The HAO Rust Driver is a distortion pedal from HAO, made in Japan, designed to recreate the classic sound of a late 60s Marshall Plexi running hot. It is built around a Plexi-style circuit and keeps the control layout deliberately minimal: one knob and a three-position EQ switch. In April 2023, Josh Scott of JHS Pedals named it among four cheap overdrive pedals worth a player's attention, describing it as "One knob, MIJ, under $100?"12
What it does
The Rust Driver aims at the sound of a cranked late 60s Marshall Plexi, the amplifier associated with classic British overdrive. According to Guitar FX Layouts, the result is "a commanding guitar tone with a tight, thick bottom and extremely low signal-to-noise ratio."2
Controls
The original version keeps things simple, with the amount of distortion fixed inside the circuit2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level knob | Controls output level and gain; distortion amount is fixed2 |
| EQ switch (3-position) | Selects Normal, Bright or Warm EQ curves2 |
The three switchable EQ curves offer plentiful tonal options without extra knobs, according to Guitar FX Layouts.2
A DIY stripboard layout published on Guitar FX Layouts in March 2014 modifies the Rust Driver with an adjustable gain pot replacing the fixed gain resistor. The builder of that modified version reported that "the dark setting was utterly useless, way too quiet and dark" in his own build of the original layout.2
Where it came from
HAO is a Japanese pedal maker, and the Rust Driver's made-in-Japan build and single-knob layout were part of what Josh Scott highlighted when he recommended it alongside the Arion MTE-1 Tubulator, Mr. Black JDS-50 and Electro-Harmonix Lumberjack as cheap overdrive pedals on the JHS Pedals show in April 2023.1 For more on the effect type, see Distortion Pedals and Overdrive Pedals.
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Questions
What is the HAO Rust Driver?
It is a distortion pedal from HAO, made in Japan, designed to recreate the classic sound of a late 60s Marshall Plexi running hot. The original version uses a single knob that controls output level and gain, with a preset three-position EQ switch offering Normal, Bright and Warm curves. It was noted as a cheap option, listed at under $100 in 2023.
How do the controls work on the Rust Driver?
On the original version, a single knob controls output level and gain, with the amount of distortion fixed internally. A three-position EQ switch selects between Normal, Bright and Warm curves, giving tonal options without extra knobs. A DIY stripboard layout published in 2014 modified the circuit with an adjustable gain pot replacing the fixed gain resistor.
Sources (2)
- Josh Scott of JHS Pedals recommends four cheap overdrive pedals so you don't have to freak out about the Bad Monkey anymore, MusicRadar, 2023-04-25
- Guitar FX Layouts: HAO Rust Driver with adjustable gain, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2014-03-25
