The Highwind Amplification Direwolf Overdrive is an overdrive pedal in the Tube Screamer tradition: a mid-forward drive that Pedal of the Day described as keeping "those tasty-mid tones in tact, but adding a slew of options to really let you dial in your own unique sound"1. Those options are a three-way clipping Mode switch, a clean Blend knob and a two-position Boost switch, none of which you will find on the original circuit it follows. If you are weighing it against the classics, our Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers the pedals that started this family.
Controls
The Direwolf has four knobs and two switches, which is where it departs from the simpler Tube Screamer layout1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output level of the pedal1 |
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive1 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble character of the drive1 |
| Blend | Mixes clean signal in, so you can "retain your original dynamics while introducing some punch into the mix"1 |
| Mode switch (3-position) | Selects one of three clipping configurations: LED, Lift or MOSFET1 |
| Boost switch (2-position) | Used for "significantly increased gain"1 |
The Mode switch is the heart of the pedal's flexibility. LED, Lift and MOSFET clipping each give a different compression and edge to the drive, so the Direwolf can cover more ground than a single-clipping pedal before you reach for something else1.
Power: 9V in, 18V inside
The Direwolf runs from a standard 9VDC supply, but inside the pedal an 18V charge pump raises the internal voltage. The point of the higher internal voltage is added headroom, which generally means a drive with more room for dynamics before it compresses1.
The Direwolf opened for pre-order in February 2019, when Pedal of the Day directed readers to the Highwind Amplification website to order one1. As a small-builder pedal, availability since then is worth checking with the maker directly.
How it compares
Against a stock Tube Screamer-style pedal, the Direwolf's differences are the three clipping options, the clean blend and the boost. The blend in particular addresses a common complaint about drives in this family, that they flatten a player's dynamics: here you can dial clean signal back in alongside the drive1. The Boost switch gives a second, hotter gain stage on tap without needing a separate boost pedal in front of it1.
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Questions
What are the three clipping modes on the Direwolf Overdrive?
A 3-position Mode switch selects between three clipping configurations: LED, Lift and MOSFET. Each changes how the pedal clips your signal, so you can move between different flavors of overdrive from the same box rather than swapping pedals.
Is the Highwind Direwolf based on a Tube Screamer?
Pedal of the Day's review describes it as a Tube Screamer-type pedal, keeping the mid-forward character those pedals are known for while adding options like the clipping Mode switch, the clean Blend knob and the Boost switch to let players dial in their own sound.
What does the Blend knob do on the Direwolf?
The Blend knob mixes clean signal back in with the overdriven signal. According to Pedal of the Day, it lets you retain your original dynamics while introducing some punch into the mix, so the attack of your playing stays intact under the drive.
What does the Boost switch do on the Direwolf?
The 2-position Boost Switch is used for significantly increased gain. Flip it when you need the Direwolf to push harder, and leave it in the lower position for the pedal's normal amount of drive.
Sources (1)
- Highwind Amplification Direwolf Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2019-02-13