moved around the drive circuit, which changes how the tone controls interact with the clipping. The pedal carries the "Intergalactic Driver" name that Hamstead later used across a family of drives, including the Comet Interstellar Driver and the Subspace Intergalactic Driver1.
The controls
The pedal splits into a drive portion, an EQ portion and three toggle switches. Pedal of the Day lays it out as follows4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Gain control for the Drive portion |
| Tone | Tone control for the Drive portion |
| Bass | EQ section bass control |
| Treble | EQ section treble control |
| Level | Sets the overall output level of the Odyssey |
| PR-EQ-PO toggle | Puts the EQ circuit before the Drive circuit (Pre), after it (Post), or into Clean Mode, which bypasses the Tone, Gain and C1-C2-C3 controls |
| C1-C2-C3 toggle | Selects one of three clipping circuits |
| X1-X2-X5 toggle | Selects the input gain level: X1 keeps the input at zero boost, X2 doubles it, X5 boosts the original signal by up to five times |
That Pedal Show's Dan and Mick, demoing the pedal in a 2017 Pick'N'Mix episode, described it the same way: "it has an EQ side which is the level treble and bass and then the overdrive side"5.
The three clipping circuits
The C1-C2-C3 toggle is the heart of the pedal. Pedal of the Day describes each position4:
- C1: symmetrical clipping for consistent, classic drive tones
- C2: asymmetrical clipping, creating anything from transparent, low-gain drives with added clarity and defined pick attack to heavy drive sounds and even some splatty fuzz effects
- C3: uses two clipping circuits together to produce an extremely natural-sounding, amp-like drive and distortion, with a wide dynamic range and attention to touch response
Combined with the X1-X2-X5 input gain switch and the +32dB of gain on tap, the clipping choices are what let the pedal cover everything from boost to fuzz4.
The Bypass footswitch is an optical OptoKick switch from TheGigRig, and the pedal has an internal buffer rather than true bypass. That Pedal Show's hosts were strongly impressed by the footswitches, noting Hamstead was the first pedal manufacturer using them5.
What reviewers said
Reactions across the press have been strongly positive:
- Pedal of the Day, 2019: "this is one of the more ingenuous, skillful and accomplished pedals we've come across…EVER"4
- Guitar World's Trevor Curwen described the pedal as having "a versatility that's truly remarkable"2
- On That Pedal Show, Mick said "it is palpably different I've never heard anything like it", while Dan judged it "extremely versatile, easy to play, huge headroom"5
Guitar Pedal X included it among its selection of compact overdrives, flagging the unusual control layout: "This pedal has 5 somewhat odd tone-shaping controls - and then 3 further tone-shaping toggle switches which impact gain"3. That Pedal Show has also used the Odyssey as reference gear in its episode on understanding overdrive pedals, gain, clipping, headroom and EQ6.
Here is the That Pedal Show demo:
Odyssey and Subspace
The Subspace is the other Intergalactic Driver in the range, and Guitar World reviewed it separately. The Odyssey remains the original design: three clipping circuits, the PR-EQ-PO routing toggle and the X1-X2-X5 input gain switch are its distinguishing features, and it is the pedal Guitar World called Hamstead's first all-analog drive14. Players weighing the two should compare the clipping options and EQ placement of the Odyssey against the Subspace's own review1.
Videos
Reverb
Jackson Brooksby
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Hamstead Odyssey buffered or true bypass?
The Odyssey's bypass footswitch is an optical OptoKick switch from TheGigRig, which Pedal of the Day describes as providing silent and reliable switching. The pedal also has an internal buffer, as the hosts of That Pedal Show point out in their demo. So it is not a true bypass design: the signal passes through the buffer, and the optical switching is intended to be quiet and dependable.
What is the difference between the Hamstead Odyssey and the Subspace?
The Subspace Intergalactic Driver is a separate pedal in Hamstead Soundworks' Intergalactic range, covered in Guitar World's review of the Subspace. The Odyssey is the original: an all-analog drive with three clipping circuits, an EQ section that can be placed before or after the drive, and an input gain switch. Players comparing the two should read the Subspace review alongside this page, as the two pedals share the Intergalactic Driver name and approach.
How much gain does the Hamstead Odyssey have?
Pedal of the Day reports a whopping +32dB of gain available if you need it. On top of that, the X1-X2-X5 toggle selects the input gain level: X1 keeps the input at unity, X2 doubles the input level, and X5 boosts the original signal by up to five times. Guitar World describes the pedal's range as running from clean boost to fuzz.
Who designed the Hamstead Odyssey?
Pedal of the Day describes the Odyssey as an all-analogue design from Peter Hamstead, and says the pedal was inspired and voiced by Tim Steer. Guitar World calls it Hamstead's first all-analogue attempt to push the boundaries of what a drive pedal can be.
Sources (6)
- Hamstead Soundworks Subspace Intergalactic Driver review, Guitar World, 2020-07-10
- Walrus Audio Ages Five-State Overdrive review, Guitar World, 2020-08-24
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2020-03-29
- Hamstead Soundworks Odyssey Intergalactic Driver, Pedal of the Day, 2019-10-05
- TPS Pick'N'Mix, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2017-12-05
- Understand Guitar Overdrive Pedals Gain, Clipping, Headroom, EQ & All That, That Pedal Show, 2020-06-26
