The Harley Benton MiniStomp Dealbreaker is a compact overdrive pedal modeled on the Bluesbreaker pedals, the circuit associated with the smooth British blues rock sound of the mid-1960s. Harley Benton describes its overdrive as going "from smooth crunch to a deliciously creamy overdrive", making it a low- to mid-gain drive for players who want an amp-like push rather than a heavy distortion1. It sits in Harley Benton's MiniStomp range of small-format pedals, alongside drives like the MiniStomp Rodent, MiniStomp True Grit and MiniStomp The Heat1.
Controls
The Dealbreaker keeps things simple: three knobs and one switch, in the usual drive-pedal arrangement1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Dials in the drive saturation1 |
| Tone | Flavors the sound1 |
| Volume | Sets the overall level1 |
| Bright/Normal switch | Switches between Normal and Bright modes for extra clarity and sheen1 |
| Footswitch | On/Off switch with status LED display1 |
The Bright switch is the one control that sets the Dealbreaker apart from the most basic three-knob drives: flipping it to Bright adds what Harley Benton calls extra clarity and sheen, which can help if your guitar or amp runs dark1.
Power and practicalities
The pedal runs from a 9 V center-negative mains adapter, drawing 20 mA, and neither the adapter nor a battery is included in the scope of delivery1. That 20 mA draw is modest by modern standards, so any standard pedalboard power supply output should handle it, but there is no battery option if you were hoping to run it standalone.
The MiniStomp Dealbreaker takes no battery: power is via a 9 V center-negative adapter only, and the adapter is not supplied1.
Connections are a single 6.3 mm jack input and a 6.3 mm jack output, and the circuit is True Bypass, which Harley Benton says eliminates signal interference when switched off, so the pedal only affects your tone when engaged1.
Size and build
The MiniStomp format is built around saving board space. The Dealbreaker measures 92 x 38 x 32 mm and weighs 133 g, in a solid metal housing1. That is small enough to fit between or behind other pedals on a crowded board, though the closely spaced top-mounted knobs mean setting it with fingers rather than feet is the practical approach.
The wider Dealbreaker family
Harley Benton also sells a full-size Dealbreaker, and the MiniStomp version is the compact take on the same Bluesbreaker-style circuit idea1. If you are comparing it within the brand's drive range, the MiniStomp Green Tint and the full-size Ultimate Drive cover higher-gain territory, while the Custom Line OD-5 is the brand's take on a different classic overdrive formula. For a broader look at the category, see the site's guide to Overdrive Pedals or the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison.
Videos
Alexis Guitars
Bart Dietvorst
The Bedroom Rocker
Questions
Is the Harley Benton Dealbreaker a Bluesbreaker clone?
Harley Benton describes the Dealbreaker as a classic blues overdrive modelled on the Bluesbreaker pedals. It aims at the same territory: a smooth, amp-like crunch rather than a hard-clipping distortion. Harley Benton also sells a full-size Dealbreaker, so the MiniStomp version is the compact take on the same idea.
Does the MiniStomp Dealbreaker take a battery?
No. Harley Benton lists power supply via a 9 V mains adapter, centre negative, and notes that a battery is not included in the scope of delivery. The adapter itself is not included either, so you will need a 9 V centre-negative supply or a pedalboard power supply output to run it.
Is the Dealbreaker true bypass?
Yes. Harley Benton specifies True Bypass, which it says eliminates signal interference when the pedal is switched off, so the circuit only affects your tone when the pedal is engaged.
What does the Bright switch on the Dealbreaker do?
The Bright switch toggles between Normal and Bright modes. Harley Benton describes the Bright mode as adding extra clarity and sheen, which is useful for dark guitars or amps that sit too far back in a mix.
How small is a Harley Benton MiniStomp pedal?
The MiniStomp Dealbreaker measures 92 x 38 x 32 mm and weighs 133 g, so it takes up little more room than a couple of stacked connectors on a pedalboard while still carrying a standard 6.3 mm jack input and output.
Sources (1)
- MiniStomp Dealbreaker, Harley Benton
