The True Grit is an overdrive pedal in Harley Benton's MiniStomp range, a line of very small pedals in solid metal housings that the maker launched in 2021. Harley Benton's product page lists it simply as an overdrive with a solid metal housing1. MusicRadar, covering the launch, described it as a "Recreation of classic tube overdrive tone from a valve combo amplifier", placing it with the MiniStomp pedals that act as amp simulators inspired by vintage amplifiers2.
What it does
As an overdrive, the True Grit is built to push a signal into the kind of mild, touch-responsive breakup associated with a driven valve combo. MusicRadar's Rob Laing characterized the pedal's goal as a recreation of classic tube overdrive tone from a valve combo amplifier, and grouped it with the MiniStomp pedals that work as amp simulators inspired by vintage amplifiers2.
"Recreation of classic tube overdrive tone from a valve combo amplifier"
Gearnews, covering the same launch, noted that the True Grit and its sibling Harley Benton MiniStomp The Heat "offer characteristics of several tube amps", rather than copying one circuit3.
If you are comparing it with other drives in the same family, Harley Benton's MiniStomp line also includes the MiniStomp Rodent, the MiniStomp Dealbreaker and the MiniStomp Green Tint, which cover distortion and other drive flavors alongside the True Grit's overdrive3. For a wider view of the category, see Overdrive Pedals or the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison.
Background: the MiniStomp range
The True Grit arrived as part of Harley Benton's MiniStomp series of compact pedals. MusicRadar listed it at £16.80 / €19.90 and noted that True Grit and The Heat offer characteristics of several tube amps2.
The range as reported at launch covered:
- Drives, including the True Grit overdrive1
- Fuzzes3
- Amp tones3
- Delays3
- Modulation3
- Utility pedals3
- Loopers3
Where the True Grit sat in the launch pricing, as reported by MusicRadar2:
| Pedal | Launch price |
|---|---|
| MiniStomp True Grit | £16.80 / €19.902 |
The True Grit carries a list price of £16.80/€19.902.
The prices above are launch prices as reported in October 2021, given in pounds sterling and euros as published. They may not reflect current pricing.
Videos
Guitar Bonedo
Sources (3)
- MiniStomp True Grit, Harley Benton
- Harley Benton reveals its new MiniStomp effects pedals, MusicRadar, 2021-10-13
- Harley Benton launches new MiniStomp compact effects pedal range, www.gearnews.com, 2021-10-13
